Flounce

So I'm buying full fenders from Velo Orange - $67 - unless somewhere here feels strongly I should get the Honjo fenders from Compass that are around $117.

I have to buy mud flap separately, and drill holes for them.

Which mud flap should I get?

ThermionicScott 

The Velo Orange leather ones look sharp, but they're kinda heavy. During my weight-weenie phase, I cut out my own mudflaps from an automotive inner tube (with a little duct tape on the edges to stiffen them up), and used zip ties to attach them. I'll post a pic if you're interested.

Alternately, I'd be willing to let go of my VO ones. They did their job on PBP 2015, and I've trimmed the front one to be a little narrower, but they otherwise have years (lifetimes?) left in them.

Flounce

Thanks for the advice and offer. I’ll probably buy a set from VO.

At VO, should I get the regular length one or the extra long one?

clasher

On my commuter bike I just cut the side out of a 4 litre water jug and it shaped it to mud flap size. I dunno how a leather one is superior besides cosmetics. The plastic one holds up better to road salt since the commuter bike is an all season ride.

pdlamb

Oh, not with metal fenders!


I made a mud flap out of an old shampoo bottle and riveted it to my plastic (Esge) fender. After five years, it looked like crap, and I was ready to replace it except (a) it still worked, and (b) the rivets were still in and I didn't want to risk tearing up the fender to get them out. Darn thing lasted between 12 and 15 years until it fell off.

@Flounce, let us know how your installation goes? I put a rear on that took something between 1-1/2 and 2 hours, and now I'm gunshy about putting the front one on.

Carbonfiberboy 

After having 2 sets of alu fenders break from metal fatigue, I bought a set of SKS Chromo Longboard fenders. They've held up much better, are quieter, and I think look better. I extend the mudflaps on the SKS with a piece of black rubber stair tread material, bolted to the original mudflap.

Flounce

I ordered metal fenders from VO, purchased one regular length mudflap for the front fender and one extra long mudflap for the rear fender, and here’s how I plan to install them: when the package arrives, I bring it to the local bike shop and hand the box to them, along with my bike. Then I go home and ride my other bike for a few days. Then they call me and I show up at their shop and VOILA ! Perfectly installed fenders with beautifully drilled mudflap holes and mud flaps.

Are used to enjoy doing my own wrenching more, but I’m so pressed for time these days that I just shell out the bucks for a lot of things.

unterhausen

the VO flaps are a little stiff for my tastes. I have one in my parts stash. Of course, my Berthoud mudflap now looks like Dilbert's necktie after flying to PBP and back. I don't ride with any people that even have fenders, so no rear mudflap for me. I figure when ranking anti-social behavior, rear mudflap > fenders w/o mudflap > no fenders, so I haven't hit bottom yet. Last time I bought Berthoud fenders, Peter White insisted to my bike shop that they get me two mudflaps, so I have an extra.

DEW21

I made my own out of a plastic windshield washer bottle and some black leather from an old jacket. My first attempt was a failure (cuz I cant sew!) The second attempt using spray glue to attach the leather worked better.

Tim_Iowa

I HIGHLY recommend that you have the shop add in some safety quick-releases for at least the front fender stays, but optimally both front and rear.

PDW's FMF Safety Tabs are $9 a set, work perfectly with the VO fender stays, and may save your fork/fenders/face in case you get a stick tangled in the fender stays.

I trashed a rear SKS fender because of a stick (SKS includes front safety tabs only), and since then I put safety tabs on all front and rear fenders.

Tourist in MSN

I never put a mud flap on the rear, only on the front. But if the fenders came with one for the rear, I install it but if not I just don't worry about it.

With front fenders that did not include one, I cut a flap from the largest sized Folgers coffee container lid and use that. The lids are not big enough for it to be very large, but I can usually get a bit over 4 inches (10 cm) below the fender that way.

The plastic on a Folgers lid is very flexible and easy to cut with a scissors. But since the fenders are curved, that puts a curved shape into the flap and that stiffens the flap and holds it in place so it does not blow backwards in the wind. I use Folgers because that is black.

ThermionicScott 

I've ridden behind a few people in the rain who had fenders that only came about halfway down the rear wheel, and got sprayed enough that I figured a few inches of mudflap on mine would be a nice courtesy. People have commented that they like riding behind me in the rain.

unterhausen

you trying to make me feel guilty?

ThermionicScott 

Me? Nah, riding without such things is a great way to discourage wheel-suckers.

kingston 

I made mine out of a strip of rubber I got at the hardware store. I also made a smaller decorative set for when it's not raining.

pdlamb

@kingston, those are some long flaps! Wish more long haul truckers (the 18 wheeler kind) had something like that.


And the azaleas are beautiful!

Flounce

Much appreciated!

I just ordered a set from PDW.

unterhausen

those PDW safety tabs mount to the frame?

himespau 

Wow, those are amazingly long. Do you actually swap them out?

rhm

I just ordered some of the PDW safety tabs as well. Here's the link:

https://ridepdw.com/collections/fend...nt=24829153601

In a couple weeks I'll let you know how I like them.

unterhausen

I wonder if they would really do anything on berthoud fenders. I have speculated that you could use berthoud fenders as a rack by adding loops, they are so stout

rhm

I am actually planning to try that on my Holdsworth. The fenders are old and battered but still sturdy, though the rear one is developing a lateral crack that will probably be its demise. I'm going to add a couple more VO fender struts and some loops for straps, just enough to hold a jacket or something. With the fender deteriorating anyway, drilling a couple more holes won't be a great sacrilege... maybe the extra support will even slow the growth of the crack.

I'd buy a pair of those Lefol fenders that have the little platform built in to the top of the rear fender, but they are expensive and I'm cheap.

kingston 

I keep the 3" flaps on most of the time and install the long ones, which are 2" off the ground, only if there is rain forecast for an upcoming brevet. That picture was taken last year before a 400k with severe thunderstorms in the forecast. Everyone cancelled but me and one other guy who really appreciated the flaps and rode behind me for most of the ride.

rhm

Update, as promised:

I got my PDW breakaway fender tabs, and installed them:



They are nicely made. But they did not come with any instructions, so I'm not even sure I have them installed correctly. How are they supposed to break? Do they break more easily if the set screw is up, or down? I'm not about to experiment, but it would be nice to know something about the details I can't see. To install them, you need a 2 mm allen wrench (for the set screw on top).

gregf83 

Mine broke at the junction between the metal and plastic pieces. It broke during cold weather riding over some rough terrain.