There’s a reason for everything on my bike. That’s my winter and bog bike.
The barends aren’t for holding – they are there so the bike is stable upside down if I have to remove a wheel. Makes life much simpler removing the wheel in the dark at subzero. (Lots of fiddly bits on drum brakes)
The mudguards keep crap off me in the warmer months. I know it’s fashionable to have a dogshit and dung bespeckled face, but that’s a fashion you can keep.
More importantly the mudguards keep slush and snow off me in winter. My rides are often several hours and keeping dry helps prevents hypothermia.
Luckily I don’t have to suffer scorn from the cycling aesthetes when I’m riding because they don’t seem to venture into the places I ride. 🙂
This is my summer bike.