diver858

I began riding my Ritchey breakaway as my primary road bike this year, experienced an annoyance after our first rains this fall/winter (Southern California). There is a very small gap between the frame/Ultegra brake and Conty GP 4k tires (approx 2 - 3 mm). After about 5-10 miles on wet roads, the area builds up with mud, other road debris, resulting in an annoying rubbing sound. Due to the small gap, it is also quite difficult to clear. I have been searching the internet for some type of mudflap that might sit behind the caliper, hang down a 1 mm or so, with no success. As the gap between the tire and frame is also quite small, changing the caliper to one with more clearance does not appear to be an option.


Any suggestions?

Jakedatc

Ass Saver. doesn't help people behind you but good for yourself. goes between your saddle rails

diver858

Thank you for the response.

Not concerned about my saddle wedge or clothes - trying to avoid build-up of debris between frame/brake caliper and tire.

79pmooney

Look at River City Bicycles' hardwear that allows you to cut fenders at the brake and mount the reap portion behind as usual and the front in front of the fork (or seatstay). Designed for just this application. Go to their website.

Ben

63rickert

I think what you are saying is the fender unavoidably sits very close to the tire at the brake bridge. No cure for that. Go to a framebuilder and have him move the brake bridge up. If a steel frame this is possible and not that huge a job. If you have a super obliging builder and the frame and paint are not too complex a builder could even do color matching and touchup spray and do it all in an hour or so. Frames designed for fenders are different. If fenders were not thought of before the frame was built these problems always happen.

Dean V

A tire wiper may help.
Compass cycles sell them.
It isn't a fender but a wire designed to wipe debris from the tire.

UmneyDurak

Maybe Crud Racer MK3. They don't require a whole lot of clearance, but 2-3 mill is probably pushing it. Although I was able to mount them on BMC TMR02, and that doesn't have a whole lot of clearance. From pictures of your bike seems like yours has more... What tire width are you running? If it's 25/28, bumping down to 23 might give you that extra clearance.

Spoonrobot 

Bridge the gap with tape. I did a couple thousand miles with a 3m tape bridge between the two sections of race blade fenders fore and aft of the brake caliper. Worked great.