Black or silver mudguards?

[bobones]

To get better coverage, I'm thinking of replacing the SKS Commuter mudguards that are currently on my winter bike with either matte black SKS Bluemels, shiny black SKS Chromoplastics or silver Chromoplastics. The Commuters are quite short at the back and lack a mudflap at the front so my feet get splashed and they're not great for group rides. I can't decide whether to stick with silver or go with black. The frame is a 2011 Trek 1.5, mostly matte black, built up with spare parts. I might replace the bottle cages with black if I go that route. Can you help me decide?

 

[bicyclos]

Id go with the silver mudguards, there is enough black colour there already. Nice bike though.......

 

[Moodyman]

Leave as is.

The guards that you have fitted give as good coverage as you'll get with the others you mentioned.

My advice would be to save your dosh and add a guard flap at the bottom. There's plenty of advice on this forum about adding your own flap at the bottom - link below

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/fender-fender-fender-flaps-hooo.94188/#post-1697246

 

[Norm]

Looks nice, just needs a flap.

Trying an extended flap is an FOC thing anyway. If you don't like it, you can spend your £££s on a new set but I like the look of that with the silver guards.

 

[bobones]

Thanks for the replies. Adding flaps was my original plan, but the rear guard doesn't extend half way down the wheel as the other guards mentioned do. This means a rear flap would have to follow the curve of the wheel or it would hit the tyre. Maybe I can heat and shape some plastic container material?

 

[Norm]

Would the Marilyn curves of a Coke bottle work?

 

[potsy]

This shoes the coverage you get with the Blumels, without the flaps.

 

[Headgardener]

At the moment the mudguards on the Dawes Horizion are a bit short at the back and the the front one is slightly twisted near the fork crown so when funds allow I am going to replace them with some SKS Bluemels in black rather than the current silver.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I'd also leave as is but add a flap. However, if you do decide you must change them I'd recommend Tortec Reflectors

 

[bobones]

I successfully made a flap for the front, but the back was probematic. I'd also put a couple of cracks in the rear guard following a crash so I ended up going for matte black Bluemels. I like the "meaner" all black look, but the silver ones were nice too. Not sure how effective these little spoilers will be. Thanks for all your suggestions