How much to fenders benefit the bike ?
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How much to fenders benefit the bike ?
I'm trying to make a decision between a frame with fender clearance and one without. I love riding in the rain and I love getting wet. If I got fenders they wouldn't be for me.
How much do fenders actually benefit the bike itself? How effective are they at keeping road grit off the drive-train?
Thanks.
How much do fenders actually benefit the bike itself? How effective are they at keeping road grit off the drive-train?
Thanks.
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The fenders will help keep road grit out of your drivetrain. That's a good thing. Also, riding in the rain you will still get wet. That's good, and can be fun. Tasting road grime that the front wheel throws up at your is not fun.
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QFT. That isn't just water spraying off of your tires, it's water mixed with whatever crudliness is on the road- oil, antifreeze, dirt, etc. And it may not come out of your clothes in the wash...
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If you ride MUP's and the dogs have been out....
On my bikes the fenders (and mud flaps) keep water spray off the drive train, especially the BB. FWIW most of my bikes still use the old style bearings and cups so keeping them as clean as reasonably possible helps keep maintenance time down. Chain guards and chain cases help too.
Aaron
On my bikes the fenders (and mud flaps) keep water spray off the drive train, especially the BB. FWIW most of my bikes still use the old style bearings and cups so keeping them as clean as reasonably possible helps keep maintenance time down. Chain guards and chain cases help too.
Aaron
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ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
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ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
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I decided to put fenders on my recumbent bike after riding through farm country after a rain storm getting my face splashed with the runoff from the cow barnyards I was riding past. Yuk!
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The only thing worse than getting rained on all day, every day of your four-day tour, is riding on the scenic and idyllic back roads of Germany and Belgium and tasting the various flavors of pig manure tracked onto those scenic & idyllic roads.
(It was hard getting hotel rooms on that trip too. )
(It was hard getting hotel rooms on that trip too. )
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If the fenders WERE for you, you can get clip-on fenders that attach to the fork and seat stays that keep most of the water off you, like SKS Raceblades:
https://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/item/SKSVGZ8R
They do have some drawbacks, like your feet (and probably the drivetrain) still get crud on them, and they tend to collect (smash) a lot of rocks against your rear brake right after where the fender doesn't cover.
But they keep away the "skunk strip" or your front wheel throwing water up into your face if you're turning.
https://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/item/SKSVGZ8R
They do have some drawbacks, like your feet (and probably the drivetrain) still get crud on them, and they tend to collect (smash) a lot of rocks against your rear brake right after where the fender doesn't cover.
But they keep away the "skunk strip" or your front wheel throwing water up into your face if you're turning.
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Or, why not get the road bike and simply get fenders that will work with it. https://www.crudusa.com/company
Do a search on Bike Forums. There is a lot of positive reviews about them.
Do a search on Bike Forums. There is a lot of positive reviews about them.
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I see no downside to a bike with clearance for fenders for general cycling.
#12
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The difference is truly amazing - the fendered bike stays sooooooo much cleaner..............
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The downside is that they're hard to find (a road bike with clearance for fenders). If you want something "racy" or want the comfort of full carbon fiber, it's nearly impossible (sadly, because there's really no other reason than a few grams).
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I'm trying to make a decision between a frame with fender clearance and one without. I love riding in the rain and I love getting wet. If I got fenders they wouldn't be for me.
How much do fenders actually benefit the bike itself? How effective are they at keeping road grit off the drive-train?
Thanks.
How much do fenders actually benefit the bike itself? How effective are they at keeping road grit off the drive-train?
Thanks.
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The ES has (real) fender clearance, and the Smoothie doesn't. Without being able to go out and ride one of each, I'm not sure how much of a difference the geometry would make in the feel of the bike. I've been thinking of trying to find complete bikes with similar geometry to do some comparisons, but haven't gotten around to it. (Also I think that I'd be wasting someone else's time trying bikes that I don't plan to buy.) The differences between the Smoothie and ES aren't huge, but big enough that they go to the trouble of manufacturing both...
And now, the confession, the big advantage that the Smoothie has over the ES is that the Smoothie comes in white (nice!) and the ES is deep red (blech.) If I can convince myself that the fender clearance is worth it, it could tip me towards the ES.
I have a winter bike for in the snow (and salt,) but this bike would be for all other weather. I have plenty of experience riding in the rain, and it's not like my drive-train has been disintegrating, but that grit must be wearing it down faster than if I were a Fair Weather. Enough to make it worth buying a deep red bike? Hmmmm.... Not sure yet.
Thanks everyone for your comments.
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See, this is why you need a rain bike!
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Part of the reason I have fenders is because my derailleurs are freakin' expensive and I really don't like the idea of all the sand and other road grime ending up in them. In Tennessee if it looks like it's icy, they spread sand on the roads, it disappears but then comes out to play again when it rains no matter what time of year it is. Just looking at the inside of my fenders after a good rain I know this for a fact. Better stuck to my fenders than to my chain and derailleurs.
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'course if you're changing component groups, I ended up riding SRAM Red and was a little shocked to find that I really liked it better than my previous-gen Dura-Ace. Ah, well now I'm just changing subjects aren't I? Sorry. LOL
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Well I'm looking for a replacement for my full-on road bike (Lemond Maillot Jaune). The Lemond is too big for me and I figure I'll get something a touch more practical at the same time. I'll also be using it for commuting and would like to put my change of clothes on a rack rather than a backpack. (Little rack-top bag, not panniers.) I don't plan on doing any racing. I've done a century on the Lemond and in a few years might want to get back to that sort of riding with this bike.
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By the way, I kind of like the red. And red bikes go faster, according to BF wisdom.
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A fenders PSA from BSNYC:
fender psa1..JPG
fender psa1..JPG
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They can block:
-spray into the headset
-spray into the bottom bracket (if long enough)
-spray onto the chainset (if long enough, we're talking mudflap long)
-spray onto the brakes
-spray onto the seatpost clamp area
etc.
They're worth it.
-spray into the headset
-spray into the bottom bracket (if long enough)
-spray onto the chainset (if long enough, we're talking mudflap long)
-spray onto the brakes
-spray onto the seatpost clamp area
etc.
They're worth it.
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You're right that I might be able to get my hands on a blue ES from last year. For winter riding I have a fixie with some Hutchinson cyclo-cross tires, although sometimes I leave a slick on the rear wheel for a little extra fun. This new bike is just for pavement in above-freezing conditions.
The only touring bike I've ridden was a test-ride of Jamis Aurora, which seems to fair well in reviews, but it was very far from what I'm looking for. I'm sure it's better fully loaded, but that's not what I need.
The Surly Pacer falls somewhere between the Smoothie and the ES, geometry-wise, but doesn't have rack mounts. I also like the Tange Prestige and carbon forks of the Somas.
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I'm sure lots of people like the red...
You're right that I might be able to get my hands on a blue ES from last year. For winter riding I have a fixie with some Hutchinson cyclo-cross tires, although sometimes I leave a slick on the rear wheel for a little extra fun. This new bike is just for pavement in above-freezing conditions.
The only touring bike I've ridden was a test-ride of Jamis Aurora, which seems to fair well in reviews, but it was very far from what I'm looking for. I'm sure it's better fully loaded, but that's not what I need.
The Surly Pacer falls somewhere between the Smoothie and the ES, geometry-wise, but doesn't have rack mounts. I also like the Tange Prestige and carbon forks of the Somas.
You're right that I might be able to get my hands on a blue ES from last year. For winter riding I have a fixie with some Hutchinson cyclo-cross tires, although sometimes I leave a slick on the rear wheel for a little extra fun. This new bike is just for pavement in above-freezing conditions.
The only touring bike I've ridden was a test-ride of Jamis Aurora, which seems to fair well in reviews, but it was very far from what I'm looking for. I'm sure it's better fully loaded, but that's not what I need.
The Surly Pacer falls somewhere between the Smoothie and the ES, geometry-wise, but doesn't have rack mounts. I also like the Tange Prestige and carbon forks of the Somas.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon