Mystery Fenders
 

My Pista should arrive this week.
In preparation, I took the fenders off of my commuter and rode it in the slush and ice in order to refresh my mind on the purpose of fenders.
Oh, yes, now I remember why I put fenders on my commuter.

Anyway, it kinda grates on me to put fenders on a fixed gear bike (different strokes for different folks), but I think sometimes, especially if I commute on this machine, I could stand to have fenders on it.

So, I remember seeing a bike on fixedgeargallery that had really beautiful minimalist fenders.
They just barely covered the areas, front and back, where the rooster tail leaves the tires.
They seemed homemade to me, although very nicely homemade, until I saw the same fenders on another bike at fixedgeargallery.
Possibly, two guys did the same thing and they coincidentally look alike, or, they bought them somewhere.

The small fenders attached to the bike by one stainless or chromed bent wire using what looked like heavy duty black rubber bands.
I had the impression these fenders could go on and off in a minute without tools.

I didn't bookmark the bikes at the time 'cause I didn't think I would ever want fenders on my Pista.
Now I can't find them again.
Does anyone know about these fenders?

I found one:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/jan/devoted.htm

Those clubman fenders are worthless, really and truly. However, SKS Race Blades are a bit pricier and don't look as sharp, but they're also easy-on, easy-off and actually work.

edit: ok, so those aren't quite the fenders I thought you meant.

What do clubman fenders look like?

I found the SKS Race Blades online in the UK.
They look great.
Now I need to find a distributor here in the US.

My LBS sells them. About $50. Your's should have them.

I think those actually are SKS Raceblades. I got my SKS full fenders from REI, and it looks like they carry the raceblades too. I rode with somebody who was using them last week, and he said that they're alright, except they somehow caused him to flat a couple times (rubbing?). Expensive as all hell too...

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...ory_rn=4500787

Is Bend a big city? I'd never heard of it but last week someone there won an auction an I hadda send em stuff, and here you are being in Bend. I swear (no offense) never heard of it ever an i travel a bit, meet lotsa folk.

Here's sort of what I was talking about. I've heard of them called clubmans because British club riders would have them on their rigs ready to pull off at a moments notice for a quick sprint.

http://www.sunbicycles.com/03/html_0...aluminum_3.jpg

bend is about what, 40,000 with surrounding area now? mt. bachelor?

http://travel2.nytimes.com/mem/trave...tates%2fOregon

Bend, Oregon: destination resort; downhill ski Mecca; golf paradise; cross-country skiing; fishing; hiking; gorgeous mountains and lakes, bicycle racing, etc.
Many olympic athletes live and train here.
Oh, yes, recently we have acquired several world class restaurants.
Avid summer bicycling community.
Only a handful of us do the winter thing.

I called my lbs, Hutch's, and they got 'em.

Thanks.

Fifty thousand and growing.
I need to stop telling people about this place.

I heard the race blades suck...

well, they certainly aren't designed to protect your frame (which is one of two reasons i use full fenders).

i have these and bought them from a bike shop for 50 bucks. theyre easy on and off and they come in black and silver. only problem for me is that when i turn and am pedaling towards the direction my front fender is turned to i tend to run into it.

You sure that's not alochol induced?
less booze whilst biking can improve coordination...sometimes. Oddly though, it lessens the fun factor and propensity for avoidable injuries. It's a toss up!

ken cox.. this pista wait is starting to make me ancy.. you sure its this week? i feel like its been a long time coming... i hope it shows up..

They can be had. I just saw them at The Bike Gallery here in Portland.

ha! i do drink frequently but honestly this is a non alcohol related problem. Should have never told you what i was holding in my avatar.

We've been using them for a couple winters. They have plusses and minusses.

Obviously easy to mount and remove, and no fancy mounting mechanics needed. However,

1. They won't fit on a rear wheel with cantilevers (if you happen to be in that situation).
2. They tend to slide a bit or twist from side to side and there isn't much clearance underneath for misalignment. There's a larger version (the Raceblade XL, I believe it's called) that works a lot better with anything bigger than about a 22 mm tire).
3. The plastic part that contacts the frame tends to vibrate and will rub paint off or leave a burnished spot on a titanium frame. Put a piece of plastic tape underneath for protection when you mount them, but even that isn't perfect.
4. They are short. People behind you will get sprayed and your feet still get hit. Make extended mudflaps (longer than water-bottle mudflaps; pieces of stair tread work best to get enough length) and use them.
5. Read the instructions -- you can slide the actual fender part back and forth through the plastic brackets on the end of the wire, which allows you to change alignment and also the curvature of the fender (so it matches the wheel). You have to use two tiny screws provided with the fenders so they don't slide back out of position.
6. You get about 80% of the protection you need (assuming you've added good mudflaps), but you do get a lot of crap on your seat tube, bottom bracket, rear brakes, and fork crown. Most of it is NOT on you, which is what matters most, and the clean-up isn't any worse than what you have to do when you have full fenders (the gunk is just in harder-to-clean places at that point, like between the seat tube and the fender right at the bottom bracket). But if you don't expect to clean your bike, you're mistaken.

Raceblades aren't perfect, for 50 bucks they're damn expensive especially as I can't run the front as I don't have enough clearance and your feet will get a soaking as the water is pretty much redirected towards your bottom bracket.

I found that small hose clamps hold the fender on a lot more securely than the rubber ties.

Are the SKS SKS P35 Road Fenders really better than the Reace Blades?

I have an SKS X-blade and am quite pleased with it. Easy on-off, I feel it has thorougly adequate spray-protection, and goes for about $25.

SF, i have those SKS full coverage and they're great. and no contest--they're much better than race blades.