Originally Posted by
mcours2006
Of course you don't need fenders. Do you need an umbrella? You'd just get more wet, that's all. Around here there's enough moisture coming from above, I don't need it to come from below too.
I don't own an umbrella. Never have. Never seen the need. They are useless on a bicycle and, if it is raining, I'll wear a rain jacket. And if I'm riding a bicycle in the rain, I'm usually wearing rain pants as well. Since I'm wearing a rain suit to keep me relatively dry, I'm not worried about what's falling out of the sky or bouncing up off the pavement. The jacket and pants work just as well to keep me dry and clean as fenders do.
Originally Posted by
mcours2006
Whether it helps with extending the life of your BB is debatable.
Especially when using a modern cartridge bearing. Old cup and cone bearings were much less well protected and I've worn out many of them from water and dirt infiltration while mountain biking.