We also included a question in last year's Tandem Enthusiasts Poll that asked which accessories folks used and mud guards / fenders were a yes for about 23% of the 342 folks who replied to that question. A while back Hermes started a thread entitled "Show your fenders" and there have also been a few other posts that have inquired as to the consensus on fenders where only a few folks have indicated that they have and use fenders on their tandems. Therefore, I thought I'd throw out a BF-only poll to see just how many folks actually have fenders and when they use them.

Now, like most new threads, this one was inspired out of self-interest / vanity as I recently finished customizing a set of SKS full coverage fenders so they could be installed on our Calfee. On the surface that may not seem like a big deal but -- given the somewhat constrained size of the wheel opening and the lack of eyelets on the Alpha Q fork, never mind the equally tight quarters around the rear wheel -- I was really pleased with how they turned out and even more pleased with how well they worked on our weekend rides. Like most fenders, the front one created some toe overlap issues that I need to be mindful of but aside from that they should work just fine during the winter months, when rain looks likely at an event, or when we go touring.



I should note, we do have a set of SKS Racer Blades that we used on our previous tandems and they were certainly better than nothing. However, nothing really compares to full-coverage fenders when you find yourself riding on wet roads.