Originally Posted by Andy_K

True! One year I was riding with some fenders that didn't quite come halfway down my rear tire. They left a bit of a racing stripe on my back, but I was willing to live with it. Then one day there happened to be another bike commuter behind me for a few miles. Eventually we came to a stop light and he very politely informed me that my fenders weren't doing their job. His face was covered with road grime, and he hadn't even been riding particularly close to me. Since then, full rear coverage has been more of a priority for me.