None of the fenders in that thread have anything more than vestigial mudflaps. Of course they're not going to do anything to protect the lower half of the frame/drivetrain/shoes.

Proper-length mudflaps terminating an inch or two above the ground *do* keep the front wheel from throwing crap into the drivetrain, though. It took a very simple experiment to prove this for myself. Not arguing that you or anyone *needs* full-coverage fenders, but they've earned their place on several of my bikes.

[MENTION=21724]cyccommute[/MENTION], think of dirt as a constant stream. Fenders reduce the volume of the stream but don't prevent dirt from getting on the bike. In a given amount of time, a fenderless bike will be cleaner than a befendered bike. If you see a dirty befendered bike, ask how long it took to get that dirty. If you clean your bike after it reaches a certain level of dirtiness, then fenders will make cleaning necessary at one third the frequency. Showing a befendered dirty bike doesn't prove that they are entirely ineffective.

I know fenders keep the overwhelming majority of grit off my bottom bracket and chain ring. They keep my feet dry. They keep my back dry. Of course, I'm using true full coverage fenders. There's only and inch or two clearance between the bottom of my front mud flap and the ground. When fenders that provide 10+ inches of ground clearance are used, they are going to allow more road spray, with the dirt and grit that goes with it, to reach the bike and rider.

I see the clearest difference in fenders vs no fenders after puddles have formed on the trails - some riders have wet stripes on their backs ;)

Of course, some of us have figured this out :thumb:

http://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...-mudflaps.html

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ck/mudflap.jpg

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...0&d=1389233125

:thumb:

It was dramatic -- before that mudflap extension, I would end up with dirty slush coming up the bottom few inches of the downtube, on the crank, etc. Now, nothing. And that milk jug material is surprisingly durable. :lol:

Best part of making your own mudflap is acquiring the raw materials necessary for construction. You have to use "Ice Cream Plastic" so they'll hold up in subzero temps :)

http://i5.walmartimages.com/dfw/dce0...8052174.v1.jpg

While we're on the subject of fenders... Suppose a person were to get a new bike, such as a Diamondback Haanjo Metro, with disc brakes. And further suppose that such a person were to think about adding fenders. The fork has threaded eyelets, but the fender stays on the left side would have to clear the brake. What's the best way to attach the fender stay on that side? How about a long screw and tubular spacer. Any other ideas? There are also threaded inserts about halfway up the fork, seemingly intended to attach panniers or a rack. Would it be an option to use those for attaching the fenders? The owner of this bike is pretty resourceful, and could doubtlessly figure this out, but consulting with the cognoscenti before hacking something together seems prudent.

Sadly, my cardiologist would disapprove of the ice cream. :(

I can't help you with the disc brake problem. But I'm pretty sure I'm lactose intolerant, and I still eat ice cream on occasion. And then suffer the consequences.:cry:

The fork on my winter bike has a hole at the top to mount a fender, but curiously enough doesn't have threaded eyelets for the fender stays. I mounted my fenders by using nylon wire ties around the fork and through the fender stay. My fork has a disc brake mount on the left side, so I just moved the wire tie on that side up higher so it doesn't interfere. I pulled the wire ties tight with pliers and it's surprisingly solid. It's also stayed in place for the last 8 winters with no problems.

I used wire ties the same color as my fork so unless you're looking for them you'd never notice.

I often disagree with you, but I'm mostly on the same page with you on this. Fendered bikes getting super dirty has always been my experience, though I would agree the grit and grime gets distributed differently. Overall, I agree fenders keep the bike cleaner, but not the drivetrain, just the seat tube, underside of the saddle, etc. Now, I've never had extra-long front mud flaps, because few fenders come with them and I can't be bothered to make my own. It could be, as some are saying, that there are near-magical benefits of a long mud flap to drivetrain cleanliness and longevity, but I'm skeptical. I'm also pretty skeptical of claims that switching to long mud flaps resulted in a big jump in component life. Mostly because I generally just don't trust the claims people make about chain and drivetrain life. There's still plenty of spray going on with fenders installed, and lots of dripping in different places. I still prefer full fenders in the rain, because they definitely keep me more comfortable. The biggest benefit of full fenders, for me, is the extension of the front fender over the top of the front tire because it (usually) prevents the spray of dirty water I often get in my face when riding without them. More coverage behind the front tire is nice, too. Beyond that, the benefits of clip-ons and full fenders aren't much different IMO.

It's a good thing that reality isn't determined by all participant's ability to understand it.

Fenderus boardus longus.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...0/DSC00334.JPG

We get dry summers, so I take these off about this time of year and do a good bike cleaning, put them on again in Sept or so. BONUS: I'm getting good at it with all that practice.

Fenders may not be that great at keeping your BB safe or your drivetrain clean, but they do keep your feet a lot cleaner.

https://vimeo.com/107396856

Imperative:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2100/...a87fa9fc_m.jpg

Try Lactaid pills. Without them, I can eat only a toddler-sized portion of ice cream. With them, I can eat an adult size portion.

OK so fenders don't keep a bike clean. The only way to keep a bike clean is to keep it off the road. All fenders do is slow the rate at which bikes and their riders get dirty. Is that a good way to put it?

I work PT as a mechanic for a LBS. The LBS is sitting right in the middle of a big college part of the city, I see a lot of bikes in a 6 to 8 hour day. If half of these people who bring their bikes in would use fenders I would be out of a job.

I need the opposite. Like maybe attaching mousetraps to any ice cream treats in the freezer.

I think I'd probably just grit my teeth and reach for them anyway :).

I live in the desert and I even use fenders. Anything you can do to keep the trash off of your drivetrain will make things last longer. Those of you who don't believe that fenders can reduce maintenance and wear ought to see the inside of my fenders, which are filthy even though it barely ever rains here. The reality is that even in a desert environment, fenders will keep your drivetrain cleaner. I am anal about maintenance but there are only so many hours in a day.

A word of advice if you are planning to make your own flaps: Make sure they are either not as strong or not as stiff as your fender. If they are, the next time you wheel your off a curb or set the bike down on the fork tips and forget the flap is there, that flap will break the fender at or just above the flap attachment. (Bending or breaking when a stick gets jammed in it might be kinda nice also.)

I've been making my flaps from doubled up graphic film taped around the edges with clear packing tape. They last several years and fold back easily when hit. My supply is running out soI may have to change my ways soon.

Ben

I like them.

Live in England.