Fitting mudguards to cross bikes

always_tyred

I'm considering crossing over to the dark side... since I'm getting fed up of so many flats and wearing out rims in the winter, I'm looking at a Cross bike with disc brakes for commuting. (The side benefit is that many great roads near where I live peter out into tracks that are just too muddy/rough for regular road use, so I'd be able to join up some great new ways to work).

The Focus Cross Disc is perfect but doesn't have eyelets for mudguards.

I'm an old hand at custom installing mudguards, but I'm only familiar with road bikes, road brakes, road forks. Although I imagine that everything would be easier on a cross bike, I can't tell from the pictures if there are issues with this type of thing that I'm not aware of.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

(Note - I would prefer not to go for those race blade things - they don't look long enough to me. At the risk of style-suicide, something closer to full length guards would be my preference).

To be honest, I'd love one of those Lemond Prorads, but they don't seem to be available in the UK...don't suppose anyone knows where I can get one?

always_tyred

Okay, does this mean that no one knows, or that mudguards are lame?

Interestedcp

Usually p-clamps are recommended for attaching fenders on bikes without eyelets:

http://www.wallbike.com/accessories/pclamps.html

I don't think there is a bridge between the chainstays on Focus cross bikes, so some kind of hack job with cable ties is probably necessary there.
SKS P45 full fenders would be a good choice of fenders for a cyclocross bike.
Be prepared to spend some time with getting it right.

Tubus make parts so one can securely use a rack on a bike without eyelets:
http://www.tubus.com/index/lang/en/rubrik/Spares and Accessories/

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Regards