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And your spectacles nickc, do you enjoy stopping to clean them every few metres when it's pissing down? Your feet during winter, personally I prefer them to stay dry and warm...you're a kinky devil nickc, and each to their own. One man's ****less fashion sense is another man's righteous manly abstinence, I can understand that...
I wear contacts, I think I already said...In the pissing rain I don't wear glasses. My feet haven't got wet in years, unless I stand in water higher than the cuffs, sorry to disappoint. I ride in the winter pretty much every weekend. sometimes the shorts over my lycra are pretty muddy, my actual arse, not very, maybe a little damp.
You must be a pretty delicate little flower sodafarls
"You must be a pretty delicate little flower sodafarls"
You wouldn't believe it. I'm so short sighted and astigmatic that I wear spectacles in bed, the muscle mass on my calves has yet to overwhelm gravity and prevent inclement precipitation from flowing down my weedy calves into my sealskins, and my bike iz like so gay with mudguards (front and rear during winter months).
Anyway, I'll stop now incase I get banned for grooming.
I think they look 'orrible and getting propper dirty is half the fun. If you wear the right kit the worst of the weather stays out anyway.
MTFU and embrace your inner child IT wants to play in the mud. If you want to look all clean and pristine and not get you little booboo selves dirty on a mountain bike go and be a ****in roadie 😀
Maybe this is a rear mudguard point of contention not a mudguard issue, as surely those bespeckled folks should be allowed to ride bikes during the wetter months without stopping every few pedal strokes. If that is the case, and it's all about the rear mudguard, I'll suggest that the rufty tufty bollocks spouted by the rufty tufty types above should try avoiding the rufty tufty bollocks for a season, and bathe in the warm glow of dryness and lack of sexual attention from 45 year old mbuk readers who would rather perform cunnilingus on the ex-wife than de-rad their rig with something as old fashioned and practical as mudguards.
I removed my mud guards years ago. Can't possibly have them ruining the aesthetics of my bikes 🙄 Actually I just made that up, a little.
No, got fed up with removing seatpost to remove mudguard when seasons change so waterproof shorts/waterproof trousers all the way for me 🙂
sodafarls - put cork in bottle 😉
Never used a Mudguard I LOVE MUD!!!
Waterproof Short or Trousers depending on the weather thats about it.
Simples
Right now, the roads are wet.
So if I venture onto the roads on a ride, I'm sporting a Crud catcher, both front & rear.
A wet backside in these temperatures is not pleasant nor something I relish much..
I wear the MT500 overbooties and ride wearing glasses too. I even have gloves that I wear.
I've ridden all but 3 days since the 25th Dec.
Any idiot can be uncomfortable.
Hilldodger - where do I call anyone names? I am not at all bitter.
I have no issue with people disagreeing with me but I would like some sort of ratuional reasons why.
Clearly i ride a lot more and in more adverse conditions than those who don't like mudgueards. Mudgueards save me from being soaking wet and filthy all teh time - it allows me to go into a pub for example without trailing mud everywhere.
Probably 35 hrs riding in the last couple of weeks and I shall have my mudguards on for a solo strathpuffer.
I don't just ride a few miles every couple of weeks
I do ride in the hills - not just trail centres and I tend to ride for 5 hrs + at a time - too long to be wsoaking wet unnessasarily
"sodafarls - put cork in bottle"
Make me Elaine. I know I'm right. I'm going to put a mudguard on the turbo trainer bike right now.
Well said sodafarls
CG you couldn't put a mudguard on that beaut anyway.
I ride my SS most days, it has a front Crud Catcher on most of the year and a rear one through the winter or rainy periods -just don't need the kit in the wash every day routine and makes bike that much easier and quicker to clean. With Ti29er here all the kit I can to keep me out every day for the last two weeks.
However no mudguards will ever go on my Yeti or my Merlin or .... I get muddy on those days...
...though we do run front ones, fork guards on the DH bikes when racing in the mud, very very helpful when racing to see where you are going and to keep going through the whole run.
TandemJeremy
Hilldodger - where do I call anyone names?
Here:
Mudguards every time. anyone who rides without one is daft IMO
No thanks necessary 😉
I'm about to fit some crud's to my XC bike, it gets used for commuting and the constant stream of icy slush runnign down my neck is getting ridiculous!
Road bike - crud's new guards (untested as yet), no astetic issues, they'r prety much invisible from a distance.
Touring bike - SKS chromoplastic in white to match the frame (lilac with white decals)
Trail bike - none (but could change if the XC bike experiment works)
XC Bike - Will be getting a rear crud guard asap!
Back in the day before big tires were fasionable, I used to ride MTB with a full rear mudguard!
Mudguards for me. I dont give a **** about what my bike looks like as long as I aint got crap in my face and all up my back.
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4262015927_30091d4c81_b.jp g" target="_blank">
Waterproof shorts are all well and good, but what about when you want to sit down in the pub ?
Crud guard up front!
Waterproof shorts on the rear! 😆
Yes they look shiite. For a few hours it doesn't matter, but if I'm out in big hill in the winter, I view them as safety items, since they do work very well at keeping you dry, and therefore warm.
I use a downtube mounted front one for all of the wet parts of the year. The rear get put on or taken off, but usually only used when theres running or standing water.
+1 for mudguards, not using them is just vain, and laughable.
"Grrrr I'm a butch mountainbiker and I NEED my bike to look pretty :x"
[i]dry, and therefore warm[/i]
This is my big issue. I admire anyone who is able to stay warm and comfortable when they're soaked and plastered, and of course I like getting covered in mud as well. But I've spent too much time shivering myself to pieces (particularly on trains on my way home) after getting a soaking, and that kills my fun incredibly quickly. 🙂
Clearly i ride a lot more and in more adverse conditions than those who don't like mudgueards. Mudgueards save me from being soaking wet and filthy all teh time - it allows me to go into a pub for example without trailing mud everywhere.Probably 35 hrs riding in the last couple of weeks and I shall have my mudguards on for a solo strathpuffer.
I don't just ride a few miles every couple of weeks
That is exactly it - if on top of jerseys and shorts, every time I went for a ride I also had to wash overshorts & my waterproofs, then I'd be running the washing machine every day or else I'd also need 5 different sets of waterproof / waterproof shorts. As it is, I was out for 4 hours yesterday in mud, snow, horrible slushy gritted roads, through stream crossings, and it was raining when it wasn't sleeting, jersey is in the wash, trousers I was wearing came back pretty much dry, fine to wear another day. Okay if you only ride once a week on a Saturday maybe, but if you ride most days, then it would be a right old pain not having guards.
I do ride in the hills - not just trail centres and I tend to ride for 5 hrs + at a time - too long to be wsoaking wet unnessasarily
Again, totally right, wet arse is okay if you're doing a short ride where you don't stop for lunch, but otherwise, if you're doing a normal length day ride, like 40 miles or so, with a stop in the middle, it is minging to have grit up your arse when you stop.
I think they look 'orrible and getting propper dirty is half the fun. If you wear the right kit the worst of the weather stays out anyway.
'The right kit' is mudguards. You can wear £200 worth of waterproofs and fancy waterproof shorts that needs washing after every ride, or you can put on £10 of mudguards, that are zero maintenance, and mean you can ride wearing normal gear.
It's a bit of mud and a bit of water, for a few hours maybe once or twice a week,
I guess the people who are into the anti-mudguard fashion victim thing are mainly people like you - once a week riders, who can cope with cleaning loads of extra waterproof clothes after every ride, and don't need multiple lots of ride clothing, so can afford to buy the expensive waterproof shorts and the like. Most regular riders you see out seem to have them nowadays.
I have these on my bike (hardtail though), got em for about £8 in a sale. The fork mounted mudguard seems to magically keep all the front wheel muck off my face, and the back one works perfectly too.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=36755
Joe
the GF has stolen my crud catcher as she's riding to the uni each day on slushy roads.
i'd rather ride all year with a guard on the down tube to prevent dreck kicking up into my eyes. i keep meaning to make up a RRP catcher for the fork too.
but, so long as the ground is frozen and/or covered in snow i don't need the guards.
So, going gaurdless is only for part-timers
Waterproof trousers are an ideal solution for post-ride pub stop/train journey as when you whip them off, your whole legs are completely clean and dry. Simples!
Can't recommend highly enough the Gore ones, mine have been tested in all sorts of conditions.
And, yes, I absolutely refuse to put a mudguard on the MLC. She's too beautiful 🙄
So there are those that are too manly for mudguards and those that are so manly they need mudguards?
I'm confused
I am not manly 😯
Well put Lifer. 😀
nickc:
I ride in the winter pretty much every weekend
😆
So sometimes you go for 2 weeks or more without a ride.
Is that supposed to be a lot of riding to substantiate your point? 😆
I hope they are long rides and the wet shorts chafe on your arse for a good 5hrs at least - proper manly 😉
What about the poor sod on your back wheel getting sprayed. I know that most people don't care about riding friends but my rear guard is there as a courtesy only. Its the front guard that has the most affect for my comfort.
CG:
No, got fed up with removing seatpost to remove mudguard when seasons change so waterproof shorts/waterproof trousers all the way for me
😆
Most lame reason yet? The seasons change many times a year around your neck of the woods? 😉
To be fair though, seatposts are a bugger to remove and refit, those Q/R are a right pain or worse still what mtb'er has a 5mm Allen key about the place.
I go for comfort over looks any day but like to use easily removeable guards to cut down on the weight etc when it's really dry. Current preferences are for -
Topeak Defender M1 on the front. Most of the time just use the back half of it, if it's actually raining use the front and the rear. Much more effective than a Crud Catcher as it turns with the wheel.
On the back I'm currently using a CycraGuard - QR fitting that's tough enough not to break/turn. Topeak Defender rears are good but can be a bit fragile. A Crud Catcher is probably the most indestructible option but they're not long enough and difficult to take on and off.
For what its worth I use a crud catcher front and rear, keeps the wet off my arse and the mud out of my eyes.
Surely no one is ever going to read all these posts about mudgaurds though?
"Surely no one is ever going to read all these posts about mudgaurds though?"
I read through the second page to make sure no-one was disagreeing with me.
I love crud catchers and could kiss Pete what's his face for designing them.
Also love to stay warm and dry. So wear water proof shorts and cruddies even in a moist summer.
[i]I guess the people who are into the anti-mudguard fashion victim thing are mainly people like you - once a week riders, who can cope with cleaning loads of extra waterproof clothes after every ride, and don't need multiple lots of ride clothing, so can afford to buy the expensive waterproof shorts and the like. Most regular riders you see out seem to have them nowadays.[/i]
Never seen the point in mudguards - and certainly not in waterproof stuff when riding. Understand that others may want it, but it's just unnecessary IMO. Not really a fashion thing - just - why? I don't fit a klaxon, big flapping wings and a spitoon to my bike either, because I don't want them on.
6 days/wk btw, usually 11hrs+.
Sorry I'm late for this party, but I don't know what most of you are going on about?
A lot of you don't even ride in the rain, you're always on here!
Waterproof shorts & mudguards when necessary. Dont care what it "looks like" ...its going to look muddy anyway!
Point of mudguards is that u dont get covered in or eat **ite!
Each to his own...
They make winter riding fun.
Mudguards,can't stand the idea of waterproof clothing.
What boils my wee is seeing someone take a dreadfull line rather than get a bit wet. put some Cruds on and just ride.
Mudguards everytime.
Blimey, is this still going?
This is like the helmet thing, It's personal choice OK? I don't get a wet arse, I'm not uncomfortable? you don't have to worry, in the couple of hours I do night riding, and the 3-4 hours I do at the weekend, I'm more than happy.
Lordy 🙄
TandemJeremy - MemberWhy does the look matter? form over function? get real
I agree with TJ, and I never thought I'd say that.
I only ride about 100 miles a week off road (couple of local night rides and a nice weekend hoon across propper mountains)so I'm not a big mileage rider. I am however a total crusty and when my outer riding gear gets muddy I just dry it out and wear it on the next ride. It's personal choice. I've been mountain biking since the late 80's and have tried all sorts of mud guard/crud guard and just don't like them so hey I must be vain and shallow etc..... 🙄