what r the odds tha someone with a fast motodrive camera is out in the rain and just happens to be photographing a guy while he face plants? I feel so bad for that guy! he should get an internet award for it - maybe both he photog and the dood

I'm a big advocate of fenders and I leave mine on year round. I've done some modification to my SKS P-45 fenders to make them even better "full coverage" than standard.

Mudflaps, front and rear. The front one covers down to within 2" of the ground and keeps road spray from getting on my drivetrain and, more importantly, my water bottles. The rear one keeps me from spraying fellow riders as I pass.

Modified hangers/attachments. A fender does very little good if there's a huge gap between it and the tire. My CX frame has bigass clearance up front and a tiny (by comparison) 28mm tire, so I extended the crown hanger by 0.75" to tighten the fender along the top of the wheel and reduce forward spray from just flying up and back at me. I put a spring loaded attachment at the chainstay bridge to allow for a tight fender line but also allow for the fender to be pushed toward the bridge for wheel removal during flat repairs. (the peril of tight fender lines and semi-horizontal dropouts.)

Lengthened front extention. I took a section of a broken fender, trimmed it to appropriate length, moulded it using my trusty heat gun, and pop riveted that sucker to the leading edge of my front fender to extend the coverage below the horizontal tangent to the wheel. The problem, as I see it, with most plastic fenders is inadequate length. Metal fenders on old constructeur bicycles were freakin' huge! Rear fenders which covered from the chainstay bridge to below the hub bolt in the rear. Front fenders which covered 160 degrees or more of the wheel, catching spray well below the bottom bracket and directing it forward and down to keep road spray off the (commonly) fender mounted or rack mounted headlamps.

Just to qualify these statements with some perspective: My commuter is also my brevet bike. I also like barcon shifters, wool jerseys, waxed canvas bike luggage, leather saddles and generator lights. So, my opinion my not sit well with people outside of the cranky retrogrouch randonneurs' club.

A rubber expansion nut pushed up into the bottom of the steerer -- don't even need a fender bracket, just drill a screw hole through the fender and use a fender washer to spread the load.

OK, I got a front fender for the way home: big difference!

Adam

Yup, they work great. I still get a bit of road grime on my shoes if I go through a puddle, but sprayback from the wheels is almost nonexistent.

I tried to ride without fenders today (the day after a rain) and I'm filthy. I need to get another pair soon.

Yeah, in the morning I had stuff on my legs, chest, face. In the afternoon, with the front fender added, I just got some spray on shoes and legs.

Adam

They saved me from a very cold shower this morning!

just put these on last night. I hope the studs will fit under them

ok that sucks!!!!! add a new wheel to the list!!! =-( another reason to buy cycling gloves! that most hurt!

I remember riding home from work one day right after a huge deluge had soaked the streets, leaving puddles everywhere - a couple of streets were flooded so badly my foot sank into the water on the down stroke. When I got home, I was bone dry except for my feet. I love my fenders.

When it calls for bad weather I take my bike with the fenders.

Going back home with my new front fender at night and my MagicShine on I realized how much "stuff" the front wheel throws up at me! So, despite having the fender the wheel was propelling large amounts of slush out towards front, from underneath the fender, I could see that clearly in the beam of my light. Then I looked down and there was water pouring down from under the fender.

Adam

it is important to have a front fender long enough to get the forward throw out in front and pointed downward... otherwise it could end up in your face, chest, or hands.