JonathanGennick 

That's pretty much been my experience. Fenders are wonderful, but there's no getting past that my feet are way down there near the pavement where my pedals are located.

bulldog1935

your fenders don't keep your feet dry.

TheNormanRider

bgraham111

Fenders totally work. I still need to add flaps, but the fenders are a great addition.

bulldog1935

intentionally seeking out deep muddy splashing puddles because you have fenders is both pointless and abnormal

fietsbob

Cyclo Cross Bicycle racing is For The Abnormal , they don't use Mudguards, doing that , either .

bulldog1935

nor should they - the OP thesis and some of the replies are questioning the effectiveness of fenders.

Fenders are very effective - any level of fender does something.

nor are the guys in The Challenge video racing CX - they're simply working their hardest to make a mess - it is abnormal use of fenders
yes, it's fun, but it has nothing to do with fenders

why is it so many on this forum think they can retreat to racing to justify abnormal behavior? (it's a rhetorical question)

Bandera

Yep, 'Cross racing was considered odd/marginal "back when" by the trackie dominated Crit racers of my era until less than perfect weather & road conditions exposed their lack of bike handling ability/mindset on varied surfaces/wet conditions when we just rode away from them.....

I always liked bad surfaces, windy and wet conditions myself in a road race or criterium thanks to 'Cross racing.

When MTB racing was a new "Thing" 'Cross racers, including Gary Fisher, did very well indeed.....until Tomac and the BMX kids came along to show us how a whole new deal of aerial stuff was possible.

No mudguards were fitted for good reasons in either discipline. But we were not commuting to the office in Friday casual meeting clients either.

-Bandera

bulldog1935

you can actually push fenders a little farther with mud tolerance using old-fashioned tire wipers mounted in the wrong place.
(I'll take these over mud flaps any day.)
Jan Heine flipped when he saw this, but it's completely safe and shaves mud from the tires before it can plug the fenders - it's not for continuous mud ride, but continuing with intermittent mud. And it works - it keeps the fenders from getting plugged.
It also keeps chert, rocks and sticks from entering your fenders.

the tire wipers, btw, are fine brass wire with tiny tygon tubing joints. If they do get turned inside your fender, they will conform to whatever shape they need, and your wheels will keep rolling. Simpy straighten them back out and reshape them.

Stadjer

You need a mud flap for deeper puddle's, and keep the pedals in horizontal position. Really deep puddles you can't steer around means you will have to lift your feet high from the pedals.

2 Piece

I have had and used mud flaps, more trouble cleaning the bicycle afterwards than what little benefit they actually provide. When you ride a bicycle in wet weather, you are going to get wet. Get a cheap set of $20.00 Frogg Toggs, some decent water proof shoe covers, and a pair of water proof gloves, glasses and go for it. You will be just as dry as if you had fenders, actually you will probably be dryer and your bicycle will be so much easier to clean without those fenders getting in the way.

GravelMN

IME trail fenders do a fair job of protecting your arse and crotch from road spray but do little or nothing for any rider behind you. Full fenders do a fantastic job of keeping you and your bike as dry and mud free as possible. I do slow down on wet roads, not just to reduce spray, but for safety as well.

Nachoman

Yes fenders work.
But most of my riding is in a group, much in a paceline.
So what that means, is if the guy in front of you doesn't have a rear fender, it's not going to matter.

bulldog1935

after 20 miles on a wet muddy greenway, some mud-covered folks at a rest stop told me that my bike was not going to stay this pristine after going down the trail - I didn't tell them I had already ridden the length of the trail.

BillyD

To each his own. We all don't enjoy the same things, so no need to criticize.

Marcus_Ti

That is when you start guilting your paceline buddies into getting fenders

bulldog1935

Not every bike should have fenders. Having a bike with fenders is great. It can keep you riding on days when others stay home.

rumrunn6

with fenders you don't get this kind of thing happening







but keep in mind that with fenders water/mud will spray to the side of the front mudflap so if you turn the wheel left & right at all some spray will hit your shoes. meaning riding in wet conditions still requires shoe covers. if it's snow & cold enough, your shoes won't get wet, but they'll get colder covered with snow

jay ray

I recently read the term "fender-ready road bike."


But when searching for one of these (new), I couldn't find anything except some flat bar bikes. I much prefer drops.


I would sure like the flexibility of riding with or without fenders.

Maelochs

I put mud guards in a puddle near my driveway and no one has stolen the mud.

veganbikes

Haven't tried them yet but have heard great things about their old fenders. Look at them disc ready, 35-38mm tire clearance (they aren't sure which one), under 300 grams per set what more could you want out of clip on decent coverage fenders.
ROADRACER mk3 ? Crud Products

If you can fit full coverage fenders they are quite handy. I rode recently on a newer bike that doesn't have fenders yet (but Crud MK3s are in the future) and it was raining and I certainly got quite a lot wetter than I would have if I was on my touring bike with full coverage fenders and my bike also got a little dirtier.

Rollfast

They do for me except on my lightweight Rollfast (Rosa). She looks better without because the MTB treads and springer just make her look rad, which is great when you wanna feel a little more rad.

MichaelW

The fenders that work best on commuter bikes are full length, bolt on ones that are a little wider than the tyres.
SKS Chromoplastic are good, although the quality of the metal mounting components is not as good as it used to be.
When selecting a bike for winter road riding on wet roads, fender compatibility should be a priority, or else you end up having to adopt one of the many hack solutions that never work as well as full length bolt on versions.

They will keep you dry when the road is wet and there is no rain. They will keep your waterproofs clean and functioning better for longer. There are limits to how deep water thay will protect you from but in normal use, they work. They also protect riders too your rear from your splash so are good on social rides.

MichaelW

" I recently read the term "fender-ready road bike."


But when searching for one of these (new), I couldn't find anything except some flat bar bikes. I much prefer drops.

In the UK, you can get road bikes with more clearance, room for long drop caliper brakes for 28mm tyres +fenders. Modern disc brake road bikes are gradually taking over this role.
Traditionally, these were light touring bikes used in Audax endurance rides. Sportier more modern winter training bikes are now being superceded by CX doitall road bikes.


I would sure like the flexibility of riding with or without fenders.

Lynskeyman

if you submerge or ride your bike in 2 feet of water then you're right fenders will do no good, otherwise they work great