Originally Posted by
wahoonc
I ride my bikes in all weather, fenders go a long ways towards keeping the chain, bottom bracket, brakes, pedals, headset and me clean and minimize maintenance. FWIW I also use chain guards and chain cases
In nearly 40 years of riding I can only recall having to replace one fender, and that one got broken while the bike was on a car rack. I do have a couple of bikes without fenders, but those are the exception rather than rule. One is an MTB that gets used for aggressive trail riding, the other a go fast road bike.
Aaron
To each their own! Just don't confuse your practice with the rule... my stainless steel cables and chain eat winter weather and spit it out in the spring.