swampyankee2

I'll be putting a set of fenders on my Dawes Galaxy since every proper Dawes touring bike needs fenders (not really my reason. LOL). It would nice to have something period-correct like the style I see on Dawes bikes from the 70s. Probably too much to ask to find a used set, so what brands or models would get me close? The Zeppelin fenders from Velo Orange seem close. At 44mm (1-3/4") wide, they seem the proper width.
Anyone have experience with fitting these to a vintage bike? Any suggestions for alternatives?

clubman 

Mudguards. (sorry to be a smart arse)

Plastic Bluemels would be period correct and perhaps even available with some patient searches. $82 US is a lot to spend on a Galaxy. I'd look for used something-else.

CV-6 

I mounted some VO fenders to a Carré I converted to 650B. My fender line is not perfect, but it works for me.

I found this helpful.

Carré Sauvage Lejeune by L Travers, on Flickr

dedhed

Some vintage Bluemels.

https://oldschoolwarehouse.com/colle...dles-and-parts

Velo Mule

I'm with @clubman and @dedhed here, Bluemels mudguards if you want correct look and feel. SKS still makes the Bluemels.

SKS Fenders - Bluemels

Then we need a picture without and with mudguards.

Hmmm. I've got a Lampert that is a Frankenbike. Perhaps I can pull it back in the direction of being a more unified bike by getting Bluemels rather than my preferred Planet Bike fenders.

dedhed thanks for the OldSchoolWarehouse.com link. I know what I'll be doing tonight.

fender1

If memory serves me correct the Zepplin's from VO are about 50mm in width. They might be too wide to fit easily under the fork crown or at the chainstays. I would measue those space just to make sure.

non-fixie 

For what they cost (I paid about $20 for a set, including shipping) those shiny black SKS Bluemels are hard to beat.

I would have liked the front to be a tiny bit longer, but otherwise they are worthy successors to the classic Club Specials and Populars, I think. This is how the B42's look on one of Dawes' competitors, a Roy Thame, from Putney:

noobinsf 

I also like the silver SKS Chromoplastic fenders, which can dress up a tattered frame with a few shiny parts. Made by SKS just like the Bluemels, and similar ESGE chromoplastics would have been available and common in the 70's, I believe.

clubman 

Chromoplastics look sharp and the ESGE version came in narrow widths for tight frames.

Yes it's silly to put mudguards on a road frame without mounting tabs or proper clearance but sometimes you just gotta do it.

rumrunn6

wow, those are nice. what is that color? I mean I see what it's called but wow, haven't seen that before!

randyjawa 

I am a fender fan for my road bikes (well, some bikes anyway). I am of two schools of thought on this.

Plastic fenders are light and (generally) quiet. Sadly, if the bike is to be in the sun a great deal, they can be subject to environmental failure. I have had many sets of Bluemels become very brittle with the passing of time.

I prefer metal fenders, be they alloy...


Same Sekine alloy fenders with a coat of paint...


or steel...


The fenders I chose for my old Torpado are steel and in great need of a coat of paint. So I grabbed the paint brush, a small can of Rustoleum, and turned this...




Into this...


And, as you can see (in picture above), I still have a set of period correct steel fenders that I do not need. If they could be of use, let me know and I will put them up on the For Sale forum. That said, this is how those repainted fenders look on the Torpado...

ehcoplex 

They're maybe not the highest-end, but Handsome Cycles Mud Butlers can be found for relatively cheap (I think the last pair I got for an 80's Peugeot touring bike I rehabbed for my partner was $55.....). I've had a pair on my Cannondale for a few thousand miles and they've performed well. They do seem just a little bit shorter than others I've seen (the rear doesn't extend quite as far down the back and the front doesn't extent quite as far to the front...),

sykerocker 

Firm believe in the Velo Orange hammered alloy fenders. These have been in use for about fifteen years now:

ehcoplex 

Velo Orange happens to be having a sale for the next few days- 20% off. WINTER20 is the code.

daverup 

The VO hammered aluminium are nice, I added them to my Diamondback Axis,



On the Raleigh Mixte I used the ALX Cascadia smooth finish,

67Carlton

Another vote for the VO hammered. I used a set on my Carlton project last fall (though in part because I found an unused set at my co-op) and have been pleased with them as my first metal fender/mudguard/snowguard install. Whatever you do, if you use metal fenders, use the Sommerville Bike install guide (https://somervillebikes.wordpress.co...fore-mounting/) , which I found extremely helpful in stress-relieving, shaping, etc.

ironwood

VO Zepplins are very good, maybe not as good a Honjo, but less expensive.. It takes a while to fit them properly.

Bianchigirll 

Your bike will really stand out from the crowd with wooden fenders.

swampyankee2

Great pics and comments!I must've missed alot of these posts. I think it happens sometimes when viewing on my (not-so-smart) phone.

Anyways, although I haven't measured between forks, etc. I suspect the Zeppelins will be too wide, and maybe just too wide for the lightweight look I want. I'm digging the V.O. Faceted fenders lately. I especially like the hoop-type fender stays.
https://velo-orange.com/collections/...e-fenders-700c
I'll be pulling the trigger on some fenders shortly. Although I get that the fenders are a bit pricey for the bike (they about equal the bike's purchase price)., I tend not to count the costs involved in my hobbies. Heck, I'm a boat-owner. What's a few extra dollars for bike parts when I'm tossing money into a hole in the water! LOL

GhostRider62

If period correct is what you want, my Dawes from that era came new with silver ESGE fenders.

GhostRider62

The ESGE fenders that came stock on my new Dawes from that era looked like those except there were black pin strips IIRC. You can't go wrong with VO in my opinion........

I have a set of hammered VO fenders on a newer bike, they have been very durable and a great product. So much so, that a new set of hammered Honjo fenders sit on the shelf.

Germany_chris

Before you buy VO look at Berthoud, they’re more expensive than VO by a bit but less expensive than Honjo. I bought these early fall of last year on sale for €68 which is pretty much the same price as VO. The things I like about these is they’re steel so they’re stiffer, and the fender to strut interface is better than VO.

Insidious C. 

swampyankee2 I zip tied this rear zepplin fender to my Galaxy and snapped a few pics. I don't have the front. Tires on my bike are 27 x 1-1/4". Hope it helps you decide.

swampyankee2

Looks less bulky than I expected. Plenty of room between chainstays and seatstays. I measured both front and rear and i believe the Zeppelins would be a tight fit in front.
I've been thinking lately I might go with 40mm wide stainless steel fenders from Giles Berthoud. Clean and simple designs. But I'm still looking. It'll probably be the last upgrade I make after getting the bike sorted on the road.

swampyankee2

I see SKS (formerly ESGE) Longboard fenders look similar to what I see on vintage Dawes, complete with pinstripe. The only problem is, they have those godawful mudflaps on them. Does anyone if they can be removed?