How much wind drag does having fenders add?
03-25-05, 08:59 AM
#1
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How much wind drag does having fenders add?
Hi,
I am trying to build up to a century. Someone yesterday that the drag from fenders would add to your fatigue on a long ride. I'd never thought about it.
Now I'm wondering if I should put fenders on at all. What do you think?
I am trying to build up to a century. Someone yesterday that the drag from fenders would add to your fatigue on a long ride. I'd never thought about it.
Now I'm wondering if I should put fenders on at all. What do you think?
03-25-05, 09:48 AM
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I'm not a fan or either riding fenderless in the rain or riding a long time on a dry day with fenders, so my commute/tourer has clip-on Planet Bike fenders. The drag is imperceptible* and the weight almost so.
*at the kind of speeds that you are likely to spend any amount of time at when drag matters a lot, eg solo.
*at the kind of speeds that you are likely to spend any amount of time at when drag matters a lot, eg solo.
03-25-05, 10:15 AM
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Most fenders do not change the outcome of most rider’s performance. They do not look good for most cyclist. I commute with them because of the weather may change by the time I leave work. I do ride hard at 17 to 22 mph. I get to work and home at the same time with or without fenders. My son’s road bike does not have them because he rides on rainless days.
Keep in mind that some fenders flap in the wind as the cyclist descend down hills.
The science never used fenders to test that I know of. I never got passed by someone with fenders and I use them.
https://www.exploratorium.edu/cycling/introduction.html
https://www.analyticcycling.com/RiderAeroStudy.html
Keep in mind that some fenders flap in the wind as the cyclist descend down hills.
The science never used fenders to test that I know of. I never got passed by someone with fenders and I use them.
https://www.exploratorium.edu/cycling/introduction.html
https://www.analyticcycling.com/RiderAeroStudy.html
Last edited by OldShacker; 03-25-05 at 12:39 PM.
03-25-05, 10:41 AM
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I love my fenders, even in AZ. They are the SKS full fenders, installed on my commuter. It made no observable difference at all in my trip times. Going from 35 tires to 25c tires definitely helped though -should have done that long ago.
Last edited by theden; 03-25-05 at 12:54 PM.
03-25-05, 10:44 AM
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Well i ride the same miles on my hybrid and roadbike in the same time. Difference is i'm alot freasher after riding the roadbike. Riding to commute and riding to ride is different. No fenders if your really riding,otherwise fenders are fine on a commute. Not to many fenders in the rain in the TDF. Think there's a reason?
03-25-05, 01:32 PM
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Fenders??? They will make you SO much slower, like a full 40mph slower, no matter what the speed. And get this the good part is, when it actually rains or the road is damp, you get a taste of the road...!
Note extreme sarcasm.
Note extreme sarcasm.
03-25-05, 01:47 PM
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My guess is that a rear fender would not add much drag as long as it didn't wrap around the back of the tire. A front fender might add more drag.
It also depends on the speed at which you ride. If you stay around 15 mph, aerodynamics is less of a factor.
It also depends on the speed at which you ride. If you stay around 15 mph, aerodynamics is less of a factor.
