On my cro-mo steel framed bike I have "full fenders" as since I'm car free, I do have to ride the bike when the rides have melted ice/snow so the fenders keep the "crud" off the frame. My alum. framed bike doesn't have fenders as I sometimes use it on the "dirt" MUPS/trails which we have a LOT of here in Colorado Springs. If I get into a bit of trail mud I don't want to have to keep clearing the fenders.