[Closed] Gravel bikes with mudguards appreciation...

I personally think bike look better with full mud guards than the clip on variety. That's if I understand you correctly that its an aesthetics problem?

"Appreciation" and Race Blades, yeah I think it's to do with the mudguards : )

Needs some proper full guards with good lines, front and rear flaps for top marks. They'll eventually jam with mud and leaves in winter but that's when I'm using the gravel bike as a winter lanes bike more than an off-roader. Just the odd byway cut-through.

...using the gravel bike as a winter lanes bike more than an off-roader.

Thats how I use this.   Any recommendations for some decent aesthetic proper guards?   I'm happy to leave them on full time so no issued with quick release although that may be a handy choice to have.

I’m not sure if its due to the fact I don’t have / do long Gravel rides

A quick check on komoot and you would be surprised what you can find dude. I live in SE London and have a few short morning loops planned that take in a few woodland areas. Tip is to just point komoot at random destination and tell it you want to do a mountain bike ride.

ive had to fit 'clip on' as i cant find anything that will fit my 50mm tyres. i would be much happier with blades....lot less cleaning!

Technically cyclocross not gravel but given that I raced once on it (spare bike at Welsh champs last year) it’s done more miles audaxing than anything else. Trying out some prototype carbon guards for a mate.
https://flic.kr/p/2k5EZBf

https://flic.kr/p/2k5Kqtf

Was glad of them the last few rides through the lanes.

If it’s aesthetics you’re not liking, I’d agree with the people above, raceblades are a purely functional product, they don’t work as well, or imo, look as good as full length guards.
If you only want clip ons so you can take em off quick on a nice day just get a 90s style crud catcher front and rear, they’ll work about as well.
‘Cruiser weight’ I’ve had bikes with this problem before, i ended up getting rid.
Gravel bikes are a bit of a jack of all trades, you need to pick your terrain wisely to get the best from them.
You wouldn’t take a DH bike on a 30 mile road trip, it’d feel ****ing horrible, and you wouldn’t take a full on TT bike on gravel roads for the same reasons.
Choose your trails wisely.
Fwiw, i think your bike looks great apart from those particular guards.
Those carbon guards look superb!!

miles audaxing

aren't those rims a bit overkill for audaxing? I've got them on my flaremax :-)!

This is my "gravel" bike kitted out for winter. spends most of its time on road though.

full guard can be a fiddle to fit the first time but once set up don't take long to take on an off, biggest hassle is removing the wheels. ~ 5min.

I've got some edge 45 aluminium guards on my Decade Tripster. I'm currently planning a new ti gravel bike and I'll be putting something similar on there.

Mud guards are brilliant and as above a good full guard can add to a classic look.

it feels like a cruiserweight road bike.

A good term and that is exactly why I don't like them and ride a road bike with narrower tyres on gravel. As soon as handling gets more relaxed, tyres get bigger and bigger it just feels less agile and more like an MTB which is not what I want for road and gravel.

I don't use mudguards though, I just get in a mess although if very wet do use a very ugly mudguard that clips onto seatpost and just try and make sure I never look at the bike!

Any recommendations for some decent aesthetic proper guards?

Kinesis fend off

I think a lot of bikes look strange without guards. There are some aesthetic issues with yours, and they'll not be strong enough for any decent gravel anyway.

I run SKS Edge 46s and think they look good. If you commute or tour they're also strong enough to support a subtle rack. The best thing I can say about them is that I don't ever notice them, even riding singletrack and rougher trails. They don't rattle, ping about or break. They only seem to be in stock at Bike24 in 46mm gravel bike size just now.

If I were you and concerned about the look of the thing I'd also drop the stem a bit and swap the tanwall tyres which clash horribly with that like green for black. And mount the light on a go pro mount or under the bar instead of on top. Then you'll feel more attached to it.

I would have no hesitation in using appropriately sized PDW guards for gravel, they look great, seem to be super robust and I've fitted a set of them over my 40mm tyres no problem.

Only reason I haven't is that gravel seems to be blurring into CX for me at this time of year, have been suffering some horrendous cloggage on certain trails although I think my cantilever brakes might be partly to blame. Clip on seatpost guard and waterproof spray shorts are the answer I think.

when mudguards look cool

View this post on Instagram

I really should get some for my bike but just cant be bothered right now.

@slackboy yes overkill for Audax I suppose but I like the dtswiss xc rims in general and this pair were built as a tough as old boots set up for whatever and wherever I did and went. So pro4 hub at the back and son dynamo up front with 32 spokes apiece. They’ve not let me down on any rough stuff rides and I did a local 30 mile loop including the Twrch at Cwmcarn on them with 43c tyres on with no issues.

There were mixed surfaces on a recent diy 100
https://flic.kr/p/2k5Fmci
https://flic.kr/p/2k5KLQ2

Here's my Fairlight in winter trim.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/141245522@N03/50593157911/in/dateposted-public/

Commuter with 40mm tyres and 45mm City PDW guards.

Thinking about it, they would be tight with 40mm gravel tyres and a bit of mud and grit, guess you'd just need to space them off the tyre a bit.

If you're going to have full guards on, you might as well have the protect as much of the bike as possible, rather than those silly things which stop short of the seatpost.
Mudguards are the dullest thing in the whole world of bikes though.

@shedbrewed
Get that barend plugged. Some nasty injuries have come from bar ends.

Mudguards are the dullest thing in the whole world of bikes though.

Couldn't disagree more! Once you fit a good set it's just ridiculous how much additional riding it opens up, you can ride through conditions that previously would have been utterly wretched, means you can experience weather conditions on the road and enjoy them rather than just survive them.

(maybe trying to add a silver lining to riding through a typical Scottish winter...)

Here's mine from last winter. SKS Edge AL, covering 650x1.9 Gravel King SKs. Loved not getting muddy on the morning ride! Bike has gone but still have the guards and they'll be going on my new Niner RLT this week.

Kinesis fend off

I've just fitted some to my Thorn Audax - they look to be robust and smart, but I would say 30mm is the maximum tyre width.

Mudguards are the dullest thing in the whole world of bikes though.

They certainly are if getting a soaking wet barse whilst eating sloppy dog-shit is high on the fun-list!

I ride some fairly horrible (in a good way) winter routes in Hertfordshire. Full on slop, gravel, bridles & single track in the woods if not too terrible conditions.

I use a Mudhugger gravel specific rear guard and a simple old crud catcher on the front which works fine for me.

My roots are MTB (have a full susser and Hardtail) and personally speaking can’t stand the look of commuter looking guards.

Anyway here’s how my rig looks. Cheers

https://flic.kr/p/2k5LbcT

https://flic.kr/p/2k5KuCM

Brooks flap, too.

Any recommendations for some decent aesthetic proper guards?

Those SKS Edge Als that damitamit posted look like the best at the moment unless you gat get a PDW 45s a good 12mm or more above a 40mm tyre. I have some Velo Orange Al guards on my audax bike, they're good. A friend has the 650B versions on his Arkose and rates them.

On my gravel bike I have some Taiwan co guards over 650B Byways, they're the external/Honjo style stay fittings, really good guards. Evans used to sell them under Pinnacle spares but don't think they were re-ordered.

@shedbrewed, make those with external hoop stays rather than the SKS internal (crud-snagging) type and I have £ waiting.

They certainly are if getting a soaking wet barse whilst eating sloppy dog-shit is high on the fun-list!

Discussing mudguards doesn't actually stop anything getting wet, muddy or covered in shit.

Mudguards are the dullest thing in the whole world of bikes though.

I'll raise you 'damping technology'

For me most of the full cover mudguards are not an option as on 40cc Nano’s(actually measure more like 43’s) I’d just end up clogging up and stopping to clear the guards too often

I think you have to accept that you/the bike will get covered in crud no matter what this time of year. If you are not riding such bad terrain then maybe the full cover guards are your best option

Still do not like the look of em tho!

another fan of full guards here

Fitted mudguards to my gravel bike last weekend.
I had forgotten just how good they are at keeping me dry and clean.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

I’ll raise you ‘damping technology’

I’m going all in with ‘clamping technology’

Aye, it's going to depend on your terrain/soil. I can get away with full SKS guards on 47mm Byways for most of my riding - granite/sandy soil, mostly pine litter. If I'm going anywhere that is more likely to be clay/peat or deciduous tree litter then I'll do without guards. Those Crudcatchers look like a good idea though.

@slackboy what guards are those and is the rear a clip on?

Agree those SKS Edge Al's look good - ordered a set from merlin to give me something to do over the weekend!

Kryton, I've just built up something very similar to your Bergamont and have fitted an SKS Bluemels 45 on the rear, although I've still to trim the stays and replace the cable tie fixing it to the seatstay bridge. Tyres are Hutchinson Override 35mm and the mudguards are a good fit. The front is going to need 2 tiny angle brackets and some work with a dremmel, but I value to protection full length 'proper' mudguards give through the wetter months. (i.e. all year!)

Not sure if this image will work:

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMEycEAD-Y5X1XYnIW-3lQCyoAjyXSgX3gSXnDs

Not sure if this image will work:

Unfortunately not...   ?

Maybe this will work?

@TheBrick fret not. I removed the bell from the bar end as it was going to go free-range on the descent. I popped it back in after. No coring occurred.
@jameso I think the Gilles Berthoud U-stay with single perpendicular bolt is the ideal for the carbon guards but it looks like the project isn’t happening.

I have these one my gravel bike - keeps the worst of the crap off, but flexible enough not to snap if something gets stuck.

https://www.tweekscycles.com/uk/zefal-trail-city-mudguards-chizmg309/

That said, the bike is on the turbo for the foreseeable so ho hum...

Here's my winter graveller...running 700x42 with SKS full guards

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[url= https://imgbb.com/ ]picture hosts[/url]

I have the luxury of a few nice bikes, but this is my absolute favourite.

[img] [/img]

Long lasting and comfortable ti frame. Fast deep section rims. Wide range cassette. 1 x up front. Laughs in the face of rough roads, wet weather, hills and mud. Not the lightest bike in the garage, not the fastest, but by far the comfiest and I love the mix of old and new school look.

Keep those mudguards. They look decidedly less ridiculous than a spray of s**t up your back and face.

Just to add the SKS Edge AL guards are bloody awesome. I bought some in 56mm width for my gravelly bike after munrobiker's comments on here, and they just about cover a set of 700x50. Much more robust than any other mudguards I've used before too.

Not even going to try and post an image.

My Gravel bike + mudguards.

Mudguards look crap IMO, but are very useful unless you like being covered in crap...

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49176646888_aec0e32430.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49176646888_aec0e32430.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2hVzaQd ]2019 Specialized Diverge Sport[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

I've struggled to fit full length guards to my Genesis Vagabond due to the stay and fork width, and the the gap/distance to the seat stay bridge and fork crown.

Just ordered a set of SKS speedrocker mudguards which look good as a compromise between clip on and full-length guards.

Timely thread. I’m looking for some full guards for my Fugio 30, but can’t find much information on what will work with the stock 47c 650b tyres. Tried mailing Genesis and they were utterly vague. Any recommendations would be very much appreciated.

https://i.postimg.cc/nr1VyKPw/6-BEE004-A-5-CDC-4-A21-8-AF6-9-B317-F70-E3-CF.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/nr1VyKPw/6-BEE004-A-5-CDC-4-A21-8-AF6-9-B317-F70-E3-CF.jp g"/> [/img][/url]" alt="Arkose" />

I’ve recently had my first ride with full length mudguards since I was a kid on my Raleigh Hustler GT.

I tried some normal mudguards but couldn’t fit them as I’m running 40 Nanos on a 2015 Arkose frame, so there isn’t much clearance.

The Speedrockers do a great job. Went out yesterday and came back spotless even though the ground was wet and muddy. I still think full mudguards look rubbish, but it’s nice to stay dry for once.

@dkelman great to see another Bergamont!

Has the newly announced, £1700 carbon Boardman ADV 9.0 got guards?

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2375-adv-9.0-2021.html

I'm with the OP. I still can't get myself to click buy on a set of guards for the gravel thing, despite promising myself that I would last winter. So far I've got by using waterproof shorts and jacket when it is wet, but maybe I'll crack at some point.

Well halfway there...

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50597657722_bfb418db2b_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50597657722_bfb418db2b_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2k69dR1 ]20201113_160715[/url]

The front doesnt fit under the fork even with some strategic bending, so I need to think of tools I don't have to cut away, smooth - and repaint with enamel modelling paint I guess - that section of the front guard.   The rear guard is a tight fit so its lucky I don't do proper off road with it, and your advice is taken re mounting the light etc.

The spacers/bar are deliberately high btw as this is very much a social/z2 bike and I suffer from neck issues so that helps a little.

Looks miles better even with the temporary front race blade.

I haven't got a gravel bike. I do currently have mudguards on my cyclocross bike though

The front doesnt fit under the fork even with some strategic bending

If you mean width ways, I stuck mine in a vice to crimped the sides to make it fit.

If you mean width ways, I stuck mine in a vice to crimped the sides to make it fit.

I did exactly the same, but that stopped at the bends of the essential 3 sided Guard making the "sides" now long enough to rub on the tire.   I've done it neatly and it can be put back and would fit if I could make the mounting bracket - where the bolt goes through - about 3/4 inch taller or some clever solution to bridge the 3/4 inch gap between the bolt and bracket.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50597991566_f26c0254ce_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50597991566_f26c0254ce_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2k6aW5W ]IMG_20201028_110153_4[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/94046237@N02/ ]N HERCBERG[/url], on Flickr

Santa Cruz Stigmata with SKS All 56 guards. Maxxis Ravager 40mm tyres. No problems.Had to cut the rear guard behind the bottom bracket so it would fit the contours of the frame.

I’m looking for some full guards for my Fugio 30, but can’t find much information on what will work with the stock 47c 650b tyres

700 x 50 or 55mm guards should work fine on most bikes that will take 650 x 47 ime, 50s just need a bit more space above to get a decent side gap. The radius of a 700C guard is about what you'd need for a 650 x 47.
(oddly most 700c guards are the same radius even as the width increases for a larger OD/radius tyre)

@funkmasterp I'm using 53mm SKS Bluemels on my Amazon with 650x47 Byways.

OP, that looks much better already, they’re much less noticeable when fitted properly. I’m just waiting on my guards arriving in the lbs.
I went with cube acid guards, they’re the ones that cube spec on my bike if it’s bought fully equipped. My rack is also the cube one, it looks very similar to munrobikers setup on page 1.

and I suffer from neck issues so that helps a little.

Flipping the stem may help further?

I’ve struggled to fit full length guards to my Genesis Vagabond due to the stay and fork width, and the the gap/distance to the seat stay bridge and fork crown.

What tyres? I fitted some 45c IIRC (Schwalbe Silento) and a set of Bluemels

If memory serves:

- Made bend/s in the front (L) stay to clear the brake caliper
- Used a slotted stainless plate to lengthen/lower the fork-crown bracket*
- put a long bolt between the rear rack carriers on the seat stay to make a ‘bridge’ for attaching rear guard centre clip.

*You can see it behind the fork crown on the pic here where I’d just fitted the,. Still had yet to trim off the stays, and the zip-tie at the ‘bridge’ (bolt between rack-mounts on seat stays)

This is all making me feel much better about my intent to fit full length mudguards to my Mason Bokeh when it turns up in a couple of weeks (SKS bluemels in 45mm width).

@ajantom

*edit - Sorry, may have confused my seat-bridge finagling with a Longitude project. It’s been a while. re the Vagabond, not sure now if I didn’t just zip-tie the rear-guard bracket to the existing s-stay bridge. Seems likely.

Just finshed winterising my new Diverge...

Just fitted some old crud catchers on mine. Only been on the road so far but kept me dry. I quite like the mix of mtb and road aesthetic. Hope the pic works.

https://flic.kr/p/2k6onTk

I’ll see if this works too.

Mine are SKS something or anothers, came with the bike. Theyr'e ok but the back wheel wouldn't go round after a clarty stretch of BW last Thursday.
May have to put a Mudhugger on. Either that or use the HT.

https://flic.kr/p/2k6pica

^ longer stays required at the back? Looks too snug for mud tbh

@munrobiker What rack do you have there exactly? Looks great.

^ longer stays required at the back? Looks too snug for mud tbh

I fitted mrs_oab and middle_oab's guards too close, having only ever seen guards on road bikes before. Thankfully I had enough mm of stay left to up them an extra bit.
I plan on fitting mine with a few more mm again.

Well it turned out that one more wet descent on a forest track with my chest and face being blasted with gritty water was all it took to crack my no-mudguards resolve. That and confirmation from @scotroutes that they work with 47mm Byways (thanks) mean that a set of 53mm SKS Bluemels are now on order.

Another fan of sks full mudguards

View this post on Instagram

Whilst they aren’t particularly aesthetically pleasing, I do love my full length mudguards at this time of year.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

I finally embraced mudguard lyfe on my Surly 1x1 commuter a few years back and went straight for a set of Velo-Orange guards. Best by far for my money.

Yes, a bit pricey, and yes are a bit of a faff to fit initially, but no rattles or squeaks, look about as classy as mudguards can and just quietly do their job!

I've got a set of 650b V-O Zepplins (in 50mm flavour, and black) on the Pipedream and they clear 47mm WTB Horizons with a pleasingly tight fitment and no rub.

I see that @jameso is on this thread.

Jameso, would the SKS Edge 46s shown by munrobiker earlier in the thread fit a 2018 Arkose three? I'm using 700x38 tyres. At the moment I'm using blumenthals, but I cannot get them to stop rattling so I'm looking for something else. The Edges look great.