I find mudguards confusing! (for Tricross)

pottssteve

Hello,

I'm in the market for a set of mudguards but am confused by the choices and sizing available. I ride a Tricross cyclocross bike with 700x28 tyres and want a lightweight but sturdy set of 'guards. The bike has mounting points but I'm happy to use zip ties or similar. I'd prefer to buy from Wiggle as I get discount.

I would value your opinions on makes, styles and sizes.

Thank you.
Steve

Weejie54

You won't go far wrong with a pair of SKS chromoplastic guards.
35mm road should do you and you won't need zip ties.

pottssteve

Weejie,

Thanks, I had been looking at these. Are they hard to fit? Some of the reviewers suggest so. I have the mechanical prowess of an apricot so unless they are very simple I'd be struggling.

Steve

Bobbinogs

+1 for the SKS. I fitted them to my wife's commuter bike and they are very good. It did take a little while but you don't need to be mechanical as such; It is just a case of a few allen bolts and piecing it all together, etc.

If you are really worried about the mechanics, you could always ask the LBS to fit them at the time of purchase. It shouldn't cost more than a fiver but you may find it more satisfying to do the job yourself.

night_porter

An apricot might struggle to fit them, perhaps if you know an orange or a banana they could help you!

There are a couple of things that you might need to do to make them fit properly:

1) Assemble everything away from the bike first so that you know how it all fits together

2) The black plastic stay caps will only fit and allow you to adjust the distance between the wheel and guard if you cut the stays to size. This can only be measured/marked with the guard in situ but you have room for error as the stays slide inside the plastic cap quite a way. Bear in mind that these stays are made from Stainless Steel and will be difficult to cut. I always use a fine toothed junior hacksaw and hold the stay in a vice. There are 8 cuts to be made.

Another option is to leave off the black caps and have the stay protrude through the clip but this may mean you snag clothing or something on the protruding ends.

If this all sounds too difficult for a soft fruit why not ask your local bike shop how much they would charge for fitting, you never know but buying the mudguards from them and getting them to fit them may be cost effective?

pottssteve

night_porter wrote:

An apricot might struggle to fit them, perhaps if you know an orange or a banana they could help you!

There are a couple of things that you might need to do to make them fit properly:

1) Assemble everything away from the bike first so that you know how it all fits together

2) The black plastic stay caps will only fit and allow you to adjust the distance between the wheel and guard if you cut the stays to size. This can only be measured/marked with the guard in situ but you have room for error as the stays slide inside the plastic cap quite a way. Bear in mind that these stays are made from Stainless Steel and will be difficult to cut. I always use a fine toothed junior hacksaw and hold the stay in a vice. There are 8 cuts to be made.

Another option is to leave off the black caps and have the stay protrude through the clip but this may mean you snag clothing or something on the protruding ends.

If this all sounds too difficult for a soft fruit why not ask your local bike shop how much they would charge for fitting, you never know but buying the mudguards from them and getting them to fit them may be cost effective?

Hi Guys,

Thank you for the information. You see, I do have a junior hacksaw but no vices (insert punchline here). I'm planning ahead for my move to the Netherlands, where I'm reliably informed it's usually raining. Judging by your advice I think I'll wait until I get there and get the LBS to fit some for me - from what I gather they are likely to be SKS anyway....
Steve

night_porter

I cannot vouch for all of Holland but the cycling in Amsterdam is fantastic but I have looked in a few bike shops (not a bike geek honest) and they are not cheap.

I can't remember what I was looking at specifically but I know it was a lot cheaper in the UK.

Maybe it is worth emailing a lbs near where you are moving to and asking for a quote???

But hey what do I know about bike shops in Hong Kong either, they might be more expensive still.

Garry H

If you don't have avice, just cut them on the bike by holding them with pliers, just below the cut point. They really are easy to fit, no idea what all the fuss is about.

MichaelW

The plastic caps eventually come off so it pays to cut and finish the stays properly. In a crash they can be lethal.
I use a Dremel cutting disc. A set of pliers /hacksaw/file could do the job.

cougie

I fitted a rear SKS on my bike a few months back. Ended up taking all night. It does help if you read the instructions, rather than just do it as you reckon it will work ! ;-)

SlowingDown

I put the chromoplastics on my Tricross and they work a treat. I did need to use a zip-tie though as the bolt for the front fork was just too short. I'll buy a longer bolt at some point. Maybe

Garry H

cougie wrote:

I fitted a rear SKS on my bike a few months back. Ended up taking all night. It does help if you read the instructions, rather than just do it as you reckon it will work ! ;-)

Doesn't help when half the bits fall into the floor-boards either