Are "proper" metal mudguards safe?
Manc33
Posts: 2,157
I want to put mudguards on my road bike and was looking at the "Crud Road Racer 2" mudguards and saw how they should be safe if a stone got caught up in the front wheel.
Then I thought I want a set that are solid, not flapping about. The thing is putting solid ones on brings back the old "What if a stone goes up the front wheel" and with Crud Road Racers it is supposed to snap, even with a cloth or twig.
Anyone know whats best? I know with metal ones I can just screw them on, but Crud Road Racers might take a lot of fiddling and always rub.
About 50% of the days I would go out I don't because I don't have mudguards and its hurling it down (like right now).
I am only bothered about safety, but want ones that last as well. Crud Road Racers cost as much as some of the most expensive metal mudguards. :roll:
They can't be that dangerous if that Beaumont bloke can ride 18,400 miles in 195 days all with metal mudguards, over some right dodgy terrain as well. He was riding over gravel and all sorts with metal mudguards. Would love a breakdown of all his bike, the only thing I know is it had a Rohloff hub and a very weird saddle.
Then I thought I want a set that are solid, not flapping about. The thing is putting solid ones on brings back the old "What if a stone goes up the front wheel" and with Crud Road Racers it is supposed to snap, even with a cloth or twig.
Anyone know whats best? I know with metal ones I can just screw them on, but Crud Road Racers might take a lot of fiddling and always rub.
About 50% of the days I would go out I don't because I don't have mudguards and its hurling it down (like right now).
I am only bothered about safety, but want ones that last as well. Crud Road Racers cost as much as some of the most expensive metal mudguards. :roll:
They can't be that dangerous if that Beaumont bloke can ride 18,400 miles in 195 days all with metal mudguards, over some right dodgy terrain as well. He was riding over gravel and all sorts with metal mudguards. Would love a breakdown of all his bike, the only thing I know is it had a Rohloff hub and a very weird saddle.
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Most (SKS at least, the most popular) have a mounting at the front where the metal stays are held into a plastic holder. As a result, if enough force is applied, the metal stays simpy pop out of the plastic holder.0
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Coincidence that those were the ones I was looking at anyway.
"SKS Bluemel Reflective Mudguards"
27% off at the moment at CRC.
Most of these don't say if they are 26" or 700c but I guess I can guess from looking at pictures on the web.
Since the bike does have the eyelets I might as well get ones that will last.0 -
If you've got clearance get proper guards, the £22 RRP sks are excellent and simply the easiest mudguards to live with. The more expensive ones are a lot more fiddly for more money.0
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You mean "SKS Commuter Mudguards" (£21.99)?
There's 4 different ones all SKS.
Not sure if I can post links to CRC here. :oops:0 -
SKS guards are plastic, not metal.
And Crud road racers don't flap about, nor do they rub constantly (provided you have a frame that has sufficient clearance). They are less sturdy than proper guards like the SKS ones though.
If you want guards that you can fit and leave on all the time then there's no reason not to go with the full guards. The Cruds are really quick to remove so are good if you need (or want) to take them off when not needed.More problems but still living....0 -
Any of these will do you - 700C or 28", then get the right diameter for your tyres (probably 35mm)
Chromoplastic, Blumels, Blumels reflective with extra long flap on the front guard
They've all got the plastic pop-off stay holder for the front wheels, and are pretty much fit and forget. I think my winter bike came with the chromoplastic guards. Can't tell the difference between these three in terms of shapes to be honest...Cannondale Synapse 105, Giant Defy 3, Giant Omnium, Giant Trance X2, EMC R1.0, Ridgeback Platinum, On One Il Pompino...0 -
I have had the roadracer 2's on my allez for two years. No rubbing etc, superb fit. Had a 1 foot long stick wedge up under one and it snapped. Was totally lost without it whilst waiting for replacement.0
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Here's all the SKS full mudguards I have found.
Prices from lowest to highest.
SKS Velo 42 Urban Mudguard Set - £18 (no flaps)
SKS Commuter Mudguards - £22 (small flaps)
SKS Blumels Road Mudguard Set - £24 (no flaps)
SKS Chromoplastic Mudguards - £29 (no flaps)
SKS Bluemel Reflective Mudguards - £30 (front flap only)
SKS Longboard Mudguard Set - £31 (front and rear flaps)
Really though, whats the one they sell the most of or whats the best bet?
£18 to £31 is quite a jump. Only the last one seems to even have proper flaps.
Will probably splash out and get those.
I want ones that will last and not break AND keep me dry including feet. Gotta have flaps on whatever I get.
Agh, if my dad's old Harry Hall didn't have a snapped back mudguard, I could use those, but its not really repairable.0 -
Well - look at the top two in your list - the back ones are very short - they'll leave a lot of the rear tyre exposed.
Compare them to the following 4, and you'll see that those 4 rear ones are long, just over a semi-circle.
So pick any of the bottom 4 - long flaps if you like them - more useful on the front than the back to be honest. Get the reflective one if you're going to do a lot of dark and gloomy riding!!Cannondale Synapse 105, Giant Defy 3, Giant Omnium, Giant Trance X2, EMC R1.0, Ridgeback Platinum, On One Il Pompino...0 -
Yeah thats the other thing, needs to be a full mudguard so, half the back wheel.
I am 100% on the road these days so apart from a big pebble or something there isn't anything to get snagged really.0 -
Manc33 wrote:Yeah thats the other thing, needs to be a full mudguard so, half the back wheel.
I am 100% on the road these days so apart from a big pebble or something there isn't anything to get snagged really.
Like the Crud Road Racer 2 then. As long as you fit them properly, there's no flapping about and no rubbing.Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved0 -
CRR2s are not THAT flimsy. I am quite abusive to my bike and they are fine.0
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coriordan wrote:CRR2s are not THAT flimsy. I am quite abusive to my bike and they are fine.
+1 I snagged up one of those wire rings from the inside of a hubcap the other day. Aside from making a terrible noise and me needing to re-adjust the mounting bolts, there was no damage to bike or Cruds.
Thing is they look flimsy but flexibility counts for a lot.
Anyway, I think the only guards that seem obviously dodgy are those that have a single fork mount. Someone on here had one slip down the tapered fork and ended in him being pitched over the bars.Faster than a tent.......0 -
I have the SKS longboards on my CX commuter. The front guard has a really long flap which is only about 5cm from the road. During the recent monsoon season they were excellent at keeping my feet dry. I should imagine the rear flap would be good if you ride in a group. Thoroughly recommended.Ecrasez l’infame0
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Proper metal mudgards are safe, they can bend and deform but are stiff enough to remain more or less in place. The danger with the plastic SKS chromoplastics, which are universally used, is that the material is so strong yet flexible, it can fold up and jam inside the fork. This can happen if you catch a branch or other stuff. The solution is the safety release system supplied with chromoplastics.
My safety release has been triggered twice; both times the obstruction just clattered away with no harm done and I was able to refit the stays and carry on.
If you have eyelets, then SKS chromoplastics are the most effective type to fit.0 -
I've got a bike with Cruds and another (stolen now) with SKS Commuters.
The Cruds are great - bit fiddle the first time you put them on, but if done right fit really well and don't flap. The advantage is that they'll fit on road bikes that won't take full guards like the SKS.
The difference with the commuters and the chromoplastics (the most popular SKS I believe) is the positioning of the stays and the slightly shorter mudguard at the rear. I found the stays better for working around disc brakes and the short guard was OK - still kept my back dry - I think the short guard on the 'Commuter' is so you can stand the bike up on it's tail to get through doors, use vertical racks, get it in lifts etc.
If I had any choice for a bike going out in all weather every day, I'd get full SKS guards. For the road bike when I can choose when to go out, the Cruds are fine.0 -
My 2 pence worth for anyone who has not got clearance. I've got a 2010 Specialized Allez with 25mm tyres and no eyelets.
Tried the Crud Road Racers not sure if they were the MK2's or not. Would not fit with 25mm tyres, I found clearance with 23mm ok but constant rubbing and re adjusting. Ended up taking them off.
Recently thought I'd try and find another pair of mudguards to run the Allez as a winter/commuter bike.
Bought the SKS Raceblade Long. Good coverage protection, easy to remove and refit, although I've decided just to leave them on as I don't notice them on. Also seem sturdy and no clanging and rubbing over rougher surfaces, most importantly bags of clearance easily fit my 25mm tyres. Finnally dry feet and backside :-)0
