Tell me about raceblades?

alwaysOTB

So being the financially challenged person I am, I can only afford one bike and 'guard mounts are not high up on my list of priorities ( trying to decide on bike atm)

I've heard people moan that raceblades are not very good and do not really work. Is this true? Surely a mudguards a mudguard? Why should normal ones be i]that[/i] much better?

Tell me you expieiences please............

fat boab

I have had my SKS raceblades for about 3 months now - and they've certainly had a good testing. They are not as effective as full mudguards - no question - but they do a reasonable job, and I found them very easy to remove and fit - one to two minutes. They certainly keep the muck off your back, and are much better than no guards.

They probably allow more wet and dirt to get at the brakes and the drive chain, but I consider cleaning my bike to be a labour of love - it just means I have to do it a bit more often.

As it happens, my road bike does take full guards - I was going to opt for using these in the Winter, but I have been pleased enough with the blades to re-consider. I can't imagine it can get any wetter than its been, so I guess they have already passed the severe weather test.

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COVEC

Whilst I agree with fat boab about the effectiveness of raceblades.
I have to say that the fitting of them requires the manual dexterity of a one handed rubics cube champion.
They do go on, but sorting the correct alignment out to give good protection is a real pain, my suggestion would be to fix them for Winter by using cable ties.


COVEC

thedaffodilfish

Agree with everything Fat Boab said above - they do work though not as well as full guards. If you're commuting through the winter and you want to protect your bikes bits as much as possible fom the evil salt grit, then fit full guards if your bike will take them.

Otherwise, as pointed out by Covec, ditch the footery rubbery bands and secure your raceblades with cable ties. I've had raceblades on my Sirrus for the last couple of years, but now I have a shiny new sunday bike and the Sirrus is a full on winter/ commuter, I'm fitting full guards this weekend.

Also from a budgetary perspective, aren't raceblades more expensive than full guards?
And one other point, if you ride in a group with raceblades then the rest of the gang will *hate* riding behind you

alfablue

alwaysOTB wrote:

So being the financially challenged person I am, I can only afford one bike and 'guard mounts are not high up on my list of priorities ( trying to decide on bike atm)

I've heard people moan that raceblades are not very good and do not really work. Is this true? Surely a mudguards a mudguard? Why should normal ones be i]that[/i] much better?

Tell me you expieiences please............

If you can only afford one bike then versatility should be of concern, so get one that takes guards - most budget road bikes can anyway. Raceblades are £35 I think, £10 more than standard SKS guards. The most important thing full guards will do, apart from keeping the bottom bracket / crank area very clean, is that they keep your feet dry, loads of spray comes up and soaks your feet on wet roads, even if it has stopped raining, and this can get very cold!

If I was buying an expensive race-oriented road bike (without guard clearance) I would keep it for dry days, or use raceblades. For a do-it-all road bike I would get one that takes full guards and I would use them.

giant_man

Had Raceblades for the last couple of years and they're fine. Do a great job at keeping the crap off your frame, and you, they are quite strong but imo slightly overpriced for what they are. Full guards would undoubtedly be better but if you ain't got the clearance, you ain't got the clearance ...

Be sure to put tape where the rubber strips go or the paint will rub off your frame, believe it.

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