Fender choices
#51
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From: Sheepshead Bay
Bikes: 2008 Trek 520
Originally Posted by squegeeboo
I do like drinking rain water off the road, it saves me from having to reach for my water bottle or camel pack tube 
I live in Rochester, if it isn't raining at least 1 day a week for the spring thru fall something is wrong, and it's been all snow or slush for the past 2 weeks, and I still say fenders are a waste except for group riding.

I live in Rochester, if it isn't raining at least 1 day a week for the spring thru fall something is wrong, and it's been all snow or slush for the past 2 weeks, and I still say fenders are a waste except for group riding.
Rock on BUD! But DON'T SWALLOW THE PEBBLES!
Matty in Brooklyn
#52
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I'll put mine on and off throughout the year - but they are very welcome for a 200,300,400, and 600k (and up) ride. If its going to rain all day, and I'm going to be out there, I want my fenders on. They add a little weight, but a comfortable cyclist is one that can keep riding. They also keep tons of crap off the drivetrain, bottom bracket, and with a mudflap - out of your shoes.
Honjo's are my favorite.
I've tried Planet Bike, RaceBlades, and Headlands. The Honjo's I have on the IF are the finest thus far. Need to add a mudflap for brevet season - but I've had them on the bike since October and love them. This bike is Jeckyll / Hyde - it goes back and forth from my distance machine to my more standard road machine... fenders are just one more tool to have to enjoy cycling in all weather.
These are the narrow - and they fit well under the Shimano long reach brakes I used on this build:


They even keep me dry indoors:

If you need to mount fenders on your tight clearance road bike, try these: (apologies if these have been mentioned previously):
Honjo's are my favorite.
I've tried Planet Bike, RaceBlades, and Headlands. The Honjo's I have on the IF are the finest thus far. Need to add a mudflap for brevet season - but I've had them on the bike since October and love them. This bike is Jeckyll / Hyde - it goes back and forth from my distance machine to my more standard road machine... fenders are just one more tool to have to enjoy cycling in all weather.
These are the narrow - and they fit well under the Shimano long reach brakes I used on this build:


They even keep me dry indoors:

If you need to mount fenders on your tight clearance road bike, try these: (apologies if these have been mentioned previously):
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So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
Last edited by bmike; 01-24-07 at 08:34 AM.
#53
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From: Gone gone gone
... and one thing I noticed in some of these pics - and from pics of fenders from manufacturers or sales sites - is that front fenders are often a bit too short and placed too far down on the wheel. Consider rotating them forward more and adding a mud flap to pick up that remaining spray off the low end of the wheel - pushing the fender further forward will keep that spray from coming off the top of the wheel and blowing back on your head tube and brakes - as well as your hands and even into your eyes if the wind is right...
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So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
#54
Mad bike riding scientist




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Originally Posted by DataJunkie
No one likes my toupee analogy.
j/k
Anyhow, I agree that clip ons are many bikes only recourse. However, on bikes that can take either my little wannabe formula is what I favor.
You know it never occurred to me that I could take them off. When do you remove your fenders? Wouldn't that be an invitation to the rain gods?
j/k
Anyhow, I agree that clip ons are many bikes only recourse. However, on bikes that can take either my little wannabe formula is what I favor.

You know it never occurred to me that I could take them off. When do you remove your fenders? Wouldn't that be an invitation to the rain gods?

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Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
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#56
Originally Posted by mattyknacks
Wow, man. Your more hardcore then me! At least I use those stupid looking, dumb, useless good for nothing clip-ons.
Rock on BUD! But DON'T SWALLOW THE PEBBLES!
Matty in Brooklyn
Rock on BUD! But DON'T SWALLOW THE PEBBLES!
Matty in Brooklyn
Ha thanks dude, but i think it's more of a function of always wearing a waterproof outer layer, and having a shower at work, so even for the commute a little splatter isn't a big deal.
And avoid the pebbles? But I hear tiny rocks can help with digestion...
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In the words of Einstein
"And now I think I'll take a bath"
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#57
Originally Posted by Critterpace
Sweet. What fenders are those? I have a Cannondale F600 (which looks like a similar frame except I have a suspension fork and discs brakes and would have to manipulate the mechanism probalby using spacers.) What frame is that and any suggestions or tricks on installing the fenders?
Thanks.
Thanks.
#58
Originally Posted by squegeeboo
Ha thanks dude, but i think it's more of a function of always wearing a waterproof outer layer, and having a shower at work, so even for the commute a little splatter isn't a big deal.
And avoid the pebbles? But I hear tiny rocks can help with digestion...
And avoid the pebbles? But I hear tiny rocks can help with digestion...

PS I dig the Edgar Winter reference.
#59
Originally Posted by fender1
Ok I get it now. One question though, when you arrive at work after a particularly messy commute (heavy rain/dirty slush/mud etc.) do you have to walk through an office area to get to your shower facilities or can you effectively go straight from the bike to the shower? I too have a shower at work and consider myself lucky but the carpets on the way to the shower facilites here are light in color and mud road grime etc dripping on them would sent the office manager here into a tizzy!

I push my bike all the way thru the office, past the managers offices, thru the kitchen, into my back cubicle area and put it in the cube next to me, and they haven't complained yet, although I do feel a bit bad about the expanding salt ring on the carpet where my bike stays for the work day. The carpets are pretty thin and a dark blue/gray so I'm not even sure if they would notice the path I take, and I carry it over the kitchen tiles if it's an especially messy day out. And then the shower is back just before the kitchen, but by then I'm peeled out of my outer shell and shoes, so I'm not making a mess any more
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#60
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From: Columbus, OH
Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc
Originally Posted by fender1
Ok I get it now. One question though, when you arrive at work after a particularly messy commute (heavy rain/dirty slush/mud etc.) do you have to walk through an office area to get to your shower facilities or can you effectively go straight from the bike to the shower? I too have a shower at work and consider myself lucky but the carpets on the way to the shower facilites here are light in color and mud road grime etc dripping on them would sent the office manager here into a tizzy!
PS I dig the Edgar Winter reference.

PS I dig the Edgar Winter reference.
On a soggy day, I head for the side door and wheel it down the hallway to the lockers. Most of the hallway has carpets that are sent for cleaning once a week, and the little bit of water in the locker room is OK. I put a bath sheet folded in half under my ride to keep from puddling up the floor where I park.
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#61
Muscle bike design spec
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I used the same fenders as the OP on my MTB during a C&O canal charity ride. Mine were mounted a little closer to the tires. We had one brief downpour and rode through the aftermath for an hour or so. Apart from my friend and me, none of the riders had fenders. The clip-on fenders weren't perfect but we were incredibly better off than the other riders.
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#62
Originally Posted by fender1
PS I dig the Edgar Winter reference.
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#63
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From: Sheepshead Bay
Bikes: 2008 Trek 520
I guess you guys are all office types then. I guess if I wore a suit to work, I would think differenty also. I am an electrician/driver/crane operator/asbestos remover/ and work in a large transportation maintainance facility, and usually lock my bike up outside in the same rain that I rode to work in.
Matty in Brooklyn
PS: My bike is MORE hardcore than I am.
Matty in Brooklyn
PS: My bike is MORE hardcore than I am.
#65
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From: Livonia, MI
Bikes: Pacific Duece AL with mods
Originally Posted by mattyknacks
I guess you guys are all office types then. I guess if I wore a suit to work, I would think differenty also. I am an electrician/driver/crane operator/asbestos remover/ and work in a large transportation maintainance facility, and usually lock my bike up outside in the same rain that I rode to work in.
Matty in Brooklyn
PS: My bike is MORE hardcore than I am.
Matty in Brooklyn
PS: My bike is MORE hardcore than I am.

#66
ROM 6:23
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Coastal Maine
Bikes: Specialized Tricross Comp, Lemond Tourmalet, Bridgestone MB-5
Just rode into work today. It was my first ride on my bike since I got it overhauled. The LBS even waxed the bike! I was reluctant to spoil my detailed ride. Roads very salted, had to avoid clumps of snow from driveways and side streets, even had to plow through slush and ride over sketchy frozen slush. And my bike more or less stayed clean! Why? FULL COVERAGE FENDERS. It was such a big difference from my old clip on Raceblades, where my bike would still get really dirty.
I'm completely sold on having real fenders for my commute...
I'm completely sold on having real fenders for my commute...
#68
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: portland, or
Originally Posted by StokerPoker
actually I wear scrubs to work but that is irrelevent. I have to deal with the possibility of $hit (literally) spraying me in the face directly from the source at work. If I can avoid this at work, I prefer to do the same on my way home
#69
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From: Livonia, MI
Bikes: Pacific Duece AL with mods
Originally Posted by le brad
dude, nursing home? me too.
but hey, having to duck and cover always provides a good laugh after the situation is over
#71
Tinkerer since 1980
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: London
Bikes: Coppi racer, Old school BMX, some random a fixed wheel convertion
Well if your commute involves some hardcore off road trail then of course full fenders may not be the best idea but not an issue for most.
#72
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Originally Posted by Codex
I run my bike with clip-on mud guards... but i'd like to see people run trails with those full ones, haha.
Originally Posted by TheBrick
Well if your commute involves some hardcore off road trail then of course full fenders may not be the best idea but not an issue for most.
#73
Originally Posted by Critterpace
Sweet. What fenders are those? I have a Cannondale F600 (which looks like a similar frame except I have a suspension fork and discs brakes and would have to manipulate the mechanism probalby using spacers.) What frame is that and any suggestions or tricks on installing the fenders?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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#74
My front fender on my Trek 800 is actually from a '59 Schwinn traveler 3 speed. it's chrome and a little fancy looking and does the job well. I added a home made mudflap today to help keep my toes dry when I turn. If I never had full fenders I'd say "what's the big deal?" and be happy to have clip ons (if I had them) but once you have full fenders it's hard to imagine life without them. I guess it kinda relates to the theory of "relative poverty" I learned about in my sociology class. And, you adjust to more/better conditions easier than you do going back to what you had before, even if you were happy with it in the past.
And if someone is going to go through the trouble of stealing my bolted on fender they have to want it much more than I do
And if someone is going to go through the trouble of stealing my bolted on fender they have to want it much more than I do





