Help a newbie out...should I remove racks and mudguards?

stampz
stampz Posts: 29
edited September 2014 in Commuting general
Morning all,

Looking for some advice...I have only just recently got into cycling...although I have fallen hard and fast in love.

I was given a mountain bike by my brother, but soon discovered this was not suitable for road riding....the cycle to work scheme has just come back round at work and I have opted to get a Boardman CX comp, which I am picking up on Friday and am very excited about!

Anyway...enough babble..my question...as this is going to be by "all rounder bike" (at least until I can convince the wife I "need" a dedicated road bike) I have opted to have mudguards and a pannier rack fitted...these are needed for my commute, but not needed so much for my leisure rides at the weekend...do people remove mudguards and racks for such things...or is it more hassle than it's worth?

Comments

  • MichaelW
    MichaelW Posts: 2,164
    do people remove mudguards and racks for such things...or is it more hassle than it's worth?

    N0....Yes.
  • mikeeye
    mikeeye Posts: 162
    I used to remove my mudguards and rack for "special occasions" such as sportives. I definitely considered it too much hassle to do so for run-of-the-mill dry weather weekend rides. Even this reduced amount of removal and refitting led to damage to the rack mount threads meaning I had to tap them out to a larger size. For this reason, I no longer remove them, though I do now have a second bike which does not have mudguards or a rack.
    If you still don't know what recursion is, read this sentence.
  • drummer_boy
    drummer_boy Posts: 236
    A lot of folks in the club I ride out with leave their mudguards and rack on. I've just got the 'winter bike' out, and it's got mudguards. Been happily riding that for a few weeks now :-)

    Sounds like, come spring, you can justify moving up the n+1 ladder!!
  • tangled_metal
    tangled_metal Posts: 4,021
    My rack and guards are a one time fix only. No way will I bother taking them off. If you commute on you bike 5 days a week that probably means you need the rack on more times than you don't need it. Well more rides at least, you probably ride further on leisure rides than commutes.

    Question, do they affect your ride in any noticeably negative way? If they do then perhaps consider taking them off and using a rucksack.
  • peat
    peat Posts: 1,242
    keep them on. Not worth the hassle and you'll only end up with a wet arse anyway!
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    I keep my rear on, but over summer remove the front as it only takes 2-3 minutes.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.

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