Fender questions
 

It's feels a bit hot outside to be thinking about winter, but I already miss it. Last year I didn't have fenders. That was probably a mistake. I was wondering if 45mm fenders would be enough for a tire 38 mm wide, or if I should go to 50. I'm thinking 50, but I'm not sure how well it will fit in the back. Has anyone had any luck cutting notches in the sides to make them fit between the stays?

Well I can't find the 50's anymore. So, 45 or 60? XD

I use 45s just fine with 35/38s.

Should work.

http://www.velo-orange.com/ho45lepaorze.html

Ah but they're French! Haha, kidding. Thanks everyone :)

FWIW you might consider getting the largest fenders your frame can fit - if in the future you decide to mount larger tires.

SKS 45's work with my Marathon Cross 38's.

Hm, true, though I don't think I'll get larger tires. Of course, that could change I suppose. I rather like 38, it feels like a good trade between narrow and wide.

Sweet, I'd rather not have to cut up new fenders.

FWIW, I use SKS 45s with my 38s too. No problems.

The 45's did NOT accommodate 42mm IRC Mythos tires, by the way - due to the location of the brake bridge on my Salsa Vaya frame.

The issue I've encountered with plastic fenders and the listed clearance is this:

The mounting bracket for the struts is on the inside of the fender, reducing the actual clearance (which is measured for the plastic fender itself. So if you think you're within 5mm total clearance, you could end up 2-3mm shy because of that bracket.
I have seen people with my rando club who have drilled the rivets and moved the strut brackets to the outside of the fender to use 35mm fenders with 30mm tires. It's not the prettiest solution, but it increases the clearance (as long as you put the buck side of your rivet facing out, not in) and it doesn't present a gathering point for road grit, mud and other debris to clog the tight fender line.

I prefer a 10mm minimum clearance on my fenders, and use a 48mm stainless fender over 32mm tires.

Correct - it depends on what fenders you choose. Planet Bike Hardcore Hybrid fenders do fine on my 35s, and barely fit my 40s. They are 43mm wide, internal width, but the hardware fits on the outside, which is a very good thing, Serfas fenders, and Bontragger fenders have hardware that intrudes on the inside of the fender, taking up valuable room. A set of Serfas, at 42mm wide, just barely accomodate a set of 37s, with no room to spare. A set of Bontragger 43mm wide, just barely accomodate a set of 35s.

Attachment hardware makes a HUGE difference in "effective" width.

I'm definitely going with the Planet Bike fenders without a doubt. If they just made a 50, I'd be happy ha. How should I get an idea of clearance? Is the mount adjustable in that it allows the fender to be moved closer and further away? (Planet Bike fenders)

Yes, you can usually mount them farther away from the tire to gain a little extra clearance. I mounted mine to "cover" the tire (you can't see light looking thru them) but I don't do snow. The PB mounting system lets you use almost the entire internal width of the fenders when you mount them. One of the few fenders that do this.

Mine cover the 40s adaquately, and the 35s perfectly. Planet Bike Hardcore Hybrid Fenders. Internal measurement is 42mm wide. Schwalbe Marathon Supremes, which measure their advertised width on 18mm wide rims, (internal) when inflated to max pressure.

If you don't do snow, the 45s will give you a nice clean mount...

Also, I hang a strip of rubber roofing material (about 8" long) on the attached mud flaps of the fenders, for additional protection. It's easy to pop rivet that to the flaps, using a large head pop rivet, and a pop rivet backing plate. Then, "paint" the rivet with a black magic marker. That extension really helps a lot.

I use Giles Berthold stainless 50 mm tires with Marathon Plus 622-38 tires, and they work very well. They also work well with the Nokoan 622-35s I use in the winter. I've got Planet Bike plastic fenders on my backup bike, and I hate them. The fenders are actually perfectly good, but the mounting hardware is very flimsy -- lots of rattles and occaisional rubbing.

Paul

That's strange. Mine are rock solid, with no rattles whatsoever - and they were less than half the price of the more "expensive" ones.