Vintage Drop Bar Road Bikes With Fenders
 

I have searched around and can't find the answer. Did any vintage drop bar road bikes come stock with fenders? I see pictures of some, but can't tell if they are after market or stock.

Very rare in the U.S. market. While many bikes (especially sport touring and always touring models) came with eyelets to accommodate fenders, production bikes usually didn't come with them installed. Accessories are very preferential and tire sizes change often, among other reasons I'm sure.

IIRC, Cinelli Speciale Corsas were available at one time with fenders. Of course, American buyers removed and tossed the fenders right away, and now they're unobtanium, very sought after and very expensive. Surprise, surprise.

And of course the French randonneur bikes almost always came with fenders, but very few of those made it to the US.

The Peugeot UE-8 came with fenders and even dynamo lighting!

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ot-ue-8-a.html

Many British lightweights in the 50s and 60s came with "mudguards." Other times they were offered as add ons. These were the same mudguards available aftermarket such as Bluemels.

Pretty much all Italian bikes came with fenders up until 1960ish. After that, availability as a stock item decreased.

I suspect as road conditions improved, the availability of fenders decreased.

i know my 1992 Cannondale T1000 came with fenders stock.

1992 Cannondale Catalog

Seems that Cinelli's all had fender braze-on's up until sometime in the 70's. That's Italian old school.

speaking of Cinelli's, this thread could use some photos.
Here are some shots of Mr. Barron's 1958 Cinelli B that was displayed at the 2018 Classic Rendezvous gathering.

https://live.staticflickr.com/1757/4...800d0d_c_d.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/1732/2...bc49e4_c_d.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/1725/4...1e04d6_c_d.jpg

Pretty classy stuff!

Steve in Peoria

At another end of the scale, my 1971 Gitane Grand Sport came with them. Didn't order the bike with them but when the shipment arrived, my bike had them, and I was forced to take them -- and pay for them. Otherwise, I lost the bike and my deposit. Was not happy and took the fenders off when I got home from the dealer (this is Northern Virginia). That said, they were very nice looking fenders in metallic blue and a chrome/stainless/Aluminum band down the center.

In Europe pretty much all bikes, except for dedicated racing machines (or those pretending to be) came with fenders. The demi-course was very populair drop bar model until the early eighties. Most manufacturers had at least one on the line-up.

...for at least a while, back in the '60's, I recall seeing a lot of the non functional shorty fenders like these as stock on a lot of British bikes. They are useless as fenders, but an interesting part of cycling fashion.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d96923d065.jpg

I never did like these "shorty" fenders. One good thing is that they keep the grit from getting into the lower headset. Although there are better solutions for that too. A little piece of aluminum will do the same or an old inner tube around the lower headset.

Almost all my bikes have full fenders, but didn't come that way ordinally.

steelbikeguy thanks for the pictures. Much appreciated and adds to iab 's comments.

American tend not to like fenders. They prefer the sporty look without fenders, and perhaps they have a point since most of these people are recreational riders and may not ride in the rain. Bike manufacturers are happy to not have to include fenders as well and the dearler can get make some extra money on selling fenders to a customer. The markup on bikes is slim (to none). The markup on accessories is better. Just my 2 cents.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...87538f6a28.jpg
Lenton's came with full fenders, front and rear, in the 1950's. AS has been mentioned, they often got removed in places like California. But they were sold with full fenders.

This came with them as ordered but it was a custom build ordered for Paris brest Paris and ended up being too small so a Davidson was hurriedly built up and taken. :twitchy:

1978 Jim Merz touring


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ab302793d9.jpg

Blue Streak
 

My original Raleigh Blue Streak came with full fenders back in the 60’s. That bike and the fenders are long gone.

I got another in my old age. This one has to make do with aftermarket bluemels. The color isn’t quite right on these.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9c8713f0e.jpeg

how vintage? The Raleigh Super Lenton and it’s twin the Rudge Aero Special both came with drop bars and factory fenders. Other “clubman”-style Britbikes did as well, at least from right after WWII through 1962 or so when the Gran Prix was the performance cruiser of the line-up.

For the Raleigh and the Rudge, my example Rudge Aero Special dates to 1952.

I, too, bought a low-end Gitane with dropped bars and fenders. The store (in Ann Arbor) had the same model without fenders, but in a larger size than I wanted in 1973.

These fenders are original issue for this Torpado model...
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ce8c91b8a1.jpg

And, I recently got another Torpado, also with the original fender set...
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...924d4b2242.jpg

Some Peugeots came fitted with fenders, also (bike is not mine - yet)...
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6adf5b2601.jpg

Well, that and staying dry and comfortable during winter training went out of fashion.

That 58 Cinelli's fenders are so cool it apparently doesn't need a saddle. :roflmao: