1 Bike - When do you take off mudguards?

CleeRider
CleeRider Posts: 304
edited March 2013 in Road general
If you only have one bike, when do you put on/take off mudguards.
I've just got my first road bike and put guards on it for days when the road is wet and dirty.
Do you keep them on all year round? Take them off on a certain date in the Spring/Summer? Or keep alternating off/on depending on the weather?

I like to ride whenever I can as long as its not actually raining.
I guess the solution is a turbo or winter bike for wet road days, but I'll have to save up again for one of those.
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Comments

  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    No single correct answer. It can be as bad in August as it can in February (if you are in the UK).

    Essentially if the roads are dry and clean then mudguards serve little purpose, the trick is knowing if that is to be true of the whole ride on any given day. If you can predict that successfully you are a better man than any weather forcaster :-)
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    smidsy wrote:
    If you can predict that successfully you are a better man than any weather forcaster :-)

    By the time you get to two or three days before a ride, most weather forecasters will be able to tell you with a high degree of accuracy whether there is likely to be rain or not. I don't think I've ever gone on a ride and found the forecast to be significantly wrong on the day :wink:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • CleeRider
    CleeRider Posts: 304
    So do most people constantly put on/take off mudguards dependent on the weather?
    I think with my particular guards the job is too fiddly and frustrating to repeat constantly.
  • negativelycra
    negativelycra Posts: 225
    I just leave them on. The rapha stylistic photo mob might call them ugly, but it's pretty difficult to look stlsh when you're a sweaty mess at the top of a steep hill.
    ...and imo, if you're not a sweaty mess at the top of a steep hill, you're doing it wrong...
    [urlhttp://veloviewer.com/SigImage.php?a=f3252&r=3&c=5&u=I&g=s&f=abcdefghij&z=a.png]Veloviewer[/url]
  • Pickled Pig
    Pickled Pig Posts: 233
    April 15th, unless it's raining.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I am getting a CX bike for next winter.
    Crud Guards are faff and will need too much modification to fit my Focus.
    Got some Race Blades which are pretty good (after a lot of bending for initial fit) but offer much less protection, and the bike just gets too trashed by winter anyway.
  • butcher of bakersfield
    butcher of bakersfield Posts: 1,233
    Mine stay on all year round. It rains all year so I don't really see the point in taking them off. There's no advantage to be had.
  • pride4ever
    pride4ever Posts: 510
    NEVER EVER use mudguards. I treat mudguards like 7up, never have never will. I wash my bike after every ride, thats akin to putting a roofrack on a Ferrari.
    the deeper the section the deeper the pleasure.
  • butcher of bakersfield
    butcher of bakersfield Posts: 1,233
    pride4ever wrote:
    thats akin to putting a roofrack on a Ferrari.

    portraitofabicycle.jpg
  • pride4ever
    pride4ever Posts: 510
    butcher of bakersfield wrote:
    pride4ever wrote:
    thats akin to putting a roofrack on a Ferrari.

    portraitofabicycle.jpg

    Lol my point exactly.
    the deeper the section the deeper the pleasure.
  • cookeeemonster
    cookeeemonster Posts: 1,991
    pride4ever wrote:
    NEVER EVER use mudguards. I treat mudguards like 7up, never have never will. I wash my bike after every ride, thats akin to putting a roofrack on a Ferrari.
    ...adds another roadie to me list of mudguardless roadies I want to punch on a rainy ride... ;)

    (Mudguards are not just for you they're for the cyclist behind! ;) )
  • pride4ever
    pride4ever Posts: 510
    CookeeeMonster wrote:
    pride4ever wrote:
    NEVER EVER use mudguards. I treat mudguards like 7up, never have never will. I wash my bike after every ride, thats akin to putting a roofrack on a Ferrari.
    ...adds another roadie to me list of mudguardless roadies I want to punch on a rainy ride... ;)

    (Mudguards are not just for you they're for the cyclist behind! ;) )


    Dont worry bro youd never be able to sit in my wheel...lol...only kidding but seriously saying I should make my stallion look like a Trabant for your benefit, nah never gonna happen.
    the deeper the section the deeper the pleasure.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    As soon as I get back from a ride, and just before washing my bike!
  • wotnoshoeseh
    wotnoshoeseh Posts: 531
    Same question if you have 2 bikes - which one do I take? Mudguards, or not ?
  • Calpol
    Calpol Posts: 1,039
    pride4ever wrote:
    NEVER EVER use mudguards. I treat mudguards like 7up, never have never will. I wash my bike after every ride, thats akin to putting a roofrack on a Ferrari.
    Totally agree. You might aswell ditch the lycra for some slacks and trouser clips. No mudguards will ever be fitted to any of my bikes wet arse or not and before anyone mentions courtesy to other riders in the group - I would ride on the back if it was an issue.
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    Calpol wrote:
    before anyone mentions courtesy to other riders in the group - I would ride on the back if it was an issue.

    But only 1 person can be at the back and there are now at least two of you idiots. :-)
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    smidsy wrote:
    Calpol wrote:
    before anyone mentions courtesy to other riders in the group - I would ride on the back if it was an issue.

    But only 1 person can be at the back and there are now at least two of you idiots. :-)

    They can have fun spraying each other then :wink:

    Have to agree mudguards on a road bike are almost a sin though.
    One of the reasons I want a CX.

    Thing about group riding is that they are rarely low enough to make much difference to other riders anyway.
  • thefd
    thefd Posts: 1,021
    edited March 2013
    Just leave them on. Unless they are really heavy or rattle loads! There will be times throughout the year when you will be glad you have them.
    2017 - Caadx
    2016 - Cervelo R3
    2013 - R872
    2010 - Spesh Tarmac
  • pride4ever
    pride4ever Posts: 510
    N.E.V.E.R.
    the deeper the section the deeper the pleasure.
  • declan1
    declan1 Posts: 2,470
    CookeeeMonster wrote:
    pride4ever wrote:
    NEVER EVER use mudguards. I treat mudguards like 7up, never have never will. I wash my bike after every ride, thats akin to putting a roofrack on a Ferrari.
    ...adds another roadie to me list of mudguardless roadies I want to punch on a rainy ride... ;)

    (Mudguards are not just for you they're for the cyclist behind! ;) )

    I get covered in spray and mud regardless of whether the cyclist in front of me has mudguards or not.

    Road - Dolan Preffisio
    MTB - On-One Inbred

    I have no idea what's going on here.
  • simon_masterson
    simon_masterson Posts: 2,740
    Calpol wrote:
    pride4ever wrote:
    NEVER EVER use mudguards. I treat mudguards like 7up, never have never will. I wash my bike after every ride, thats akin to putting a roofrack on a Ferrari.
    Totally agree. You might aswell ditch the lycra for some slacks and trouser clips. No mudguards will ever be fitted to any of my bikes wet ars* or not and before anyone mentions courtesy to other riders in the group - I would ride on the back if it was an issue.

    What about those of us who prefer to be judged based on our performance rather than how our equipment looks? ;)
    Retro(ish) TT 2017-
    Fixed TT 2015-2016
  • pride4ever
    pride4ever Posts: 510
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    Calpol wrote:
    pride4ever wrote:
    NEVER EVER use mudguards. I treat mudguards like 7up, never have never will. I wash my bike after every ride, thats akin to putting a roofrack on a Ferrari.
    Totally agree. You might aswell ditch the lycra for some slacks and trouser clips. No mudguards will ever be fitted to any of my bikes wet ars* or not and before anyone mentions courtesy to other riders in the group - I would ride on the back if it was an issue.

    What about those of us who prefer to be judged based on our performance rather than how our equipment looks? ;)
    Mudguards wont make you go faster.
    the deeper the section the deeper the pleasure.
  • simon_masterson
    simon_masterson Posts: 2,740
    pride4ever wrote:
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    Calpol wrote:
    pride4ever wrote:
    NEVER EVER use mudguards. I treat mudguards like 7up, never have never will. I wash my bike after every ride, thats akin to putting a roofrack on a Ferrari.
    Totally agree. You might aswell ditch the lycra for some slacks and trouser clips. No mudguards will ever be fitted to any of my bikes wet ars* or not and before anyone mentions courtesy to other riders in the group - I would ride on the back if it was an issue.

    What about those of us who prefer to be judged based on our performance rather than how our equipment looks? ;)
    Mudguards wont make you go faster.

    If I recall, a wind tunnel study found that a front mudguard acts as a fairing, but it is canceled out by the rear one. :lol:
    Retro(ish) TT 2017-
    Fixed TT 2015-2016
  • chrisaonabike
    chrisaonabike Posts: 1,914
    My mudguards took me so blooming long to put on, they aren't ever coming off unless they snap off.
    Is the gorilla tired yet?
  • MattyDeez
    MattyDeez Posts: 54
    I bought some in October. Loved them, i took them off last week. I love my bike even more, it felt more nimple and i could go faster!

    It certainly saved my back and washing, i then went out yesterday and got caught in blizzards, roads were soaking wet and full of salt. I was caked in the stuff.
  • thefd
    thefd Posts: 1,021
    Last week my car was going in for a service - so I got the winter tyres swapped over at the same time. Being March and we have had a good spell of weather I thought it should be fine....WRONG! 3 or 4 inches of snow last night and my car was sliding all over the place.

    Moral - leave the mud guards on - as soon as you take them off, you'll wish you had them as you hit some heavy rain.
    2017 - Caadx
    2016 - Cervelo R3
    2013 - R872
    2010 - Spesh Tarmac
  • BigDaddyG
    BigDaddyG Posts: 63
    smidsy wrote:
    Calpol wrote:
    before anyone mentions courtesy to other riders in the group - I would ride on the back if it was an issue.

    But only 1 person can be at the back and there are now at least two of you idiots. :-)


    Harsh but fair............harsh but fair :P :lol::lol:
    Summer - Wilier la Triestina
    Winter - Trek 1.2
    Turbo bike - Trek 1.2
    I love my Trek 1.2
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    1 bike, mudguards usually come off at the end of April if it looks like the weather's improving. Last year they stayed on all year.

    Very glad of them on Saturday's ride.
  • MichaelW
    MichaelW Posts: 2,164
    If this is your only bike and you use it for everyday commuting as well as fitness training, the guards should stay on until we get a long period of stable dry weather, ie a large blocking high over the Azores.
    If you have 2 bikes, then keep them on one all the time.
    Adding and removing proper full-length mudguards is not a quick job. If you want to chop and change, some clip-on guards may be better suited. I just leave mine on the whole time.

    Mudguards do increase wind resistance and you can feel the difference so don't use the for racing.
  • clickrumble
    clickrumble Posts: 304
    Best solution to this for me was to buy another bike, so I've got one with and one without. The idea was that I would use the without bike in the summer and the other for the rest of the year, however I seem to find the days when I want to use the mudguard free bike have been very limited. In my case I'm happy to let comfort take precedence over vanity, as there's nothing more miserable than being out on a mudguardless ride on wet and/or flooded roads, also the roads round here seem to have a far amount of organic matter on them which finds it's way up your back.

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