The Chainlink

Fenders for the nasty stuff - likes and dislikes?

I'm going to be attempting to commute to work throughout winter for the first time this year. Roughly 98% of my commute is on the lake front path and a co-worker does a similar albeit shorter commute coming down the path from the north end (I'm going from Hyde Park). Anyway, his bike is a crappy and old but serviceable Specialized hybrid. He counts on his rear rack (with a little home-made plastic extension), to keep the crud off his backside. On the front he has one of those fender shield things zip-tied to his down tube. I'd like to put fenders on my bike (currently have a rear rack with solid middle panel), on the front and rear. I have a pretty nice looking bike so I'd like to go for some fenders that look a little more sporty and sleek, without going to full fenders like are on lots of touring bikes or heavy duty commuters. Any suggestions? I like the looks of the SKS Beavertail fenders but the single mounting point seems like it wouldn't be too secure. Also, the rear fender has to be able to fit underneath the rack, so I think that rules out those clip-on mtb/full-suspension type fenders that I see on a lot of bikes.

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Permalink Reply by Joel on September 3, 2011 at 3:16pm

I think you know the answer: nothing is as effective as a set of full fenders.  The Beavertails and blades aren't going to be as good.  Personally, I think a nice set of full fenders look better than the cheap clip on solutions. 

 

What type of bike do you have?  I would say some of Velo Oranges fenders are pretty slick looking.

Permalink Reply by Michael A on September 3, 2011 at 3:18pm

this should work, and they come off pretty easy, I use them on my road bike for spring rides in the rain

 

http://www.crudproducts.com/

Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on September 3, 2011 at 4:00pm

 

I assure you a '07 Scattante would look less weird with full fenders than aero bars.  When it comes to commuting in Chicago winters, the appropriate attitude leans toward function, not looks.

Matt Campbell said:

Joel - I have an '07 Scattante. Personally, I think it would look a little funny with full fenders. I think certain bikes can look good with full fenders, others the frame geometry or design will look weird with full fenders. My bike is one of those that I think would look weird. I know it should be about functionality but I just have a hang-up on the aesthetics.

Joel said:

I think you know the answer: nothing is as effective as a set of full fenders.  The Beavertails and blades aren't going to be as good.  Personally, I think a nice set of full fenders look better than the cheap clip on solutions. 

 

What type of bike do you have?  I would say some of Velo Oranges fenders are pretty slick looking.

Permalink Reply by Chris Hainey on September 3, 2011 at 4:30pm
I highly recommend these. Great protection from spray and minimal weight. Only drawback is they are not made to deal with heavy snow conditions.

Matt Campbell said:
OOoooo!!!! Those look slick! I just might have to get a pair of those!

Michael A said:

this should work, and they come off pretty easy, I use them on my road bike for spring rides in the rain

 

http://www.crudproducts.com/

Permalink Reply by mark stetson on September 3, 2011 at 4:49pm
I have the Planet Bikes on a Raleigh Technium.  I had to do some fiddling with the mount tabs to make them work on the Raleigh.   The plastic isn't as stiff as metal, and there's not much excess clearance on this bike, so they were a bit hard to get mounted in exactly the right place.   I haven't had any issues with them post install though.
Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on September 3, 2011 at 4:58pm

If you're going to be riding 98% of the time through the winter, you need to stop worrying about how your bike looks. Winter bikes are not going to be pretty. Just concentrate on finding a fender solution that will keep your feet, pants, and bike dry. It's not just water that splashes up on you in the winter; it's also salt, slush, snow and mud in various combinations.

 

I suggest a set of full coverage fenders like the SKS longboards, or stuff from Velo Orange, or Berthoud. I also suggest buying or making set of rubber mudflaps to extend the fender as close to the ground as possible.

 

During the winter, I also keep a pair of Rivendell Splats and a Cycling cape by campmoor in my saddlebag at all times. I look like a total dork, but it's paid off so many times during unexpected storms.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on September 3, 2011 at 5:05pm
Just bounce your bike up & down a couple times before you walk in to knock off the snow. In my apartment I laid down some old carpet squares to catch the melting snow. I leave the carpet down all winter.

Matt Campbell said:
 ...do you find you get a lot of snow built up or packed into the fenders as you're riding? I could see that being a bit of a problem when bringing the bike in at night when I get home. If the fenders are catching and clumping up with a bunch of crud, it's going to be hard to get all that gunk cleaned off which means it's then going to drip all over my floor in my apartment.
Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on September 3, 2011 at 5:13pm
That's summer.


Matt Campbell said:
Ideally I'd like fenders that I could remove easily so that when we have stretches of no precipitation and it being relatively dry I wouldn't need them.

Permalink Reply by S on September 3, 2011 at 7:16pm
I've used raceblades on my race bike and they work fairly well given the clearance involved.  They take some adjusting each time you put them on and are fiddly though.  However, if you're planning on commuting on the LFP over winter, you should be aware that it can become impassable at the bend south of oak st. beach and just south of fullerton when waves wash up on the path and it gets completely iced up.
Permalink Reply by Allen Wrench on September 3, 2011 at 8:57pm

If you plan to actually ride daily in winter, get real full fenders. There are used steel Wald/Schwinn at Working Bikes, inexpensive copies of the SKS/Esge at Irv's, fancy ones like hand-hammered Honjo at Boulevard, in between ones anywhere. A rack isn't going to do it. More space between tire and fender is helpful when the slush clumps, if possible. Look at BikeWinter.org or PeterWhiteCycles.com for more than you want to read about fenders and winter.

For another option, consider saving the nice bike for summer and get a cheap beater bike with internal gears (derailers fill with icy slush) and/or hub/coaster brakes (stop better in slush and ice) for crappy days. A single or 3 speed can be perfect. I like studded tires on the ice so I don't wind up under a bus, though they aren't necessary most days and a lot of people do fine without winter tires. If you take the nice bike, the galvanized and plated parts and lots of the shiny aluminum things will look rusty or corroded after a Chicago winter riding through salty slush. Less so probably with fenders. Keep everything clean and rinsed and lubed.

Look forward to seeing you on the road this winter.

Permalink Reply by Allen Wrench on September 3, 2011 at 9:20pm
Another trick that keeps full fenders unblocked is shoe waterproofing silicone, 'stops squeaks' silicone spray or similar smeared on the inside of the fender so the snow falls off. Mixed results for me but did help somewhat.
Permalink Reply by Meg Matthews on September 5, 2011 at 9:04am

Matt, we should talk--I'm also going to try commuting through winter from the same area, and I'm going around in circles thinking about warm clothes, what bike to get (I need a beater, not my current bike), etc...maybe we'll be on the path around the same time anyway!

 

For what it's worth, I like the ugly full fenders. That's just me though!

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