Fenders

How many of you use fenders?  What are the pros and cons?  Thanks.

I use fenders for commuting. I would be hesitant to take them offroad in the wet anywhere a clay-based soil existed. So back home in Tennessee, I wouldn't feel good taking them off pavement if there was real rain. When I was in Minneapolis earlier this year and we rode a ton of crushed paths with melting snow/ice on them I would have been really happy with them. Where I live now in Colorado it is hit and miss. Some of the dirt roads have clogged up my coworkers fenders. Some of the gravel is hard packed and barely spits sand on you in the rain.

I have 2 gravel bikes, one with and one w/o fenders. They are cheap Planet Bike models but work well. I'm in southern New England, if it's wet and sloppy I go with the fenders. The only downside is I have to watch out for sticks getting caught up in them. It really keeps me and the bike much cleaner, like 90% cleaner. No racing, been there, done that. Also use them for sloppy road conditions. Clay and mud is not a problem for me. I usually remove them for the dry summer and fall season, takes about 10 minutes.  

I live in Massachusetts and most of the gravel I have noticed is more hard packed.  I have done the D2R2 on my 26er mountain bike in the past and it was a slow.  I am hoping to do well on new bike this year.  I have Velo Orange metal fenders on it.  When I was at the D2R2 I noticed a lot of bikes with fenders.  However, I saw pictures of the
RASPUTITSA SPRING CLASSIC this year in Vermont was ankle deep in mud, more of a mudfest than gravel ride.  Anyway, I may keep a closer eye on the weather and leave my fenders on and avoid events with thick cement caked mud.

 

 

My $.02: There are numerous types of fenders, depending on your bike, and tire selection. If you are the type of rider who rides every day, regardless of the weather - a bike commuter, or bike tourist for example, then fenders are a very good idea. I'm talking about the kind that bolt to your bike's dedicated fender mounts. Of course, that means thinking ahead and buying a bike that was designed with fender brackets and space for both your tires and fenders. But, most folks who fit this category, probably already have full fenders and know a lot more about them than I do. Then there are the rest of us, who have bikes that were not exactly designed for full fenders. I'm in that class. Since I sometimes ride in the rain on muddy dirt and gravel roads, I've decided to shelve my macho bike racer image and go for inexpensive SKS clip on plastic fenders when the roads are wet and muddy: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X61N2A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 .
These fit my Swiss Cross CX bike, are inexpensive, easy to install and remove, and do a good job of , well .... covering my ass. Good investment of $16. I haven't found anything for the front wheel though. A lot of the plastic front fenders are incompatible with my fork and brakes. There are some that mount to the down tube, but they wont work too well if you are cornering. Also, I already get some protection from my down tube. Frankly, if I could find something that would fit my fork and brakes, that would be as easy to install as my SKS rear, I might go for it. In short, in NH mud season, fenders are a very good idea.

Depends where you live. I'd never use them on Kansas gravel, too much rattling and noise and the gravel gets jammed between the tire and fender. Plus it doesn't rain that much here.

I want them for commuting but for a gravel ride or off road have only used the type that clip on the seat post. We do have the sort that straps on downtube.

I have an extra challenge with my 2016 Fargo because that fancy expensive plastic fork doesn't accommodate fenders. I won't be surprised if over time I own the steel fork too and have the bike configured differently for fall to spring commuting vs general rides.

Yet another consideration is I'm planning on studded tires. The gen 4 Fargo takes large tires and I see 29x2.1 as well as smaller 700c tires. I have a feeling large studded tires and fenders could be ugly if they touch each other.

To me the real pro and real obvious after selling the last commuter bike is full fenders can have a lot more of you clean and dry. A ride for exercise or adventure is usually with clothing that can get wet and dirty. A commute is a ride where I have to look like I belong in the c suite so fenders really help the latter.

They're a must, but my winter home gets 100+ inches of rain a year, and half of that in winter.

I have Velo Orange metal fenders on my Gunnar.  I run 700x32 Pannaracer Gravel King tires.  Up in the Northeast I try to stick to hard-packed gravel.  I ridden the D2R2 on this setup.  If it is really bad and muddy, I will pull out my 26 inch mountain bike with 2.5 inch tires, and throw a plastic fender on it that mounts on the seat stem.  However, this set up is too slow, and I will just chuck the registration fee as a loss.