Fender coverage?
 

I've been commuting on my trusty city bike for the past year and a half now, but starting in April, my job will move to a school about 8.5 miles from where I live. I could just take the train (one of the perks of living in Japan), but the route is fairly indirect, and I could get there just as fast--if not faster--by riding a bike instead. The only thing is, my mama-chari weighs a ton, and isn't exactly what I'd call 'responsive'.

As a result, I'm looking to get a different bike more geared to slightly longer rides. I've got it pretty much narrowed down to the Giant Escape R2. It's an aluminum-frame hybrid bike with carbon front fork, and all the requisite mounting brackets for rack, fenders, and such. (Jamis Coda is a close second, since it's heavier, and the parts aside from the frame are a bit lower-spec.) The only thing is, the fenders Giant offers don't appear to provide as much coverage as the ones I usually see. Since it rains a fair bit in Osaka--and when I say "rain", I mean torrential downpour--this is of some concern to me.

So, what do you guys think? Should I just go with the manufacturer's stock version, or get some full-length fenders elsewhere? Any brands/models you recommend in particular?

I'd get some longer ones, especially in the front. In my experience most fenders, even full fenders, don't go low enough to keep the spray from the front tire off the drive train of your bike. The good news is that it's not that hard to cut a piece of plastic (like a pop bottle cut in half length wise) and attach it to the fender to extend it a bit farther down

Can you get Planet Bike or SKS fenders over there? They have full fenders that offer much better coverage. Also,if it rains that much/that bad,you might want to look at the disc model Escape. PB makes fenders that will go straight on even with the discs.

Thanks for the advice.

From the looks of it, I could get Planet Bike or SKS fenders, though they'd be a special order in either case. I suppose it's worth it, though.

Also, I considered the Escape R Disc, but I don't know... it's the same price as the R2, but significantly heavier and with a chromoly fork instead of the carbon. Would the trade off of several kilograms and the need to find a non-Giant rear carrier be worthwhile?

My commute is seven miles each way in rainy Oregon, and I did fine with Planet Bike's half-assed race blades. Numerous riders here, my roommate included, don't seem to require more than a backscratcher with no front protection to speak of.

What do you mean by "did fine"?

I've got SKS P50's (and a rear rack) on my Muirwoods 29er, and every time the roads are wet I get road sludge all over my back and drivetrain. Are the roads that much cleaner in the city?

You can buy Planet Bike and SKS fenders here in Japan (I'm in Tokyo).

http://www.cb-asahi.co.jp/parts/352_all.html

http://www.cycle-yoshida.com/pr_inter/sks_menu.htm

8.5 miles isn't far though. How about one of these, only ¥31,000:
http://www.cb-asahi.co.jp/image/09bike/bs/mk66dt.html

http://www.cb-asahi.co.jp/image/09bi.../mk66dt-03.jpg

Not bad, though I'm not looking for a new bike solely because of the commute. I also want something I can take out on weekends/longer distances if the mood strikes me, hence the search for something a bit lighter.

For what it's worth, I plan to keep the mama-chari as a beater bike for short errands, and to get to the station when I have to take the train. As safe as Japan may be when it comes to crime, I'd rather not leave a noticeably different and distinctly new bike sitting unattended in a public place for hours on end.

3lbs isn't a huge deal. Axiom and a couple other companies make disc-compatible racks. I only have the website's pic to go from,but it looks like you could mount a standard rack to the rearmost eyelets and they'd clear the caliper. I personally have no love for rim brakes,and would highly recommend them if you're going to be riding in a rainy area.