rain

dmch2

I was out in the pouring rain a week or two ago without mudguards of any type. But I found that I was so wet from the rain that the spray from my wheels didn't make me any wetter. (Fortunately it was only a 12 mile A to B trip so I easily kept the speed/effort up to keep warm).

Am I missing something? Are mudguards that pointless? Or do they just help when it's not raining but you're going through loads of puddles?

softlad

strange as it may seem, mudguards won't keep you dry if it's raining.....

dmch2

That's not what I said!

I obviously expected to be pretty damp but also thought I'd get an obvious soaking wet muddy line up my back (and similar in front) but I couldn't see/feel any difference (I checked when I took my top off).

So I'm saying that unless it's not raining at all and there is loads of standing water I'm not sure I see the point of mudguards :?

I think someone once mentioned they can stop the front wheel spraying your feet though..?

Bozman

I do see your point.. if it's pouring down, you'll get soaked whatever, but they stop the grit and salt getting into everything and your feet and ass do stay drier.
Plus if you're in a group, you don't spray the folk behind you.

Pokerface

The guy riding behind you on the club run will thank you for having mudguards.

rolf_f

They do reduce a lot of the spray so you'll probably stay dry for longer with mudguards. One thing I found was that running my bike (with cheapish hubs) without mudguards in the rain rapidly caused the grease to be washed out of the rear hub. Pretty much after every very wet ride. The mudguards have reduced that to a significant extent. Better hubs may be an even better idea but it shows how much spray (probably from the front wheel) onto the rear wheel (and your feet) is reduced.

The muddy line on your back will be most noticeable if you ride on wet roads after it has rained. The stuff that hasn't been driven over (ie fresh from the sky!) should be fairly clean unless you live in a Northern Mill town circa 1950.

tmg

go out when its just rained and then you'll see what bits of you get wet from the road, those are the same bits that having mudguards will prevent from getting wet

dmch2

Some more helpful answers there!

I don't commute, only go out when it's dry (well, that's the plan!) and ride solo (my wife works random shifts and i then babysit so i've never yet made the local tri club sunday run).

Wet road but stopped raining conditions sound like they benefit most from mudguards. I hadn't thought about the hubs either. I guess spring is wetter and than autumn so maybe they'll make a good christmas present

carl_p

dmch2 wrote:

Wet road but stopped raining conditions sound like they benefit most from mudguards. I hadn't thought about the hubs either. I guess spring is wetter and than autumn so maybe they'll make a good christmas present

Yep that's pretty much it. Mudguards look pants but you'll spend as much time cleaning the cr@p off your bike as you will riding it without them.

I'd also recommend overshoes if you haven't got them.

16mm

In winter the roads sometimes never really dry, and the surface water becomes increasingly filthy.
So unless you wait until the roads are actually dry you really want mudguards.

Riding through filthy puddles may leave an stain on your clothes. It depends what the content of the surface water is. Agricultural runoff + diesel + Oil + Mud + leaf mulch + god knows what. Really, you want mudguards.

John.T

A good waterproof top keeps the water that come down off you but not that which comes up. Mudguards do that. You wont stay dry but you will be drier and cleaner.

wilshawk

dmch2 wrote:

Am I missing something? Are mudguards that pointless? Or do they just help when it's not raining but you're going through loads of puddles?

hah, I was thinking exactly this recently and just removed my mudguards a few days ago. It was pouring down on Friday and I figured, whats the point in mudguards if you are getting soaked by teh rain anyway. It does seem to just be the case that they will protect you when going through puddles that remain after the rain.

However it doesnt seem to be that often that large unavoidable puddles accumulate and if there arent too many you can just slow down through them. Riding over damp roads does not seem to produce significant spray from what I have experieienced so far. So now mudguardless my bike looks much nicer and I dont catch my big clown fieet on the front guard when turning.

Smokin Joe

Mudguards make the difference between giving the bike a wipe with a damp rag and having to do a full cleaning job. They keep a lot of grit and mud from the mechanical bits which keeps them operating reliably for far longer, and keep the cowshite off the spout of your water bottle.

Essential for winter use IMO, and they do not look pants on a frame that is built to take them.

andy46

I've just got my first road bike and i've noticed that i got much dirtier riding my mtb in the wet (even just on the road) i reckon this is down to the different tyres though.

I am thinking of getting mudgaurds for christmas, will the crud racegaurds fit my bike? as i don't think my frame has mudgaurd mounts.

cougie

Mudguards make it a lot comfier when you do long winter rides. You can cope with being soaked for 12 miles - but you wouldnt want to do 5 hours or more with your back wheel constantly throwing up spray onto you.

Dont forget the front flap too - that can really cut down on the spray,

Barteos

dmch2 wrote:

I don't commute, only go out when it's dry

dmch2 wrote:

Am I missing something? Are mudguards that pointless?

Yes, they are pointless

Lancslad

Ah and mudguards are good for dark cycle paths that are shared by horse riders because horse riders never pick horse crap up, they think its perfectly acceptable to leave it where it lands. :evil:

bompington

Rolf F wrote:

One thing I found was that running my bike (with cheapish hubs) without mudguards in the rain rapidly caused the grease to be washed out of the rear hub. Pretty much after every very wet ride.

That's a bit worrying as I've run my (very cheap) hubs for 1000s of miles of wet riding without mudguards, and never even looked inside them...

hatbeard

bompington wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

One thing I found was that running my bike (with cheapish hubs) without mudguards in the rain rapidly caused the grease to be washed out of the rear hub. Pretty much after every very wet ride.

That's a bit worrying as I've run my (very cheap) hubs for 1000s of miles of wet riding without mudguards, and never even looked inside them...

sounds like it doesnt matter too much then in your case as you've got plenty of use out of them

MichaelW

When it is very rainy for days or weeks, the roads get washed clean. After a few dry days, the road starts to collect oil, rubber, diesel, mud etc. The first rain dissolves all this crap and delivers it to your back in a skunk stripe.

I always use mudguards, it keeps my clothes clean, keeps me drier on long rides, enables me to ride on wet roads wearing windproofs. The only downside is a bit of air resistance so I dont "medal" as I cross the finish line outside my front door.