Timely topic.

With rain torrenting down all day, I spent the last hour in the garage installing fenders. Both sets were "the best" - for the application.

On the Novara hybrid my son rides to school, Planet Bike "Hardcore" fenders are the best because they are cheap, wide, reasonably sturdy, and go on quickly. On my 1992 Cannondale R1000, Crud "Roadracer Mk 2" are the best because, well, they are the only fenders that can fit this skinny tired bike that has no eyelets and almost no clearance.

Horses for courses!

I finally took a close look, and guessing it's rattling at the metal holder that bolts the rear fender to the brake bridge. The fender sits in there almost snug but there is a little play. Tight all the way around otherwise. I'll put a piece of duct tape on it and see if it makes a difference.

Sounds like you just need a fender washer.
:lol:

I'm going to throw in a vote for Honjo/Velo-Orange/Berthoud, not because they are metal, but because they are all significantly longer than SKS and PB. In my experience, the coverage for most of the chromoplastic fenders is about 180° for the rear fender and about 90° for the front. This is not long enough to be truly effective, and the problems are primarily with the front fender, unless you ride with others, when the length of the rear fender is also an issue.

If the front fender stops at the top of the tire, any water that "sticks" to the tire will throw in front of you, and slightly up. Then you ride into the spray and your feet get soaked, along with getting grime on the bike. When you have a front fender long enough to go past top dead center, the excess spray goes down and forwards instead of up and forwards.

I need some mud flaps, esp on the front fender, to help keep water off my shoes. I've come across these: http://www.mec.ca/product/5034-215/r...et/?f=10&q=mud Any other suggestions?

Those will certainly help but on days when you're going through puddles, especially large ones, the "wake" from your front tire will fill your shoes, I had that experience this summer.

I agree. The Longboards work really.

If you have a drill up to the task, you can just tap a hole in the fender yourself and use any kind of material you like. I've heard people suggest old tubes.

M.

The best fenders money can buy:

http://www.wallbike.com/berthoud/fen...-fiber-fenders
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/berthoud.asp

Have been thinking about these for years...but have not been able to justify the $300.

Ahhh... so obvious. Thanks! I was trying to think of a suitable material and couldn't come up with one. A tube sounds perfect.

I've also seen shaved down shoe soles suggested - the rubber bottom bits.

M.

Various plastic oil, transmission fluid, etc bottles are great sources for material to make custom mud flaps. By cutting out the right section of the bottle you can make them flat or rounded, with a lip at the bottom, etc. The material is just the right stiffness and you get a few color choices too.

I make mine out of heavy-duty rubber shelf/tool box liner. No drilling,I just use 3M heavy-duty double sided tape. Has lasted for years in all weather.