I ride to work 5 days a week, all year. I don't drive. I commute in rain, snow...etc. I find fenders mostly worthless. There's a better solution to salt - it's called titanium. The grime is a slight benefit, but with fenders I have to get the grime off of them, and I think it channels water to the rim, tires and hubs. There's still grime and I still clean my bikes. I know some like them - I'm not one of them. If I go through water deep enough for fenders to help much, my pants are still getting soaked. I find the best protection is to slow down as I go through. You folks are entitled to your opinion - but my opinion is not as a Sunday rider from April to October. I ride through snow and slush and if it's that ugly, I use rain paints.