LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Barrie · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 1380 Location: Putney

Any suggestions or recommendations for mudguards for a fast-hybrid commutor? (and/or anything worth avoiding?).

Are clip on mountain bike type ones effective enough?
I'd like to be able to take them off easily if possible...

28" wheels, 28mm tyres (I think, from squinting at them in the dark hallway)

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4106

SKS are usually recommended by most. I had some, they were excellent. Wouldn't bother with clip on MTB style ones.

andyman · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 1945 Location: Suffolk

There really is only one choice, that is the SKS Race Blade They come in a couple of variations (and price) from the generic form, you can even get a couple of copy cat brands (Decathlon?) but the simplicity and functionality of the design is really superb.

Basically, unlike the MTB type clip ons (which are next to useless in keeping water off you) these give almost as much protection as fixed mudguards (especially if you have the additional flap on the front), are so simple to fit and probably most important, stay in place without the need to keep stopping and adjusting them.

I have a set in the carbon effect look and you can barely tell they are fitted from anything more than a couple of feet so they also work on the looks front - vital of course Cool

One other advantage, with only a slight adjustment, they can be swapped from bike to bike. I use mine regularly between three bikes and can get them fitted to each in less than 30secs!

Highly recommend a set of these

peterc · Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 1284 Location: M3 somewhere

Do you have the clearence for a full set?

Not that I can recommend the ones I have, without a decent spares box I'd never have fitted them, and they were incorrectly machined anyway. In fact apart from keeping my arse dry they are pants in almost all respects. in fact they pricipitated my most public stack in ages only a month or two back.

But it's nice to know I can arrive at the office that bit dryer, when, like today, it starts to rain just as I roll the bike out of the garage.

andyman · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 1945 Location: Suffolk

Errr, is that a recommendation Shocked

Me thinks you should give us a name so we can AVOID them Wink

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

This is another vote against the ones that clip onto the seatpost, because they don't stay pointed in the right direction. When there's a 30 degree angle between the mudguard direction and the back tyre they're even less useful than an mtb-style mudguard usually is.

Check your frame clearances and your brake caliper clearance. I got a set of some kind of cheap decathlon mudguards on my commuter bike which was allegedly suitable for the tyres I had, but fitting was a bodge job with a hot knife and cable ties

Xia · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 874 Location: Geneva (Suisse)

clip on mtb mudguard
I have that one, easy to add and remove (no tools), doesn't move a millimetre, doesn't rattle and keeps my bum and back dry from spray.

Barrie · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 1380 Location: Putney

andyman · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 1945 Location: Suffolk

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4106

andyman · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 1945 Location: Suffolk

Absolutely not. I choose to use the race blades without the flaps (cos they look a bit too much like tourers!) so accept there will be a bit more water getting through, but really I am amazed at just how little it is.

As it happens Rolling Eyes

I also have a bike shod with full SKS guards and have to agree if its permanent you want these are the DB's BUT we are talking quick removal here and as I said, the blades are simply awesome

<<<Will update on this later as I am about to set of to Twickenham and its chucking it down Mad

>>>

Barrie · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 1380 Location: Putney

Do they come with the flaps?

Full ones might well be a better bet, but I just can't quite picture my still shiny new-ish bike with fugly full mudguards, I'm still trynig but...
It sounds like the race blades are plenty good enough anyway.

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4106

Barrie, if you want your bike to be "pretty", then don't put any mudguards on and suck up the wetness. I really don't think there's any point in going halfway.

I personally rather like the look of an audax, commuter or tourer style bike with mudguards. I think they look great. What you really need is more than one bike, then you can choose depending on the weather, LOL!

andyman · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 1945 Location: Suffolk

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

Yes, I could only bring myself to add mudguards, rack and pannier to my bike after I'd completed the purchase/assembly of another that has none of these things and no provision for them either