seafoamer

Just bought a new 2014 Surly LHT 700c and am wondering about fenders.
I was going to do the Velo Orange Zeppelin in 52mm (looks nice and maybe stronger, but could be heavier), but now I'm thinking maybe the SKS's would be better (and less $).
Please leave me a suggestion, or simply which you would rock! Smoochas Gracias!!

Rob_E

I have used Velo Orange and SKS. I found the aluminum fenders to both look better and stay put better. SKS were both lighter and cheaper, I believe.

Both tend to get messed up if I have have to put the bike in a car. But I feel like the aluminum bends back into place better. It's actually the metal stays that I bend, but the stiffer fender is easier to get back into place.

52 mm is probably a good idea, too, if that's as fat as they come. I went with 48, because that was a good match for the tires I was running, but now I run a 38/40mm tire, and I find the fenders rather tight.

Next time I think I'll ignore the appearance and focus on fenders that will provide full coverage for the largest tire size possible for my frame.

Mr IGH

PlanetBike Cascadias with the mudflaps, the 45mm version cover true 38mm tyres with room to spare.

seeker333

VO Zeppelins are a good match sizing-wise for a 700c Surly LHT or DT. I fit some to my DT. When I got them they were sized a bit too large in radius and a bit too small to accommodate stated tire width. I corrected them by spreading the fender a bit by hand, upside down on carpet, which coincidentally reduced the radius to desired dimension.

VO fenders are pretty sturdy and not expensive for metal fenders. I got my Zeps from a QBP-affiliated internet bike shop who shipped them for free, and sold them at lower price than if I'd bought directly from VO.

VO fender stay mounts extend from the fender 12-14mm once fitted to bike. This can be an issue if fitting VO fenders to a 56-58cm 700c frame, since they will certainly exacerbate any toe-overlap situation. On Zeps it's a double stay mount arrangement, so there's one on each side to possibly hinder sharp turns in either direction. This aspect of the VO fender could be improved. Regardless of this shortcoming VO fenders are a pretty good choice all things considered. I have VO fenders on my 26" bike too.

79pmooney

I don't know the VOs. I like the SKS a lot. I am just using their road width ones so far. I will now steer away from Planet Bike ones because I find that if I put real flaps on the front fender, ie flaps deep enough to really stop water, I cannot stop the vibration. I believe this is becasue they only use one set of front stays and the bracket at the fork crown is attached on the underside and passes through a hole in the vender, making less than rigid at the only secure fastening to the frame. I have pop riveted in reinforcing plates (on their wide, relatively stiff hybrid fender) which help a lot, but still is not as good as an unmodified SKS.

I have replaced all of my Planet Bike road fenders except on my workhorse fixie with SKS. My two bikes with hybrid fenders are liveable but I would not go Planet Bike again. The workhorse is still PB just because it is road width and white, making a rare (and valuable) item for those of us who prefer not to become road kill.

Ben

fietsbob

Esge SKS have been what I bought 25+ years ago, they're still Fine*.. 2 bikes they were OEM included

* Used 2 rears on 1 build, to have a fuller wraparound on the front.. ..

Doug64

Regardless of the brand, get a set with the quick release safety mount for the front dropouts. SKS has them as standard issue. They could save a lot of grief if you pick up some road debris between the front fender and wheel.

egear

VO fenders are the bomb. I have beat mine to absolute death and they still perform well. I ride my cassenroll off road on gravel trails/roads and they just plain take a beating. Cant go wrong with them.

Tourist in MSN

I prefer plastic fenders. I have several different brands on different bikes. On my 700c LHT, the Zefal fenders I put on 10 years ago are still holding up just fine, although a bit more scratched up. I think they are 45mm wide and I use tires up to 37mm wide.

seafoamer

Thanks you all for the comments! I thoroughly appreciate all of your thoughts!
Anyone know if the VO Zeps are significantly more weight than sks's?
I hate making decisions....

Yan 

Planet Bike. I prefer plastic for durability.

DropBarFan

Good point: once had a Cannondale touring bike with tight fender clearance when using wider tires. A bit of gravel picked up on downtown street wedged itself between the fender & tire. IIRC actually caused me to crash albeit at fairly low speed. Mud flaps should be included with all fender sets. In olden days many production bikes came with them. Unpleasant to have cold rain sprayed onto feet. Some fenders have sturdier stays & better hardware but cheapos usually work fine. Scrap plastic can be fairly easy to create a mudflap with.

WoodysFenders.com produces awesomely beautiful bamboo/wood fenders. They are so kewl-looking I swear random folks would offer to let you stay at their house.

Brennan

I have VO fenders and I like them a lot. Mounting them was a bit of a challenge, but I maxed out on tire size (actually exceeded the recommended size by 2mm), so I didn't have much room for error.

veganbikes

Planet Bike Cascadias all the way. Reasonably priced, well made, durable, easy to install and they do their job quite well.

The only reason I wouldn't go with Cascadias is if I was going with a set of the fancy wood fenders like DropBarFan (a really bad idea for a fan even with those aero drops). However they are quite a bit more expensive but hand made and classy as all get out.

Mr IGH

The Cascadias have double stays and a mudflap, I don't have any issues with rigidity on the several installations I've done.

Doug64

I do a combination: I use SKS fenders with Planet Bike mud flaps. $6.00 for a set including shipping. I started doing this when I had SKS on all our bikes, and wanted to put mud flaps on them. They look and fit good.

staehpj1

When I ran fenders I used the Planet Bike Hard Cores and like them pretty well, but have since stopped using fenders. I decided that for me on most tours fenders are more of an annoyance than a help.

I would suggest that you consider whether you need fenders at all. I have done some long tours both ways and have found that I was happier without them even though every tour seemed to have a few days of rain.

ct-vt-trekker

I have done this too on 2 bikes using the SKS Chromoplastic P35 but now SKS has the Longboard fender that comes with Mud flaps!

DropBarFan

I don't actually own a set of Woody's; I'd worry about 'em getting damaged while being packed into the S & S airline case which is a tight fit with big Surly Trucker frame. Some friends used to know an old-timer that rode a track bike around w/wooden rims. In Germany I saw a lot of mountain bikes (used for city riding) mounted with those motocross-type fenders which don't even fit very close to the tire. I'd have thought they wouldn't block spray very well but maybe they're a lot better than no fenders.

rifraf

I'm enjoying my Gilles Berthoud fenders (on my Surly Ogre) and originally saw them on a Long Haul Trucker which was part of the inspiration.
I think this was the one:
"https://s18.photobucket.com/user/e_merlin/media/LHT/P1000165.jpg.html"

I even added the Velo Orange Pass Hunter front rack, so appeasing to my eye the package.

shelbyfv

I recently put the SKS longboards on my Gunnar. They are really long! They kept me and the bike pretty clean in the rain. Installation was not difficult but it took awhile to get an even fender line. The overall quality seems to be pretty good, they don't rattle or move around. The length in front prevents use of a fork mount carrier.

Doug64

Notice how clean the chainwheel is clean even though the fender is jammed with mud. Planet bike mudflaps on SKS

seeker333

VO Zeppelins are so long you can perhaps get by without mudflaps (see attached image).

Note the protrusion of the stay mounts on this 56cm Surly DT frame - sticks out right where your shoe toe can whack it in tight turns (the VO Fender Toe Overlap Confirmation Device).

I have long considered refitting these fenders with hardware from Portland Design Works fenders. PDW makes a break-away safety clamp like the SKS device in #7 , which would probably fit VO stays, or could be made to with sand paper. PDW also makes a lower profile stay mount which would give more TO clearance, but unfortunately would leave two holes in each fender to patch/hide, somehow (duct tape or similar). It's too bad PDW doesn't sell wider 700c fenders (45mm / 28-35mm tire max).

https://www.ridepdw.com/goods/spare-...mf-safety-tabs

https://www.ridepdw.com/goods/spare-...-hardware-pack

skookum

Honjo hammered aluminum!
No, I d use a plastic fender as it is just easier to deal with if you have to manipulate it.
Although people who ride in rain a lot say metal fenders are better.

seafoamer

Thanks again all! Went w/ the VO Zeps. I'm soooo siked on this bike it almost hurts!!!