Forum menu
Just the topic for May. I'm looking for a new set of 700c mudguards for up to maybe 35mm tyre (currently 30mm). I have noticed a rather good looking set with a single support rod rather than the two but can't find it again, I'm sure it was on here and I've had a quick look through the Tripster thread. So any suggestions?
Pdw full metals?
SKS Chromoplastics for cheaps, Portland Design Works Full Metal Fenders for not so cheap. Gilles Berthoud or Velo Orange for retro.
I've just bought Swarf Cycles guargds. They're expensive but are made of carbon, look amazing and are totally silent - which is surprisingly noticeable when getting on a bike with SKS guards
my old sks were silent - although i did drill out their crap rivets and fitted good quality ones TIGHTLY - but i still fitted PDW full metals to my new bike to see if they last longer than a couple of years - they better.
Gilles Berthoud or Velo Orange for [s]retro.[/s] superior coverage and water retention
Radial Cycles plastic mudguards. Awesome for the price (£15!) Dead easy to fit and adjust, way better than the SKS ones. Only issue with them is they could do with being a bit longer.
Gilles Berthoud or Velo Orange for retro. superior coverage and water retention
are they made of sponge ?
no, but they are longer than most others*, and they use external stay mounting (as do PDW and Radial I think?) which doesn't create the internal dams that push water out the sides (on SKS/Others) when really wet, but more importantly than all that they have proper [i]rolled edges which keep the water inside the guard[/i] rather than letting it drip and spray out the side.
It sounds like such trivial nitpicking but it really does make a massive difference once you move from damp roads to a lot of standing water and over longer rides you and your bike will stay noticeably drier.
*not just at the bottom of the front guard which stops spray over your feet/drivetrain, which can be achieved with flaps on short guards too, but at the front/over the top so water being flung out forwards is angled down rather than straight forward and up into your face.
are they made of sponge ?
The rolled edges do hold water inside the line of the fender better than SKS, the SKS brackets (if you dont move them to outside the guard) also cause a little bit of spray. However SKS are already good so really its only an improvement you notice if you are out for hours in constant wet weather. Its down to the price really as weight is the same. EDIT; though I should say on my VO set I get more wet off the stupid leather flap pushing water up and onto my feet than I do with spray off SKS.
One problem with metal guards though is if you bash one hard enough to bend or dint then its near impossible to get perfect again. They are as tough as SKS so it takes a fair knock to do (or clip the bottom of the fender on a curb or step) but at least with SKS the 2 stays let you set it straight again.
At least that's my experience from 6-7 SKS sets and 3 different Velo-Orange sets.
though I should say on my VO set I get more wet off the stupid leather flap pushing water up and onto my feet
mine never got fitted, homemade plastic flaps mounted flush on the guard everytime for me, regardless of brand.
Agree with you on susceptibility to dents and dings on metal guards, it's a tradeoff really. The PDW ones are much thicker Alu and a lot more robust, but sadly don't have rolled edges.
Currently in use on various road and utility bikes between the family:
1x GB stainless 45mm
1x GB stainless 50mm
1x VO Alu 37mm
1x VO Alu 35mm
1x PDW Alu 30mm
1x PDW Alu 45mm
1x SKS Chromoplastics 50mm
1x SKS Chromoplastics 35mm
Long since expired and/or retired over the years
~6-7 pairs of SKS Chromos <-- all either snapped or cracked eventually
2x Tortec 35mm Plastic <-- cheaper more robust version of SKS
1x SKS Blumels 45mm <-- awful flappy bendy things
1x No-name plastic things, but with external stays, weren't bad for £20
2x Crud Racers <-- used as emergency clip ons
And numerous sets of others come through workshop in various states of exploded and bentness.
If someone could do a decent SKS indestructible plastic style guard, in a proper length, with reinforced mounting points, and with a rolled or lipped edge and external stays for < £40 they'd be onto a winner! 🙂
If someone could do a decent SKS indestructible plastic style guard, in a proper length, with reinforced mounting points, and with a rolled or lipped edge and external stays for < £40 they'd be onto a winner!
Ive often considered using a rear SKS on the front, with extra struts (taken from a broken set) to support some more front extension and let the rear drop lower. I like the longboards but the extra unsupported length and weight of the rubber flap mean they eventually break if you have and offroad sections of your commute.
Cheers for the replies, Never really considered the actual profile design, food for thought.