For added fun, compare what is like following somebody with the different types of fenders. In busier areas, I've found what fenders other people use is more important than what fenders I use.
Global cycle network did a similar experiment on English country roads in wet weather. Two fellas in white paper boiler suits on road bikes. The one with fenders stayed pretty clean. The one without to save weight looked like he should shower before he took his dirty kit off. Dirty front as expected but his back was horrendous. Can't describe it politely. Lol For commuting/general getting about full fenders on permanently has got to be best. Not going to slow you down, traffic does that, and always in place when you need them.
There is an unexpected downside though. The rear mudguard* is either scratched or bent when one tries to balance the bike on its rear wheel in order to get it inside a 2-3 person elevator. (*) At least with SKS Bluemels aluminum plastic mudguard
This is honestly the most important thing in my book. I had wrap around fenders that didn't quite go low enough on the front wheel to protect my drive train, and in a single ride in the winter my chain would be absolutely wrecked and in need of a deep clean. I extended it to keep spray of the sprocket and I could go at least a few rides before needing maintenance. I've now started waxing the chain as well and its been about a month of commuting daily without rust or maintenance. The wax keeps water from adhering to the outside of the chain, so whatever residual spray from rain or whatever beads off instead of sticking.
I encountered this opinion many times and still don't get it. Front fender fine, it cuts splash from front chainring(s), but at the back fender part of water carried by momentum collapses somewhere along the inner side and splashes down and dripps from edges, especially while cornering or pumping up hill/sprinting. Edge of fender is almost perfectly over cassete, so where will water and debris go, if not down on cogs and chain to then travel up front to ring(s)? Bottom bracket and front derailleur (if present) ar only components kept away from substantial second hand splash. This is only outcome I ever observed.
For clean shoes - get a nice long and wide mudflap (or DIY one) and attach it to the front fender. The best results should be with the flap end about 10cm from the ground. This will add protection from the wide splash when going through puddles while still maintaining enough clearance not to pick up leaves and other garbage from the road.
@@canoradam cut up a plastic milk bottle, colour it with a black sharpie and attach using zip ties to the bottom of the fender that's a pretty solid solution.
For me, full fenders are essential. Even in dry weather, my commute on chip paths kicks up insane amounts of debris. When it's wetter, I stay clean and dry, but my bike is positively caked in soil, pine needles and leaf remnants. Recently I collected and weighed the debris on my bike after a particularly grime-filled, hour+ ride; I removed nearly 5lbs of dirt from my bike. I'm partial to zip-up silicone galoshes over my regular shoes for rainy day commutes. Also, panniers do wonders to redirect or contain splash-ups and sprays. Thanks for the content Tom.
I've found that tire tread depth and tire width matters too. The mud an snow tires (~2.1 inches) I had on my winter commuter kick up a lot more dirt and water than the slicks (~30 mm) on my fixed gear.
Having full length mudguards was the biggest improvement I made while cycle commuting. Fitting an extension mud flap on the front will help keep the bottom of trousers and shoes clean. If you look at Dutch bikes in Amsterdam they also have covers on the sides of the rear wheel and a chain guard. They may not be the most attractive thing to put on a bike. But I'd rather have them than wear wet weather clothing because the roads are wet but it's not raining.
I always use full fenders, for commuting they're the only ones that make sense. I got some full chromed ones and with my chrome rack they really give the bike a more vintage look. Unfortunately nowadays they've gotten like twice or thrice as expensive. Also for those who constantly get their feet wet and muddy some advice - try to get some of those plastic "fish tails" or whatever they call them. Some fenders come with them but they're usually on the rear fender. If you cant find one simply make one like me. I usually just use an old flat inner tire from a car, cut it to a fishtail shape and the wider you make it the more protection youll have, then i bolt it with a small peace of metal to the bottom of the front fender. It works like a charm protecting your feet from getting dirty and wet.
I used to carve them out of old plastic five gallon buckets when I did stucco for a living. Be careful if you do this, the knife can do unexpected things sometimes. Possibly a keyhole saw or a dremel would be a better choice now that I think about it.
Note: not all fenders are meant to protect the biker. In fact, many are meant only to protect certain parts of a bike from water and mud (like bearings and suspension forks).
How timely! I just purchased a bike today ... and also ordered fenders. I'm too old to sport a muddy stripe up my back. I wish more bikes came equipped with them ... but then again, my new bike didn't come with a kickstand either so I had to purchase and have that installed at the store.
Depending on the model of bike you have finding full fenders can be next to impossible unfortunately. Keep this in mind when buying a bicycle and using it everyday you'll want the fenders eventually.
How much you want to invest in fenders depends on how wet things are going to get. Fenders like the one you used do a pretty decent job on roads that are merely wet. If you are going to ride in rain with puddles, you need to up the game by adding mud flaps and you will need to accept that you not going to arrive completely dry. (My commuting bike has had various wrap around fenders for 35 years or so.)
My main ride, a classic steel mtb with 2.15" tires, has Planet Bike Cascadia fenders in "silver" (painted poly) with mud flaps; they're light, look great, and do their job exceptionally well. I don't bother taking them off, because our local roads have enough sand and gravel to make my fenders ping.
I ride year round on a 26" wheel city bike that sports a full set of fenders (missing the nose of the front one, broken off years ago on a bike rack fail) I've added an extension to the back end of the front that works wonders. I used about a third of a 2 liter pop bottle, cut lengthwise, including some of the round bottom. I punch two holes, wider apart than the width of the fender, add two split rings, one to the extension, the other into the holes drilled at the bottom of each side of the fender. The bottle reaches down to just a shave above the pavement and swings free most of the time, causing very little wind resistance. When I have to ride through slush, the glop fills the curved bottom of the extension, its weight holds the extension straight down, and keeps my toes and legs dry. The best part is my drive train and bottom bracket stay clean and last a lot longer.
If you're on a budget and need fenders for folding bikes with small tires, check out the ones intended for children's bikes. You can get a set of them for about $10. Just make sure they will install on your bike. Bikers who are mostly concerned about mud on their lower legs might get the waterproof leg gaiters that hikers and climbers use. They can be put on and off in seconds. And if the problem extends even higher up, check out slip-on waterproof rain pants.
I have a set of cheaper fenders that I bought from MEC. The front one is a little longer than the one you had. I also got a similar back fender. It was a convenient install, just tied it to the pannier. A bit of a sloppy fit, as I had to bend it to the pannier. I'm really happy with the results, as it's set all the time on the west coast. I do several short - 5 min, trips a day, lots of puddles, no problem.
Ive been using an SKS brand back fender. It was only $25 and it attaches with those super easy rubber straps. Great quality and works great for my commutes and around the city
@@Minecraftrok999 So I actually just realized I’ve been using the SKS S board front fender, on my back tire 🤦♂️🤣 I guess I’ll have to buy the actual fender for my back tire now
If you want to keep the shoes a bit cleaner try adding a mudflap to the bottom of those full fenders on the front wheel. You can get ones that spread out, and almost reach ground level, that should probably be able to keep your shoes pretty clean for like $3 or something. (2-3 euro's for the cheap ones here in NL)
Mud is launched tangentially from the wheel (not radially). So that mud that spurts up your back is launched from the rear wheel fairly low down, full fenders required. For the front wheel it is hard to ensure shoes do not get dirty since a tangential launch from that wheel to your feet is coming off the wheel right near the road. A big mudflap on a full fender will help. As noted, shorter fenders are useless - great video.
I'm just going to go on record as saying: if you commute in a high-traffic area that is sometimes wet, it's downright rude to have anything but a fender that doesn't come well down past that point 90° from the contact patch of the rear wheel (especially those damned beaver-tail mt. bike fenders)! I have been behind folks without fenders or just mealy, half-assed fenders on the rear wheel and, even from 10 meters back still get their rooster tail of wet road grime in the face.
always go for full fenders. for mountainbikes there is only one option for a proper rear guard, it's Mudhugger Rear. I have Mudhugger Rear Large, cus I have 29er wheels. they protect my butt, back, backpack, but also the dropper post from gravel and mud, it makes a huge difference, less wear on saddle, dropper post, they also protect your body from the studded tyres in the winter. the guard is attached to the seat stays by zip pties, so suspension movement won't interfere with the guard, I have 175mm travel. but a guard attached to the saddle won't give any real protection, it barely does anything, and dropper post will get covered in mud. For front guards that don't go all the way down, but still provide good protection there are many, Mudhugger, RRP, Mucky Nutz, Mojo DFender. if you have mounts SKS has those, there might be other brands too. but most full suspension mountain bikes don't have fender mounts.
That Fox mountain bike fender is meant for suspension forks and only to keep mud out of the eyes. When spray flings forward through the large gap between the crown and the brace it flys back into the rider's face. You can make those yourself with dollar store duo-tang covers.
Waterproof trousers are another decent option, quick to take off when you lock your bike up. The ones I have have built in shoe covers with stirrups too
6:36 I knew exactly what would happen since the fender is attached to the frame and does not turn with the wheel. But it is funny that one can tell that Tom turned to the left more than the right! Haha
The short front mountain bike fenders keep the mud off your face. When mtn biking in the mud your going to get covered in mud, but it's nice to keep the muc out of your mouth & eyes. When commuting I used full fenders, and added an extension on the bottom of the front fender to keep my feet dry.
Dutch alert. Almost all bikes here have full fenders, some even have an extended rubber mud flap attached to the bottom of the front one to keep shoes clean. Obviously it is necessary here as it rains about 50% of the time. Sometimes it rains for weeks on end. My commute bike has stainless steel fenders, which must be just about the most awesome fenders ever.
I rode the Chesapeake and Ohio Trail from Cumberland Maryland to Washington DC on my Surly LHT with front and rear fenders on my bicycle. Multiple times, I had to dig the mud out between my rear fender and my rear wheel because my rear wheel had stopped working because of the mud built up. Is there a fender option for touring over muddy gravel areas that you would recommend? Great video by the way!
In China, the 2nd type of fender Tom shows sells for about 10 yuan to 20 yuan, shipping included, which is like 1-3 US dollars - yes, including the front and rear fenders. Compared with what Tom has bought, got, what a steal!
Full fenders for me, especially with fat tires and a checkerboard tread! I ride on all kinds of terrain from pavement, snow, dirt gravel, and even mountain bike trails, so fenders are a necessity.
Good video. Full fenders are not all the same. Some are longer than others, and the longer, the better. Some have mudflaps on front and back, and they make a big difference. Test these out if you ever do another video testing fenders.
One thing to note about the mountain bike solutions, these are meant less for keeping you clean and more for keeping your face from being filled with mud
I use full fenders too. They are a must for commuting. One thing I found out is that the dirt sometimes comes from the lateral splash of the tires - just like that front wave on a boat. If I'm about (or over) 20 km/h and got through some puddle, the lateral splash will get my feet wet - but it comes from the contact from tire to ground: no mudguard will help You with this.
Deeper fenders that wrap more around the tire reduce this side splash but certainly do not eliminate it. Some flat mudflaps seem to just deflect splash to the side, onto your feet and pants.
@@HweolRidda It isn't even the fenders my problem. The splash comes from the contact from tyre to pavement. The water just go sideways and up - hitting my feet. If I go slower it doesn't happen. I still didn't go fast enough to avoid it - above 20 km/h and up to 30 km/h my feet get wet. I'm yet to go faster than this through some puddle more than 0,5cm deep. Not sure if I want to test this...
Another great video. For me, full fenders are a must. I have stainless steel VeloOrange fenders on my Surly Disk trucker. They are tanks. They'll last a lifetime. However, the front one will still splash water onto your shoes if you go too quickly through a big puddle. I think I need to add a mud flap on the front one. Cheers from Edmonton
You could try putting a flap on the full mudguards to avoid mud on your shoes or at least on the cuff of your trousers. They make a full mudguard even more complete.
For me, full fenders with rear skirt / coat guards. Then add a chain case. This way you can wear your suit to work even when riding. It's not cheap as that kind of setup you have to import from Europe. They simply are not sold in North America. So expect to spend around $200 USD.
The front mud flap (the orange fox one) is in my opinion more meant to keep the headset bearing out of the grit and thus ensure a significantly longer life. The rear extension is a bonus to keep dirt out of your eyes, but nothing more. I have decent experience with the SKS-Longboards on my old 28" bike, additionally, the velo orange or Honjo mudguards from Aluminium or Steel are supposed to be really good, though expensive. A bit worse than the longboards are the SKS Blümels which I have (B65 on my 26" touring bike). Generally speaking, even front fenders which go down low enough often do not cover enough space over the front wheel leading to splash from in front of the top of the front wheel which gets accelerated forward and then slowed down by the wind resistance. This is especially bad going downhill at high speeds 50+km/h. Old dutch designs are pretty solid, though heavy.
I use clip on fenders (PDW Sodapop fenders) and they work pretty well. They were a lot easier to attach than full fenders and provide pretty good coverage.
@@Shifter_Cycling I can, although it’s rainy enough where I live that I’ve had them on since winter. If we get more dry days this summer, I might take them off.
Well... Better mud than having to navigate through a long pilgrimage where people are riding horses, and suddenly it rains and dissolves the droppings over the road. That happened to our bunch of roadies a few years ago, myself included, and not a single one of us came back in a colour other than brownish-green. Was a silent ride, too.
1st fender: not long enough to protect the chain. Also, you should go through puddles with bars turned because the down tube acts as a fender when going straight forward. Short fenders: worthless. Look at the vector possibilities coming off the tires/tyres. Toe overlap can also be a front fender problem. Frames need to be longer.
Got thre on my mountain bike. One front one rear and one in front of the bottle cage on the stem. No need to take them off. Got the third one as it didn't fit my Dad's bike.
Full wrap aluminum fenders FTW. I use both Honjo/René Herse and Vélo Orange. Width matters a lot, they need to be 10+ mm wider than the tire. They are a pain to install (takes me over an hour), but they really do work better than anything else.
Who would ride to work without changing? A cheap pair of over pants would work well. Full fenders all the way. When you were like “these did ok” on the full fenders I was like what do you mean?? They did great!! 😂
Good test. Fashion advice: Don't wear white slacks with dark shoes. In my opinion nothing beats "the look" of full fenders. Full fenders also keep the bike cleaner even when the ground is not wet. I have them on two of my bikes. My mountain bike is naked.
Some people have a dedicated rain bike with the full fenders. I will just plan for more time during wet road conditions and travel at a slower speed to reduce tire spray.
Planet Bike Cascadia (extra long with the mudflaps) are the best i've used. Though, another test is in order - one that considers tire size, width and tread. 700c slicks kick up a far more concentrated stream of water/mud than treaded 29ers do.
My bike has no clearance for a front full fender and I still found a way to fit it (most of it, had to shave off the front piece), Swedish autumn is just puddles galore.
I kind of thought the full ones were the only option at the start but it was fun watching. Sorry your sailor days are over 😛. Luckily my Electra Townie Go eBike came with fenders or mudguards as we call them as standard.
The part I missed in the video is dirt on the back. When I wrote my bike without fenders in an atumn, I could prevent my pants form getting very dirty by just slow down on mud and puddles. But my jacket always got dirty anyway. If your pants get dirty you just thro them in your washing machine, but most jackets dont like that very much.
I really like the SKS longboards. I had a set of bluemels that are a full fender design previously, but mud got onto my shoes. Now because the longboards reach so far down, my shoes are bone dry!
Those cheap black plastic mudgards that mount on to the ' brake mounts ' are great they give full protection and you can put them on off in seconds once their fitted you find them in Wikos in the UK for about 7 quid and probly on the internet to less than a fiver
How did you break your fender my priority 600 ships May seventh (thanks to the canal blockage) I want to be sure I don’t do something that breaks the fender.
It's rather embarrassing. I installed it halfway, then got pulled away and forgot it was only half installed. Then, I took the bike for a ride and it got hung up on the wheel and broke. Like I said, my own mechanical ineptitude.
I don't own a car so I own 2 touring type bikes (an IF and a Surly) for my main modes of transportation. I have a set of Bike Planet fenders on both bikes because I have to ride in all types of weather. Maybe if I was a recreational cyclist I might could live without fenders but that is not me.
I've got a commuting riding wear (hiking pants), that I don't have to wear at work. I'm a more DIY kind of rider. I've just attached some cardboard on top of my bike panniers with zip ties. For the front I've attached a bit of flexible sign boardage. Not glamour but deadly
It's not what it looks like it's what it DOES! I don't use any, but change clothes and as I work from home - if I need to go anywhere I walk, bus, train my way there, or Uber Cab. Cut the bottle to the same shape as the plastic guard. Trim the zip ties. You can also buy paper suits in blue with hoods if you're that bothered. I don't use fenders at all, I wear cover trousers. Own 3 bikes, 2 MTB and Tourer by Dawes. (soon to get my own velomobile with full assist).
That's OK as it is the muddy yacht club, so you would fit in perfectly. Muddy Yacht club = Yacht's that have been beached either accidentally or on purpose. lol
Try diy fenders out of a two liter bottle it works using a.rear reflector holder to adjust the angle of the mudguard length should extend over the back tire try it
Sorry, but maybe a stupid question from a dutchman. Why would you buy a commuter bicycle without fenders? And why would you want to remove them if they are mounted?
European bikes from before WW2, when there were far fewer made roads, often had fenders/mudguards which extended much nearer the ground. I think the UK english word is far better descriptive of the intended purpose.
My four favourite types of Fender are: the Telecaster, the Stratocaster, the Jazz Bass and the Jaguar. Joking aside, this is an excellent channel. 👍🏻
Mine are the Precision bass and a nice Jazz bass. 😎
😂😂
Sound logic.
I like the Mustang!
exactly what came up in my mind when I read fender
For added fun, compare what is like following somebody with the different types of fenders. In busier areas, I've found what fenders other people use is more important than what fenders I use.
Yes, I didn't mention that fenders help keep mud off of fellow cyclists, but it's a great point!
Yes, I was thinking the same thing.
Especially the rear fenders are meant to prevent spraying mud onto others.
You only need to set the full fenders up once - why would you take them off?
Global cycle network did a similar experiment on English country roads in wet weather. Two fellas in white paper boiler suits on road bikes. The one with fenders stayed pretty clean. The one without to save weight looked like he should shower before he took his dirty kit off. Dirty front as expected but his back was horrendous. Can't describe it politely. Lol
For commuting/general getting about full fenders on permanently has got to be best. Not going to slow you down, traffic does that, and always in place when you need them.
Full fenders are always a winner 👍
Spoiler alert!
@@Shifter_Cycling Lol
There is an unexpected downside though. The rear mudguard* is either scratched or bent when one tries to balance the bike on its rear wheel in order to get it inside a 2-3 person elevator.
(*) At least with SKS Bluemels aluminum plastic mudguard
@@kottelkannim4919 #foldingbike 😁
Another advantage to full coverage fenders/mudguards is that it keeps your drivetrain clean. Much less cleaning during wet fall/winter/spring months.
This is honestly the most important thing in my book. I had wrap around fenders that didn't quite go low enough on the front wheel to protect my drive train, and in a single ride in the winter my chain would be absolutely wrecked and in need of a deep clean. I extended it to keep spray of the sprocket and I could go at least a few rides before needing maintenance. I've now started waxing the chain as well and its been about a month of commuting daily without rust or maintenance. The wax keeps water from adhering to the outside of the chain, so whatever residual spray from rain or whatever beads off instead of sticking.
I encountered this opinion many times and still don't get it. Front fender fine, it cuts splash from front chainring(s), but at the back fender part of water carried by momentum collapses somewhere along the inner side and splashes down and dripps from edges, especially while cornering or pumping up hill/sprinting. Edge of fender is almost perfectly over cassete, so where will water and debris go, if not down on cogs and chain to then travel up front to ring(s)? Bottom bracket and front derailleur (if present) ar only components kept away from substantial second hand splash. This is only outcome I ever observed.
For clean shoes - get a nice long and wide mudflap (or DIY one) and attach it to the front fender. The best results should be with the flap end about 10cm from the ground. This will add protection from the wide splash when going through puddles while still maintaining enough clearance not to pick up leaves and other garbage from the road.
Red Green solution is extend your fenders with strips of duct tape 😎
@@canoradam cut up a plastic milk bottle, colour it with a black sharpie and attach using zip ties to the bottom of the fender that's a pretty solid solution.
For me, full fenders are essential. Even in dry weather, my commute on chip paths kicks up insane amounts of debris. When it's wetter, I stay clean and dry, but my bike is positively caked in soil, pine needles and leaf remnants. Recently I collected and weighed the debris on my bike after a particularly grime-filled, hour+ ride; I removed nearly 5lbs of dirt from my bike.
I'm partial to zip-up silicone galoshes over my regular shoes for rainy day commutes. Also, panniers do wonders to redirect or contain splash-ups and sprays.
Thanks for the content Tom.
As someone who lives in the desert. The amount of puddles that are within my way is astounding. You’d expect none, but I had to get some fenders.
I've found that tire tread depth and tire width matters too. The mud an snow tires (~2.1 inches) I had on my winter commuter kick up a lot more dirt and water than the slicks (~30 mm) on my fixed gear.
Great point. Thanks!
This video was a lot of fun to watch, haha thank you! I'm so happy I have full fenders.
Having full length mudguards was the biggest improvement I made while cycle commuting. Fitting an extension mud flap on the front will help keep the bottom of trousers and shoes clean. If you look at Dutch bikes in Amsterdam they also have covers on the sides of the rear wheel and a chain guard. They may not be the most attractive thing to put on a bike. But I'd rather have them than wear wet weather clothing because the roads are wet but it's not raining.
I always use full fenders, for commuting they're the only ones that make sense. I got some full chromed ones and with my chrome rack they really give the bike a more vintage look. Unfortunately nowadays they've gotten like twice or thrice as expensive. Also for those who constantly get their feet wet and muddy some advice - try to get some of those plastic "fish tails" or whatever they call them. Some fenders come with them but they're usually on the rear fender. If you cant find one simply make one like me. I usually just use an old flat inner tire from a car, cut it to a fishtail shape and the wider you make it the more protection youll have, then i bolt it with a small peace of metal to the bottom of the front fender. It works like a charm protecting your feet from getting dirty and wet.
Great advice. Thanks for sharing!
I used to carve them out of old plastic five gallon buckets when I did stucco for a living. Be careful if you do this, the knife can do unexpected things sometimes. Possibly a keyhole saw or a dremel would be a better choice now that I think about it.
@@Bagledog5000 Cutting plastic i use a soldering iron.
@@meganoobbg3387
Nice!
@@meganoobbg3387 If well ventilated, it's the only way to cut plastic.
Note: not all fenders are meant to protect the biker. In fact, many are meant only to protect certain parts of a bike from water and mud (like bearings and suspension forks).
How timely! I just purchased a bike today ... and also ordered fenders. I'm too old to sport a muddy stripe up my back. I wish more bikes came equipped with them ... but then again, my new bike didn't come with a kickstand either so I had to purchase and have that installed at the store.
Another great video. It’s a mystery why you don’t have 100k subscribers. 👍
I agree. This guy is so chill and kind, it relaxes watching the videos of him. He also rides his bike through beautiful places
Depending on the model of bike you have finding full fenders can be next to impossible unfortunately. Keep this in mind when buying a bicycle and using it everyday you'll want the fenders eventually.
I keep watching more and more of your videos because you're answering questions I am asking myself haha
How much you want to invest in fenders depends on how wet things are going to get. Fenders like the one you used do a pretty decent job on roads that are merely wet. If you are going to ride in rain with puddles, you need to up the game by adding mud flaps and you will need to accept that you not going to arrive completely dry. (My commuting bike has had various wrap around fenders for 35 years or so.)
My main ride, a classic steel mtb with 2.15" tires, has Planet Bike Cascadia fenders in "silver" (painted poly) with mud flaps; they're light, look great, and do their job exceptionally well. I don't bother taking them off, because our local roads have enough sand and gravel to make my fenders ping.
I ride year round on a 26" wheel city bike that sports a full set of fenders (missing the nose of the front one, broken off years ago on a bike rack fail) I've added an extension to the back end of the front that works wonders. I used about a third of a 2 liter pop bottle, cut lengthwise, including some of the round bottom. I punch two holes, wider apart than the width of the fender, add two split rings, one to the extension, the other into the holes drilled at the bottom of each side of the fender. The bottle reaches down to just a shave above the pavement and swings free most of the time, causing very little wind resistance. When I have to ride through slush, the glop fills the curved bottom of the extension, its weight holds the extension straight down, and keeps my toes and legs dry. The best part is my drive train and bottom bracket stay clean and last a lot longer.
If you're on a budget and need fenders for folding bikes with small tires, check out the ones intended for children's bikes. You can get a set of them for about $10. Just make sure they will install on your bike. Bikers who are mostly concerned about mud on their lower legs might get the waterproof leg gaiters that hikers and climbers use. They can be put on and off in seconds. And if the problem extends even higher up, check out slip-on waterproof rain pants.
I have a set of cheaper fenders that I bought from MEC. The front one is a little longer than the one you had. I also got a similar back fender. It was a convenient install, just tied it to the pannier. A bit of a sloppy fit, as I had to bend it to the pannier. I'm really happy with the results, as it's set all the time on the west coast. I do several short - 5 min, trips a day, lots of puddles, no problem.
Ive been using an SKS brand back fender. It was only $25 and it attaches with those super easy rubber straps. Great quality and works great for my commutes and around the city
Great tip. Thanks for sharing.
Do you know which SKS fender?
@@Minecraftrok999 So I actually just realized I’ve been using the SKS S board front fender, on my back tire 🤦♂️🤣
I guess I’ll have to buy the actual fender for my back tire now
@@rpt0rman
Hahahaha 😂
Well if it worked up until now why change it?
I'm certainly not gonna do it the same way as you do :D
If you want to keep the shoes a bit cleaner try adding a mudflap to the bottom of those full fenders on the front wheel. You can get ones that spread out, and almost reach ground level, that should probably be able to keep your shoes pretty clean for like $3 or something. (2-3 euro's for the cheap ones here in NL)
Mud is launched tangentially from the wheel (not radially). So that mud that spurts up your back is launched from the rear wheel fairly low down, full fenders required.
For the front wheel it is hard to ensure shoes do not get dirty since a tangential launch from that wheel to your feet is coming off the wheel right near the road. A big mudflap on a full fender will help.
As noted, shorter fenders are useless - great video.
Long SKS fenders with large DIY mudflaps on the front one! 100% clean!
I'm just going to go on record as saying: if you commute in a high-traffic area that is sometimes wet, it's downright rude to have anything but a fender that doesn't come well down past that point 90° from the contact patch of the rear wheel (especially those damned beaver-tail mt. bike fenders)! I have been behind folks without fenders or just mealy, half-assed fenders on the rear wheel and, even from 10 meters back still get their rooster tail of wet road grime in the face.
Thank you for reminding us of our obligations to our fellow humans!
I the cycling world we call mud on your behind a "Roster Tail". Great 👍 video.
Great video, as always. Can you make a comparison of different kinds of flaps on the full fenders?
always go for full fenders. for mountainbikes there is only one option for a proper rear guard, it's Mudhugger Rear. I have Mudhugger Rear Large, cus I have 29er wheels. they protect my butt, back, backpack, but also the dropper post from gravel and mud, it makes a huge difference, less wear on saddle, dropper post, they also protect your body from the studded tyres in the winter. the guard is attached to the seat stays by zip pties, so suspension movement won't interfere with the guard, I have 175mm travel. but a guard attached to the saddle won't give any real protection, it barely does anything, and dropper post will get covered in mud.
For front guards that don't go all the way down, but still provide good protection there are many, Mudhugger, RRP, Mucky Nutz, Mojo DFender.
if you have mounts SKS has those, there might be other brands too. but most full suspension mountain bikes don't have fender mounts.
That Fox mountain bike fender is meant for suspension forks and only to keep mud out of the eyes. When spray flings forward through the large gap between the crown and the brace it flys back into the rider's face. You can make those yourself with dollar store duo-tang covers.
Thank you for explaining these things to me. I was wondering. Thanks also for using the word duo-tang. I haven't thought of it in a long time, lol!
Full fenders with a mudflap on the front is the best choice.
Ya, flaired mud flaps make a very noticeable difference.
Hi, I have the mountain bike fenders (2nd fenders you tested). I place the front one lower down and it does a decent job. Great video!
Good tip. Thanks for watching!
Waterproof trousers are another decent option, quick to take off when you lock your bike up. The ones I have have built in shoe covers with stirrups too
That is true, however fenders also help to keep your bike clean. I'm always amazed how much cleaner my bike is with a set of full fenders.
Yeah you might need it when it rains. I just don't go to work on days like that.
@@jhowardsupporter lucky!
6:36 I knew exactly what would happen since the fender is attached to the frame and does not turn with the wheel. But it is funny that one can tell that Tom turned to the left more than the right! Haha
The short front mountain bike fenders keep the mud off your face. When mtn biking in the mud your going to get covered in mud, but it's nice to keep the muc out of your mouth & eyes. When commuting I used full fenders, and added an extension on the bottom of the front fender to keep my feet dry.
Dutch alert. Almost all bikes here have full fenders, some even have an extended rubber mud flap attached to the bottom of the front one to keep shoes clean. Obviously it is necessary here as it rains about 50% of the time. Sometimes it rains for weeks on end. My commute bike has stainless steel fenders, which must be just about the most awesome fenders ever.
I rode the Chesapeake and Ohio Trail from Cumberland Maryland to Washington DC on my Surly LHT with front and rear fenders on my bicycle. Multiple times, I had to dig the mud out between my rear fender and my rear wheel because my rear wheel had stopped working because of the mud built up. Is there a fender option for touring over muddy gravel areas that you would recommend? Great video by the way!
Loved the white pant for experiment! :D
In China, the 2nd type of fender Tom shows sells for about 10 yuan to 20 yuan, shipping included, which is like 1-3 US dollars - yes, including the front and rear fenders. Compared with what Tom has bought, got, what a steal!
Full fenders for me, especially with fat tires and a checkerboard tread! I ride on all kinds of terrain from pavement, snow, dirt gravel, and even mountain bike trails, so fenders are a necessity.
Good video. Full fenders are not all the same. Some are longer than others, and the longer, the better. Some have mudflaps on front and back, and they make a big difference. Test these out if you ever do another video testing fenders.
One thing to note about the mountain bike solutions, these are meant less for keeping you clean and more for keeping your face from being filled with mud
Yes, this is a great point. No self-respecting mountain biker cares about muddy shoes!
I'm using SKS front and rear fenders and love them. Would like to install a light in the rear fender someday.
Bontrager do a rechargeable rear light that fits to a fender. It's small and powerful
I use full fenders too. They are a must for commuting.
One thing I found out is that the dirt sometimes comes from the lateral splash of the tires - just like that front wave on a boat. If I'm about (or over) 20 km/h and got through some puddle, the lateral splash will get my feet wet - but it comes from the contact from tire to ground: no mudguard will help You with this.
I've heard a few people suggest a mudflap on the bottom of the front fender, but I think the errant splashes you mention might be unavoidable.
@@Shifter_Cycling They are. Not even putting my feet up solves the problem - the splash angle is just wrong.
Deeper fenders that wrap more around the tire reduce this side splash but certainly do not eliminate it. Some flat mudflaps seem to just deflect splash to the side, onto your feet and pants.
@@HweolRidda It isn't even the fenders my problem. The splash comes from the contact from tyre to pavement.
The water just go sideways and up - hitting my feet. If I go slower it doesn't happen. I still didn't go fast enough to avoid it - above 20 km/h and up to 30 km/h my feet get wet.
I'm yet to go faster than this through some puddle more than 0,5cm deep. Not sure if I want to test this...
Me a Dutchie: where is the baggage thingie? How are you supposed to transport your couch on that?!?
Jep, and a spatlap!
SKS speedrockers are the best of both worlds, I love them
Another great video. For me, full fenders are a must. I have stainless steel VeloOrange fenders on my Surly Disk trucker. They are tanks. They'll last a lifetime. However, the front one will still splash water onto your shoes if you go too quickly through a big puddle. I think I need to add a mud flap on the front one. Cheers from Edmonton
I like the idea of a mud flap. Thank you!
A mud flap will make all the difference!
Mud flaps are also good for your bottom bracket, and for your transmission, assuming you don't have a northern European enclosed chain.
that water bottle was hilarious
"hey mom, that man's got a milk bottle hanging out of his..."
"TIMMY!"
You could try putting a flap on the full mudguards to avoid mud on your shoes or at least on the cuff of your trousers. They make a full mudguard even more complete.
Great point, thank you!
Love the handlebar on the cycle, which one do you use?
where I live (PNW), spring is when it starts getting dryer! Winter is when it is the wettest.
For me, full fenders with rear skirt / coat guards. Then add a chain case. This way you can wear your suit to work even when riding. It's not cheap as that kind of setup you have to import from Europe. They simply are not sold in North America. So expect to spend around $200 USD.
So convenient that this video is recommended to me right when I need some fenders, what good timing!
Best mudguards are things like the SKS raceblade pro, full mudguards that clip on and off in seconds (Other brands are available)
SKS Longboards or Planet Bike Cascadia fenders are the best for keeping clean.
I love my Cascadia fenders!
The front mud flap (the orange fox one) is in my opinion more meant to keep the headset bearing out of the grit and thus ensure a significantly longer life. The rear extension is a bonus to keep dirt out of your eyes, but nothing more.
I have decent experience with the SKS-Longboards on my old 28" bike, additionally, the velo orange or Honjo mudguards from Aluminium or Steel are supposed to be really good, though expensive. A bit worse than the longboards are the SKS Blümels which I have (B65 on my 26" touring bike). Generally speaking, even front fenders which go down low enough often do not cover enough space over the front wheel leading to splash from in front of the top of the front wheel which gets accelerated forward and then slowed down by the wind resistance. This is especially bad going downhill at high speeds 50+km/h.
Old dutch designs are pretty solid, though heavy.
MTB's tiny mudguard's main purpose is to keep the suspension of the fork clean.
I never knew this! Thanks
I use clip on fenders (PDW Sodapop fenders) and they work pretty well. They were a lot easier to attach than full fenders and provide pretty good coverage.
These look interesting. Do you just pop them on and off as needed?
@@Shifter_Cycling I can, although it’s rainy enough where I live that I’ve had them on since winter. If we get more dry days this summer, I might take them off.
Well... Better mud than having to navigate through a long pilgrimage where people are riding horses, and suddenly it rains and dissolves the droppings over the road. That happened to our bunch of roadies a few years ago, myself included, and not a single one of us came back in a colour other than brownish-green. Was a silent ride, too.
The little short front MTB fenders are very effective at keeping mud from blowing back into your eyes. Not so much onto your pants haha
1st fender: not long enough to protect the chain. Also, you should go through puddles with bars turned because the down tube acts as a fender when going straight forward.
Short fenders: worthless. Look at the vector possibilities coming off the tires/tyres. Toe overlap can also be a front fender problem. Frames need to be longer.
Do you use fenders or mudguards on your everyday ride?
I use Thoughts and Prayers to keep the mud off my clothes (ie nothing). It works, most of the time, because it doesn't rain much where I live
Got thre on my mountain bike. One front one rear and one in front of the bottle cage on the stem. No need to take them off. Got the third one as it didn't fit my Dad's bike.
full fenders on my commuter, front splash guard only on my mtb
Full fenders. I commuted without for a long time and was constantly dirty. After having full fenders I don't think I could ever go back got commuting.
Fenders are Absolutely essential now, got tired of showing up for work with a stripe down my back...
Full wrap aluminum fenders FTW. I use both Honjo/René Herse and Vélo Orange. Width matters a lot, they need to be 10+ mm wider than the tire. They are a pain to install (takes me over an hour), but they really do work better than anything else.
Love the channel!
Full fenders: SKS Bluemels. Installation was a pain. But they do their job really good.
Once they’re on, they are there for a while!
Who would ride to work without changing? A cheap pair of over pants would work well.
Full fenders all the way. When you were like “these did ok” on the full fenders I was like what do you mean?? They did great!! 😂
Good test. Fashion advice: Don't wear white slacks with dark shoes.
In my opinion nothing beats "the look" of full fenders. Full fenders also keep the bike cleaner even when the ground is not wet. I have them on two of my bikes. My mountain bike is naked.
Keeping your bike clean is a good point I didn't mention. Thanks. And thanks for the fashion advice. Clearly I need it!
The mudguards are supposed to below the front fender to keep mud off you shoes.
And drive train
Some people have a dedicated rain bike with the full fenders. I will just plan for more time during wet road conditions and travel at a slower speed to reduce tire spray.
Planet Bike Cascadia (extra long with the mudflaps) are the best i've used. Though, another test is in order - one that considers tire size, width and tread. 700c slicks kick up a far more concentrated stream of water/mud than treaded 29ers do.
I use a Fender Stratocaster myself.
My bike has no clearance for a front full fender and I still found a way to fit it (most of it, had to shave off the front piece), Swedish autumn is just puddles galore.
Which ones should I get: mudguards or fenders? ^_^
Those pants were nice btw.
I bought the 2nd fender for my mtb
I kind of thought the full ones were the only option at the start but it was fun watching. Sorry your sailor days are over 😛. Luckily my Electra Townie Go eBike came with fenders or mudguards as we call them as standard.
How do you like that Electra ebike? I'm hearing a lot about them.
@@Shifter_Cycling really good, had it for about 2 years now, my first video on my ecopenny channel has a review 😎
The part I missed in the video is dirt on the back. When I wrote my bike without fenders in an atumn, I could prevent my pants form getting very dirty by just slow down on mud and puddles. But my jacket always got dirty anyway.
If your pants get dirty you just thro them in your washing machine, but most jackets dont like that very much.
I really like the SKS longboards. I had a set of bluemels that are a full fender design previously, but mud got onto my shoes. Now because the longboards reach so far down, my shoes are bone dry!
The bike was easy to assemble. It was a big hit as a gift.
Those cheap black plastic mudgards that mount on to the ' brake mounts ' are great they give full protection and you can put them on off in seconds once their fitted you find them in Wikos in the UK for about 7 quid and probly on the internet to less than a fiver
How did you break your fender my priority 600 ships May seventh (thanks to the canal blockage) I want to be sure I don’t do something that breaks the fender.
It's rather embarrassing. I installed it halfway, then got pulled away and forgot it was only half installed. Then, I took the bike for a ride and it got hung up on the wheel and broke. Like I said, my own mechanical ineptitude.
Whoa! What was that at 3:02, something about a fender with a built in dynamo light? Did I hear that right? Sorry, new to bikes in the 21st century
Thanks for sharing!
I don't own a car so I own 2 touring type bikes (an IF and a Surly) for my main modes of transportation. I have a set of Bike Planet fenders on both bikes because I have to ride in all types of weather. Maybe if I was a recreational cyclist I might could live without fenders but that is not me.
I've got a commuting riding wear (hiking pants), that I don't have to wear at work. I'm a more DIY kind of rider. I've just attached some cardboard on top of my bike panniers with zip ties. For the front I've attached a bit of flexible sign boardage. Not glamour but deadly
It's not what it looks like it's what it DOES! I don't use any, but change clothes and as I work from home - if I need to go anywhere I walk, bus, train my way there, or Uber Cab. Cut the bottle to the same shape as the plastic guard. Trim the zip ties. You can also buy paper suits in blue with hoods if you're that bothered. I don't use fenders at all, I wear cover trousers. Own 3 bikes, 2 MTB and Tourer by Dawes. (soon to get my own velomobile with full assist).
Paper suits!? That’s a new one on me. Thanks for sharing
That's OK as it is the muddy yacht club, so you would fit in perfectly. Muddy Yacht club = Yacht's that have been beached either accidentally or on purpose. lol
Try diy fenders out of a two liter bottle it works using a.rear reflector holder to adjust the angle of the mudguard length should extend over the back tire try it
Sorry, but maybe a stupid question from a dutchman. Why would you buy a commuter bicycle without fenders? And why would you want to remove them if they are mounted?
Excellent!
Is this item coming back in stock soon?
It's okay Tom you can still come to my yaht party even without the white pants.
As soon as I somehow get a yaht.
Appreciate rhe info
European bikes from before WW2, when there were far fewer made roads, often had fenders/mudguards which extended much nearer the ground. I think the UK english word is far better descriptive of the intended purpose.
Please share more links!
I don’t like the looks, but full fenders are a must if you commute daily during rain season, not 100% safe, but enough.
Dude! You're supposed to wheelie through the puddles!
Front fenders aren't always compatible with bus bike racks.
I feel like the MTB mudguards are for protecting the bike (drivetrain) more than yourself, especially that orange one.
Full fenders and shoe protectors "booties" ftw.