Aesthetic Fender Opinions
 

This is probably gonna come off bougie for this sub, but bear with me. I'm getting a bike to use as a commuter, all around fun riding bike, and light touring. I haven't built or bought a new ride in a good ten years, and I didn't even pay enough attention to learn about these so-called gravel bikes or know that road bikes that aren't even cyclocross bikes are being fitted with hydraulic disc brakes! I'm picking up one of these gravel bikes in a dark green color with black components. This being the first build I've done in a decade, I'm kind of springing on the accessories with a honey leather saddle with copper rails and matching bar tape. I've still got a good rack from my poor vintage bike that was never really made to take one. I'm now eyeing fenders.

Can I get some honest opinions on looks here, taking into account being able to functionally use these commuting long term? Cost isn't so much an issue here. Weight is only somewhat an issue.
- Handsome Cycles Hammered Fenders in Copper - $70, Aluminum, 45mm; Pro: copper anodizing would look good with the dark green and copper saddle rails; Con: have to be drilled to put on a separate mud flap, single stay on each fender, maybe TOO attention getting?
- SKS P45 Longboard Fenders - $45, Aluminum core plastic, 45mm; Pro: Well known, tried and true fenders with safety tabs, match black components, already have mud flaps; Con: Some have issues with them cracking, don't look quite as nice as aluminum, heavier than most aluminum fenders
- Planet Bike Cascadia ALX Fenders in Black - $65, Aluminum, 42mm; Pro: Well reviewed, match black components, have safety tabs, already have mud flaps
- Portland Design Works Metal Fenders in Black - $120, Aluminum, 45mm; Pro: Well reviewed, match black components, have safety tabs, already have mud flaps; Con: Single fender stays, Why are they almost twice the price of the Planet Bike fenders?
- Woody's Fenders Wood Compound Curve Fenders - $200, Hardwood (heh) laminates, ~45mm; Pro: Absolutely beautiful, colors of link example coordinate well with the bike; Con: Expensive, may not hold up so well to my abuse, unknown weight at this time, too attention getting?

These are what have caught my eye. Functionally, I think all will do their intended job, but I'm going kind of nuts for aesthetics here. What do y'all think?

Edit: I should add, This Trek ALR 5 is what I have ordered. Unfortunately, my size in that color is on backorder for a bit. That gives me time to spread out purchases on these accessories while I keep riding my old Ciocc to work.

Have a look at Honjo, I find them from Germany at bike-components.de cheaper then from other shops, I ordered mine to Canada (think 20 Euro shipping, but I had other parts as well). Haven't mounted them yet, but I read only nice comments. I got the H50.

here's a vote for wooden!

Velo-Orange fenders are available in black, too.

This is true. I didn't include them, because their listed style in around the 45mm width and in black are the hammered fenders, which are pretty close to the same as the Handsome Cycles black hammered fenders in both price and design.
I'm just having trouble deciding what would really look well coordinated without looking gaudy on such a bike. I kinda miss my old, green, 1970s Raleigh 3-speed for the style, but I'll be damned if I wanna ride that up the hills every day in traffic. There was not a single part of that bike that wasn't steel.

For aesthetics alone, I would also be heading towards wood. But if attention-getting is a minus (i.e. avoiding thievery) maybe not.

I have Gilles Berthoud Stainless steel fenders. They are long-lasting, durable, and you can mount a taillight on them. I got a set of Planet Bike fenders for my daughter's bike and we both hate them -- spindly, fussy, don't stay in alignment. For aesthetics, though, I think those hammered copper ones are the clear winner.

Soma Fabrications sells fenders color matched to their frames

I vote for sks. Set and forget, bomber. Get some without mudflaps, add custom ones to coordinate with the bike.

That's what I'm worried about. For the most part, this bike is going between home and work, where there's a rack and many cameras, and to the grocery store, coffee shop, and a few other places. Bike theft here is not rampant and is more of a crime of opportunity. I have a substantial chain lock. I still wanna be careful about being too flashy. I get excited, because it's an opportunity to build a dream commuter (within reason), and I love beautiful bikes.

Thanks for the feedback. Are you using the aluminum Planet Bike fenders? The steel fenders are a bit heavier than I'd like to go. I know it's kind of pointless to obsess about weight on a commuter, but I do have to push this thing up a few hills. I live in the foothills of the Appalachians, and I'm already feeling it enough on my Italian bike with a backpack.

Just do like i did and paint up a set of aluminum fenders to match the frame. I went with the Velo Orange Zeppelin set, which are sturdy and super functional.https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...db2da4e011.jpghttps://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...00044806ff.jpg

That looks really slick! What kind of paint/method did you use?

Any pictures of the bike as it is? ;)

I recently used the long Gilles Berthoud stainless steel fenders on a commuter bike. They seem nice and sturdy and stay virtually free of blemishes.
I'm planning to use them on another commuter build for myself + some Honjo hardware.
The coverage is great in front if you prefer a front carrier.

EDIT: Also available in matt black powedercoat
EDIT2: According to SJS the 50mm (fits 35-42mm) version weighs 785 gram (1.73 lbs). To put that into perspective, the SKS P45 (fits 28-27mm) weigh 689 grams (1.518 lbs) PDW's aluminum model (fits 35mm max) is 568 gram (1.25 lbs).

http://i.imgur.com/KvgC5d0.jpg

@DHPflaumer has a green bike with brass Honjo fenders if you really want heavy. Beautiful to see though and will get a nice patina over the years

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...68326704b5.jpg

That's also a pretty chainguard on the gazelle

I edited the OP with a link to the bike. I don't have a real life pic, because the size and color I want is unfortunately on back order. They're saying December, and I'm hoping for sooner. British racing green is one of my favorite colors of all time. It doesn't hurt that I used to race in the auto club with the MG guys.

I didn't rule out brands like Velo-Orange and Hanjo. I've looked at them as well. There are at least three different makers that have black, hammered (or smooth), aluminum fenders. That's why I'm more focusing on the aesthetics. Those brass colored fenders look neat.
I managed to find a live "non-glamour" picture of the copper ones. I like this. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5ee3aeb423.jpg

It's your bike, so you know, do what you want. Your chosen steed is beautiful!

My opinion: If you're keeping the black components, go with black and try to match the finish. The components look like a matte black, and luckily there are matte black fenders. This style frame to me should say 'sport' and not 'townie', so I would keep the colors simple. I'm concerned for your clearances though, your linked bike doesn't show a lot of room in the fork crown or between the tire and the seat tube. I was more comfortable using sks long raceblades on my 5200, due to clearance at the fork crown and no chainstay bridge.https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...13eec3d247.jpg

Quick as the wind!

I know the man is polarizing, but I tend to agree with Jan Heine on fender lines. The curve radius should closely match the wheel radius without much deviation for maximum aesthetics. That's far simpler with steel and aluminum fenders than it is with plastic, and yet I have no aluminum fenders. I'm working on it though.

As the owner of brass fenders... They're so awesome. I get infinite compliments even from non-bike folks. You absolutely sort of forget about the weight after a while, though I'm 100% NOT a weight watcher, so your mileage may vary.

I'll also say that mine are generally quite a lot more patina'd than they look in that photo. Here are some photos that show it a bit better. I do periodically shine the grooves just for some contrast (qtips and brasso)

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ebae0585b6.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cdcf7d3070.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f6b0025b1a.jpg

We're on the same page. All that I listed will match or coordinate well with at least one part. I'm just kinda stuck in the choice, because they all seem like they'd look good! Copper works with the copper rails and rivets in the saddle and looks good with the dark green. Matte black matches the components, which other than saddle, bar tape, and tires I have no urge to change. Wood coordinates with the colors and actually matches the leather. The clearances look tight in those pictures, because that bike comes mounted with 40c tires and has a max 45c tire width. I'm immediately trading these for tires somewhere in the range of 28c to 35c. I'm trying to balance rolling resistance with ride comfort and resistance to the horrible roads here. The railroad crossings are the worst, and actually seem to get worse every time the city repaves them.

I went with the Handsome fenders. I still have to tweak the front a bit, but I like them..https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4da51d3d8b.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3c6e5f07e7.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a3479f2930.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1d905261bc.jpg

@Falkon

Matte black. The saddle and everything with it is a choice (it'd be black on this bike for me!) I wouldn't coordinate a fixed part of the bike with the saddle, I'd do the opposite. I'd only consider wood on a cruiser, and probably only a beach cruiser at that. You know saying about opinions, they're like *******s, everyone has one and they all stink!

Those copper fenders look amazing.

Those stainless steel fenders mentioned above sound ideal for durability.

Even Wald chromed steel fenders look pretty decent except that the struts are ugly galvanized.

I originally meticulously masked off the lines and sprayed with Rustoleum enamel, but it got messed up when the masking was pulled, so i ended up redoing it by hand with brushes and canned Rustoleum. The lines aren't as sharp as they were when sprayed, but from a few feet away, it looks pretty decent!

yah, even the first pic looks very clean, and it does look thick and glossy like enamel

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...18beefdb7d.jpg
Planet Bike Cascadia ALX Fenders in Black - $65, Aluminum, 42mm; Pro: Well reviewed, match black components, have safety tabs, already have mud flaps


I have 60mm on my Journeyman and I love them they are solid. I rode 86.96 miles of gravel with them on a few weeks ago. I got a compliment from one of the motocycle riders helping with the ride.

I did ask for for the opinions though. So, I appreciate yours. I'm leaning toward matte black or copper now. You're helping me narrow it down. Copper looks good with the dark green in my opinion, regardless of the rest. Matte black would match the 105 component set. Also, I don't think I can get myself to drop the $200 on wood fenders for a bike that's going to go over crappy rough railroad crossings that I'm already afraid are gonna blow the little 23c tires on my current bike.