bikebuddha 

Broke the bracket on my rear fender today when I was distracted by another cyclist and ran over a large but not huge stick. I guess you get what you pay for.

nubcake

So far mine have held up well, hope it continues. Either way now you have an excuse to buy these, I doubt they are stronger but they sure are pretty... https://www.woodysfenders.com/store/

nubcake

You can cut a cable lock like that with tools that fit in your pocket, time for a u-lock or a really beefy chain. Ever seen this video? Hopefully it is enough to show you that you can not rely on a good samaritan to stop the theif or even to question him. https://youtu.be/B4yydGUB88c

Leebo

I like my planet bike cascadia's.

tjspiel

I know some fenders are designed to break under certain conditions in order to prevent them or something else from getting caught in your wheels and causing a crash.

Or maybe they were just flimsy.

rex_kramer

• Superflex[SUP]TM[/SUP] unbreakable all-weather polycarbonate <---- LIES. No more PB fenders for me.
  
  World English Dictionary
  [TABLE]
  [TR="class: tr1"]
  [TD="class: td1, colspan: 2"]unbreakable (ʌnˈbreɪkəb [SUP]ə [/SUP]l) [/TD]
  [/TR]
  [TR]
  [TD="colspan: 2"] [/TD]
  [/TR]
  [TR="class: tr2"]
  [TD="class: td2, colspan: 2"]— adj
  [/TD]
  [/TR]
  [TR="class: tr3"]
  [TD="class: td3n1, width: 1%, align: right"][/TD]
  [TD="class: td3n2"]not able to be broken [/TD]
  [/TR]
  [/TABLE]

1nterceptor

My Planetbike SpeedEZ fenders were mounted when I
rode out of the bike shop back in 2009. No problems so
far after 2 and half years.


HUDSON RIVER, NYC by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

1nterceptor

You may want to contact Planetbike, they honored their lifetime
warranty pledge with 2 of their products that I complained about.

Burton

Is 'cheap' the operative word?

Broke the front Topeak Defender plastic fender on my mtb bike just from continuous use. But they have a lifetime warranty and were exchanged on the spot.

CACycling

I run PB plastic fenders as well with no issues. PB is very good at replacing broken parts so I'd suggest contacting them for a replacement. As mentioned above, the bracket is probably made to give way to help avoid causing a crash.

Booger1

I cut that problem off at the pass,I made a stainless bracket before I mounted them.

ClemY

I use aluminum fenders that I get from Velo Orange.

tarwheel 

I have two sets of Planet Bike Cascadias, one silver and one black. I've had the silver ones for 3+ years with no problems. However, one of the black fenders snapped in half during a ride. I was just riding along and didn't hit anything but was riding on a bumpy road. The fenders were only a few months old. Anyway, I sent an email to Planet Bike with a photo attached showing the broken fender and describing the situation. They shipped me a new fender within a few days, no charge. I haven't had any problems with the replacement fender, so apparently the original one had a manufacturing defect.

dcrowell

I've had two sets of plastic fenders break. I've had several more that are still doing well. I bought one set of metal fenders. The metal ones were harder to install, and once they are installed can get knocked out of whack and rub the wheel. I eventually threw away the metal ones.

pallen

The plastic fenders are also really light. I know people who run fenders care a lot about that
Its great that they have a lifetime warranty, but I would buy cheap, plastic fenders because they are light and cheap (maybe even because they look good), not because I thought they would last forever.

ckaspar

I don't run fenders but wouldn't plastic be better as they have more give and will break as oppose to metal ones which could have you going over the bars if something big enough got trapped in there? That would be my thought anyway.

fietsbob

I have 30 year old Esge SKS mudguards, and some on more recent bikes 4 in TTL.

and PB in 20" size on my Bike Friday.. rear ones I have a recycled set of
stainless esge struts butt welded together arched over the back
with bolts thru rubber grommets in tabs welded on.
and the rest pop rivets, Aluminum Flat-bar strips to go to the frame bolts..

ItsJustMe

I *WANT* my fenders to break sometimes. I've broken three now, in each case when something got wedged between the fender and the tire. If they hadn't broken it would have locked the wheel and I probably would have been on the ground, possibly in traffic.

Fenders are cheap.

But if you want really nice ones, Velo Orange. They're not even really that expensive.

bikebuddha 

Well after a little bike surgery I've managed to repair the fender bracket. Now for a test ride.

chaadster

Distracted by another cyclist? Damn, she must have been hot...and the fender snapping probably really screwed your mojo, eh?! Had she stopped to see if the OP was alright, I'm guessing we never would have seen this thread. Haha!

More to the point, and in defense of plastic (polycarbonate) fenders, I've been running them since the late '80s, and on the trails, even, with only one, maybe two, instances of breakage in all that time. My current Planet Bike Hardcore Hybrids have been in situ for about 6 years, and I don't think I've ever even had to even tighten anything up, much less deal with a breakage. Through winter commutes in salty slush and across Michigan's famously decaying roads, nothing. Great product, IMO.

Antaresia

I did the metal fender thing too, Civia fenders, and they were pretty fussy from the start. Almost a year later and the front one got knocked so bad nothing could bend it back in place. LBS guys (the guys who knocked it in the first place) said the metal was mailable, and the bolt-hole had wore itself to a larger size. They weren't able to fix it.

The original metal fenders on my 81' CCM are still going strong though : /

New plan is to get some pink soma fenders. For style points.

fietsbob

diss Cheap Plastic Fenders?, try expensive stainless steel,
Berthoud's of France.
https://www.wallbike.com/berthoud/fen...-steel-fenders

tarwheel 

Plastic -- Lighter, won't dent or rust, often less expensive, quieter, usually easier to install

Metal -- Heavier, can dent or rust, usually more expensive, noisier, often harder to install

There are situations where I might want metal fenders -- eg, a Rivendellish bike that is mainly used for appearances and riding to coffee shops -- but for everyday use I'll take plastic.

cwd80

Any advice on fixing a broken (completely severed) fender strut? Glue, or welding? It's an old fender that I'd like to keep, so don't want to buy a new one. Any advice appreciated, thanks!

Artkansas 

My Freddy Fenders have held up for almost 8 years of abuse now.