Over the last year or so we installed fenders on a couple of our bikes down here in sunny Mexico. We use these bikes for long-distance riding on weekends. We noticed a lot of fenders mounted on cruiser/low-end MTB's ridden by locals who use their bikes everyday. The weather here is overall dry year-round except for the 2-3 months of summer rain. So, we decided to give them a try. One thing that we have discovered about fenders is that not only do they protect the rider from rain or nasty stuff from the occasional puddle of water on the road. They also make a huge difference in protecting the paint on your frame and keeping the drivetrain clean(er) from all the crud that accumulates on the road during the long dry season. In other words, they really cut down on the wear and tear of your drivetrain components. The 1 lb. or so of additional weight is so much worth it now that we've discovered them. The major drawback is that they're a bit pain to dismount/mount if you travel often with your bike (i.e. fly, put your bike inside the car, etc.)