Sal Bandini

Riding 2017 Sirrus Sport. I don't commute with it just typically do 10+ mile rides on paved or crushed gravel trails. I want some fenders for when riding in rain or after rain when there are puddles. Since I don't commute I am thinking of not having fenders on full time.

Do the clip on fenders like SKS X-Board and X-Blade, or Zefal or Crud provide enough protection for occasional use? I rode last night in rain and I was surprised at how wet I got without fenders. I knew my backside would get soaked but didn't think my feet would get that soaked.

For full size fenders I am considering SKS or Planet Bike, but not sure which would be easier to fit with discs. My fork has fittings on inside for Plug and Play but not sure if that works for these fenders. I really don't want to go full size so any input on how effective the temporaries are is appreciated.

fietsbob

In Oregon, on the coast & Portland, we leave them on..

Consider also PDW Full metal fenders? https://ridepdw.com/products/full-metal-fenders..
and I see a polycarbonate version too.. https://ridepdw.com/collections/fend...o-fenders-city

Buy from a bike shop and typically they help with selection + assist in installation.



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Sal Bandini

I should state that I am in Chicagoland area so not as wet as west coast. I don't anticipate riding in inclement weather more than 5% of the time, if that.

Bike shops have very limited selection so most of my research is online.

I will look at PDW, thanks for suggestion.

EDIT: Wow, $120 I think I will keep looking.

jefnvk

Important question: how do you (or do you at all ) transport your bike?

Fenders can be a PITA if you transport a bike in a car. If you don't, go full, install them and forget them. I don't commute, two bikes have them, and they stay on permanently.

FWIW, both are SKS Bluemel. Nothing fancy, but affordable and effective.

Barabaika

Full permanent fenders provide the best protection.
There is always water from sprinklers, etc even when it doesn't rain.

Check these fenders. But your bike has no eyelets for fenders on the fork.
700c - Fenders, Accessories, Hardware - Accessories

DomaneS5

Permanent. I'm adding fenders to my backup road bike, Trek 1.1. It will be my rain bike.

caloso

In my experience, RaceBlades are sufficient to keep the muck off your butt and back, but that's about it.

Viz:

mcours2006

Agreed. If you're constantly taking off the wheels to transport the bike it is a pain, not to mention the fender can crack, chip, or even break easily if you hit into something with the wheels off.

If you don't transport them go with full ones.

Sal Bandini

I don't usually transport but if I do it is on trunk rack.

Where do you get Bluemel? I can't seem to find them on Amazon, unless they are called something else. The only ones I found were the reflective.

jefnvk

One pair was from when I was on a tour in Belgium, and another from an LBS in Michigan. Guess they aren't that common online, although CRC has them: SKS Bluemels Road Mudguard Set | Chain Reaction Cycles

I don't know that the particular model matters that much, was just illustrating they were the basic option and work well, as you seemed to shy away from the expensive offerings above. Think one was around $25 and the other $30.

Sal Bandini

I am fine with spending $50-$60 for SKS or Planet Bike. It was just that the PDW are about double that.

What I'm really wondering is what kind of foot protection will this give me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...f_rd_i=desktop

S-BOARD - SKS-Germany

corrado33

Very little unless the front fender comes to within a couple of inches of the ground.

kingston 

CRC has them for twenty-five bucks. Not a bad fender, but I'd spend the extra ten bucks to get longboards. Temporary fenders are useless in my experience.

mcours2006

Even then, it's iffy whether or not your shoes are going to stay dry. The spray comes straight out from the front wheel and off the fenders, but because you're moving forward your shoes still the spray. Shoe covers might help.

corrado33

Fenders do certainly help though. If it's raining lightly my shoes will BARELY be wet when I get home on my fendered bikes whereas on my non fendered bikes they'll be soaked.

Not to mention getting a skunk stripe is a horrible feeling. Soggy a$$ syndrome anyone?

fietsbob

Blumel has been absorbed by SKS, they were An English company. SKS is German.

jefnvk

Or, if you have a stiff sidewind, blowing all that gunk still coming off the couple inches on the bottom in one direction. One ride I had a soaked left foot, and a dry right foot, even with fenders.

But mostly, they do a really good job. Keep your bike much cleaner, too.

1nterceptor

Was using Planetbike Speed EZ for a few years; till I sold that roadbike.
Fork didn't have eyelets. Was thinking of taking them on and off depending on the weather.
I ended up just having them on permanently. They were effective:
RESPECT OTHERS by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

KD5NRH

Good waterproof shoe covers in insulated and non-insulated varieties are well worth the hassle of putting them on if you're going to be on the bike for more than about ten minutes and there are puddles around.

79pmooney

I'd get full fenders and set them up so detaching them is quick. Dry days on the road or gravel days when you don't care how dirty you get, take 'em off. Wet days and wanting to keep you clothes cleaner, leave 'em on. (Do hand washes of your clothes after rides with and without fenders and you will be impressed at how much dirt those fenders stop on nice days, even on the road. Bike stays cleaner too.)

I am not a fan of Planet Bike fenders as I have had to modify almost every pair I have used to keep them from oscillating, esp in front and rattling (in back). I like the SKS fenders. They use stiffer plastic and the two sets of stays on the front fender (plus much better designed top bracket) mean they behave.

Ben

79pmooney

Not quite as good, but far easier and always there is a proper front fender full flap that extends down close to the road. I make them for every fender I put on. I've been using doubled up graphic arts film from the '90s but soon my supply will dry up and I will have to find another source. (Doubled up with packing tape on teh egdes makes for a stiff flap that can be bent many times with no damage. Good when you wheel the bike off a curb and forget or need to set the fork down on the floor. Also flexible enough that they will not break the fender itself.

That flap stops nearly as much dirty water as all the rest of the two fenders (edit: if it is big enough). The English have known that forever. All the English fenders of the 60s and 70s had them.

Ben

supton

My older road bike has fenders (again). Planet Bike, no idea on price. Gets the job done. Wanted to be able to ride once the rain stops.

Will be curious if it helps with keeping the chain clean(er).

79pmooney

Pull off that joke of a front flap and put a real one on. Then watch your chain collect a lot less of everything. (Won't stop everything! If you really want a clean chain, get a fix gear and stick to the velodrome. They keep the steep tracks squeeky clean.)

Ben

kingston 

I made these long mudflaps for my touring bike out of a piece of rubber runner and some fasteners from the hardware store.

mcours2006

I've ridden in steady rain, as well as downpours, in shoe covers with SKS Longboards that have the mudflap almost all the way to the ground and my feet still get wet. The problem isn't the shoe cover, which are completely waterproof, but the water that gets on your tights, and then gravity pulls the water down to your socks, and it's game over.

If you wear shoe covers in heavy rain you almost have to be wearing waterproof pants that cover the top of the shoe cover to be effective.