CX/gravel mudguard help please!

I’ve had a Bish Bash Bosh for a few months, and am now looking at some mudguards for it…

From a bit of research it seems SKS are the ones to go for, but there’s so many different models I’m not sure where to start! Longboards or Bluemels probably look the best bet, but they come in quite a few different widths – 35, 42, 45, 53, 60, 65 – is that internal or external width?

Currently running a 40mm tyre on the front that has plenty of clearance, but a 35mm at the back as it’s pretty tight with 40mm. Do I just measure the distance between the stays and go with the widest guards that’ll fit?

I’ve emailed On-One asking what’d be best, or even a general recommendation, but they were unsurprisingly useless…

You buy a guard that’s 10mm wider than your tyre. So p45 on a 35mm, 53 for 40mm. Keeps a safe amount of room for mud. Next issue is will the frame take that size, probably but never seen one. For a bit of off-road Sks blumels are good, obviously the muddier it gets the more chance of clogging them or getting something jammed so you’d want MTB mudguards if doing proper off-road / CX. Avoid longboards, they are great on road but drop too low at the front for any rough stuff and you’ll just snap them, ask me how I know 🙄

Yeh avoid longboards as the will catch at the front. They don’t last either as the length makes them too flexible so they crack at the rear.

I’ve been using pdw full metal jackets and whilst they have been solid they’re a bit noisy because they’re metal, so you get a lot of twanging over bumps.

I’m fitting a set of sks guards as replacements today, mat black with black stays for extra stealth points and I’ll be sticking the pdw guards on eBay.

I got Bontrager ones as that is what the LBS got in for me, they work and I fitted them without any problems.

Gary I’d be interested in your pdw depending on price, size and condition ?
Drop me an email to
Ric_hen987 (at) hotmail dot com
Cheers
Rich

I just stuck an old crud guard and crud catcher I had kicking about on mine. Works great with loads of clearance!

Is that wrong?

Thanks everyone, very helpful! Only ever used MTB style mudguards before so haven’t got a clue with this stuff! 😀

I’m fitting a set of sks guards as replacements today, mat black with black stays

Which ones are those? I’ve seen the Bluemels Matt but they still have silver stays – all black would be preferable!

The black stays aren’t available in the UK, as advised by sks. I got them from a shop in Germany called hibike, they had to order from sks which took about a week. Cost inc delivery was 24euro, which was a lot less in £ than it is now!

And yes I could have sprayed the silver ones but I tried that before and it doesn’t last.

If you are putting on close fitting mudguards on a bike that will be ridden offroad play attention to the placement of the stays.

Just imagine a rock or stick caught under the mudguard, which then starts crumpling. Does the radius of the stay sweep towards the tyre (lock up) or away? If it doesn’t sweep away, I wouldn’t fit it even if it does have pop off mounts. I learned that the hard way. (Concussion)

The black stays aren’t available in the UK, as advised by sks. I got them from a shop in Germany called hibike, they had to order from sks which took about a week. Cost inc delivery was 24euro, which was a lot less in £ than it is now!

Any chance of a link? Used Hibike plenty of times but don’t seem to be able to find them on the site…