rockhoppernc

Looking for a set of fenders for my bike,,
looking at the
Crud Products RoadRacer MK2 Fender Set 700c Black

are they any good? looking to leave them on all the time...

whats your input on fenders?

tsl

I have a set of Cruds I use on one of my roadies in the winter. They are far, far better than nothing at all, and far better than many of the clip-on types.

However, they aren't designed for daily duty on a commuter. The package says, "Not suitable for tourists." I think it should also say, "Not suitable for commuters".

They are a flexible fender on flexible mounts that use brushes riding on the wheel's brake track to keep them centered over the tire. It's actually quite ingenious, but the fenders sway and flop all over. There's not much to them either. I've not had any troubles, but others have reported breakage.

They are perfect for the thing they're designed for--training rides on your roadie when the roads are still wet. I was able to ride mine a lot more often over this past winter than in winters before. I used to have to ride my commuter all the time. They made for a nice change of pace.

I wouldn't, however, put them on my commuter, or recommend them to anyone else for commuting.

rockhoppernc

any reconditions on a good looking commuter fenders that will be used alot., also that are not to heavy?.

perspiration

I'm also interested in what this thread turns up...planning on buying some fenders for my Crosscheck this paycheck.

tarwheel 

If your frame has fender mounts, the PB Cascadias look really nice and function great.

I tend to agree with TSL about Crud fenders. I've got a set and couldn't get them to fit without rubbing my tires. I had to take the front extensions off so they wouldn't rub. They were better than nothing, but a far cry from real fenders. I also have some SKS Raceblades. They don't look as nice as Cruds, but are easier to adjust without rubbing. However, their coverage stops short of the brakes, so they let a lot of water and debris collect on your brakes and frames, which defeats one of the big reasons for using fenders.

rockhoppernc

I have access to a fabrication shop that makes prosodic legs and arms, so I made the call and we are going to make some with carbon fiber and other cool stuff,,,also going to make a aluminum mount for my GPS-
so please chime in and tell us what finders you like and why?
also if you can please add pic's or links to pic's.

rockhoppernc

tarwheel-
However, their coverage stops short of the brakes, so they let a lot of water and debris collect on your brakes and frames, which defeats one of the big reasons for using fenders.....
if you could change them to better not collect what would you do?

tsl

I like the Cruds for their intended use--thin, light fenders that fit through brakes where fenders were never intended to be. I plan to put them back on my Litespeed for the coming winter, and won't hesitate to replace them if they break.

I've tried Cascadias but keep coming back to SKS P-series on my commuter. I like the aesthetic better. (And the gray doesn't show the salt.) When I found I could get them with a mudflap and reflector if I ordered from Europe, that cinched the deal. My old "American-version" SKS without mudflap or reflector and the Cascadias got replaced with the "Euro-spec" SKS P-35 and P-45.

Metal fenders aren't in the cards for me. I know I'd dent the front one with the bike's toe overlap, and the back one too the first time I tried to move the bike around the apartment on the rear wheel.

What I would like on all my fenders is more length on the front.

I get a lot of blow-back. Spray flies out the front. While pretty (especially at night with the headlight on), it catches in the wind and ends up on the light, the bike, and on me. The assumption seems to be the people with fenders never exceed 8 MPH in the wet. I may not be Alberto Contador, but I do crank right along.

bragi

Take a look at SKS; they're similar to PB as far as weight is concerned, but they don't rattle. (Zip ties help a lot, too...)

But keep in mind that fenders are, well, fenders. I wouldn't dream of commuting without them, but they they add a small amount of weight and they're a bit dorky. I'm a total Fred on my touring bike, so I don't care about an extra 10-16 ounces, but if you're into the whole roadie thing, maybe you should look into other options.

SoCalSwami

I installed a pair of SKS "Alley Cat" fenders last November in preparation of the oh so rainy SoCal winter but I am so glad I did.

Not only do they look awesome, but they have a great mudflaps on front and back, and they cost under $40. I actually get compliments on these fenders.

(found mine at Nigara cycle)
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=601719

Highly recommended.

I would rank this an average to advanced installation, especially if you have disc brakes or other components to work around. I screwed up the front stay and after some emails I got a phone call from the US rep who shipped me a new set for next to nothing.

~Mike

unterhausen

I just put a set of Berthoud fenders on my rando bike, and now I'm thinking of doing the same on my commuter. They are extremely long, and I got the leather flap for the front. Far better than my PB fenders.

rex_kramer

https://ecom1.planetbike.com/7048.html

These "unbreakable" fenders actually broke on my commuter. About an inch above the front rivets, on the rear fender, it actually broke across the width almost 2/3 of the way. Surprisingly, they're not rattling, even though there's not much holding the two halves together. Anyway, I am seriously disappointed in the durability of these. Didn't even get a full season out of them.

I'm basically in the same boat as the OP. I want a better replacement than what I threw away $35 on just last fall.

fusilierdan

While we're at it how do you size fenders? I have 26" wheels and a 1.5" tire on my commuter.

unterhausen

the PB fenders that broke on my commuter were bought just a couple of months ago. I wonder if they changed plastics. I've had some PB on my other bike for a couple of years, and no problems with those at all. Highly disinclined to buy more PB fenders, but I'm going to the LBS today and I'll talk to them about it.

That is a 40mm tire. You want about 10mm clearance, so you're looking at a 50mm plastic fender or a 60mm metal fender. Metal fenders have their edges rolled up inside so there is less room than a plastic fender.

mconlonx

Full fenders, permanently attached. I like VO aluminum fenders.

tarwheel 

The problem is that most racing frames don't have enough clearance for fenders to fit between the brakes and the tires. RaceBlades get around that problem by stopping short of the brakes, but allow water and crud to hit the brakes and downtube. The best solution I've seen are what I've seen called "wrap arounds," which are metal brackets that fit around the brakes so can use a regular fender. Basically, what you do is cut the fender in two pieces and use the wrap-around to connect the pieces on either side of the brake.

Cruds try to get around the problem by being so thin you can still run the fenders between the tires and brakes, but in my experience the clearances just aren't large enough on many racing frames to allow that. My racing bikes are Eddy Merckx that have more clearance than many racing frames but still not enough for the Cruds to function as designed.

DogBoy

I like SKS longboard fenders for my commuter bike. Here's a pic from ecovelo. Its not my bike:

CliftonGK1

I just put a pair of 45mm Cascadias on my 1988 Trek 400 with 32mm tires, which is by no means designed to run that combo of equipment. I used a pair of Reacharounds fender mounts and my mad hacksaw skills to trim the fenders into shape with the brake outline at the attachments and leave a minimal gap. Now, instead of maxing out at 25mm tires under 35mm fenders, I can fit my 32s with plenty of clearance at the fork crown and brake bridge.

tarwheel 

Reacharounds are what I was calling wrap-arounds. Have you got a link to a website where people can buy them?

CliftonGK1

Here's a link to River City Bicycles site for them. I bought them locally, but apparently the LBS gets them from RCB. Looks like RCB is the only one making them. You'll have to call them up to order or see if your LBS can snag a few pairs, and they run about $20.

I don't wish anyone the horrors of what you might find when searching blindly for this product. Trust me. Just follow the link.

fusilierdan

unterhausen, thanks for that.

Lot's Knife

Wow. What an unfortunate name.

Maxxxie

LOLZ

Does anyone have photos of these things in action? I'm spatially challenged and can't quite imagine how it works.

Max