A word....all the studs should be exactly the length you need them, and no longer, particularly on the freewheel side in the back. Use washers if you need to, but be sure nothing protrudes to rub or touch the chain. I suggest, rather than cheap screws or allen head screws, you use a set of allen head machine studs for installing fenders and racks. These can be picked up in 5mm size at Lowes or Home Depot in numerous lenghts. You can also get them at most auto stores. Once you have everything fitted and fitting well, take it all apart and put blue Loc-Tite on the studs and put it back together.

I thought I did it right till my LBS pointed out a problem while servicing the bike one day. There's not much clearance there and a fraction of an inch can cause chain rub.

The good part is that you can get clips for the SKS fenders that allow you to fit the fork and seat stays.


Good fenders take a while to install but are a wonderful addition to a bike. My favorite is a set of Gilles Berthoud stainless steel on my Schwinn tourer. I have probably 1500 miles on these with Blackburn back rack and Jannd front rack with nary a rattle nor rub.