Colorado Kid

I ride year around and I am interested in a pair of fenders that wouldn't crack like most plastic ones do. I've been told that Velo Orange, S.S. might fit the bill. Has anyone use them?

Archergal

I got a set of VO aluminum fenders on sale a couple of years ago and put them on my Novara. They work well, since they're full coverage and I ride in whatever weather I have to. Except snow, but we don't get snow often in GA.

wolfchild

I ride all year round, my plastic Planet Bike fenders are 6 years old and they haven't cracked yet.

old's'cool

I haven't had a problem with plastic fenders, but FYI, SKS makes very nice plastic-coated aluminum fenders which I have on several bikes.

jyl

Same here, I have planet bike plastic fenders that haven't cracked in many years of use. I put VO fenders on another bike for the style and the extra rigidity, not because there is really anything wrong with the plastic fenders. The VO fenders take longer to fit, you need to drill a hole or two, cut the stays, etc. Once installed, they are solid.

tarwheel 

I've got Planet Bike Cascadia fenders on two bikes because I'm too lazy to do all of the fitting required with metal fenders, plus they're lighter. My original set of Cascadias is about 4 years old and going strong. I got a second set two years ago and one of the fenders broke in half a couple of months after I installed them. I emailed Planet Bike with a photo, and they shipped me a brand new fender at no charge. I haven't had any problems since then. Cascadias are very easy to install and have built-in mud flaps.

PdxGecko

I chose the VO Stainless Steel Fenders for my custom SS Independent Fabrication. They look very clean and are incredibly strong. I had them professional lay installed.

irwin7638

I ride year 'round also and use both the VO Aluminium and SKS fenders on various bikes. I've had no problem with either of them affected by the cold or all the corrosive crap that is spread on Michigan roads in the winter.



Marc

old's'cool

FWIW, the SKS fenders that I've installed did not require any cutting or modification. In one case, I trimmed the length of the stays slightly.

gerv 

The VO fenders look great and prices are reasonable, but you need to be prepared for more labor in installing, then tweaking the installation. SKS fenders are 90% as good looking and easier to install.

PlanoFuji

One of the Editor's from Bicycle Quarterly has some useful thoughts on metal vs. plastic fenders.

"We often extol the virtues of aluminum fenders over plastic ones: They keep rider and bike drier and cleaner, they last longer, they don’t make noise on rough roads, and they are lighter. (I also think they look better.)
Metal fenders’ major disadvantage is that they require a bike designed for fenders. While you can retrofit plastic fenders with zip-ties, clamps and brackets, these devices do not work well with metal fenders."

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2013/0...-take-fenders/

SpookyReverb

I have the stainless steel Velo Orange fenders on my Salsa Casseroll. I installed them myself, and although it took me awhile, I did it (and I am horrible at projects of any sort, usually the after is worse than the before), and they look great. And they work. And they are super tough. Maybe they are heavy, but I don't notice a difference. I would buy them again in an instant.

Sixty Fiver

Ditto... I have run my PB fenders down to -52F and had no problems with them at all and run them on a good number of my bicycles.

I did get a set of Honjos as a gift and have yet to decide where those will be going.

Sixty Fiver

The stainless V.O. fenders are very nice... my partner runs them on his touring / road bike and they have taken a beating and still look and work great.

His bike spends a lot of time going in and out of his van and isn't pampered... lesser fenders may have gotten pretty bent out of shape by now.

sauerwald

I had a pair of aluminum fenders on my bike which wore out (mounting holes enlarged until the fell off. I replaced them with the VO stainless fenders almost 3 years ago. I commute every day, and have had no issues with the VO SS fenders.

urbanescapee

+1 for the SKS Chromoplastics. I don't ride in incredibly bad weather (Southern California), but I do still like fenders for keeping all the other crap that's on the road off of me and the rest of my bike. I did add a mud flap to the front though because my feet still got wet the one day it rained last year. I haven't had them very long (1 yr) but so far they are holding up very well and I've never had to fiddle with them since installation. I ride about 40mi/week.