Clothes saver

[jimboalee]

Some of you may have seen the photo of my front mudflap, the one that hangs down to the tarmac and is three inches wide.
Last night it rained. My commute is along country B roads and through Warwick town centre. I DO NOT like being splashed with muddy, cow shitty puddle water, or oily, diesely puddle water in town. So in addition to the long mudflap, I strategically place a piece of electrical insulation tape on the FRONT of my front mudguard.
I set it to point down to almost touch the tyre. It stops the cow shitty spray catching the breeze and landing on my leggings and flouro jacket. For town cyclists, it reduces the number of grey blots on the front of flouro jackets. Simple, very cheap but remarkably effective clothes saver.

 

[johnnyh]

ah, now that's good thinking right there!

 

[BentMikey]

You are a member of the CTC and ICMFP!!!

(Great idea, btw)

 

[jimboalee]

ICMFP.....

Hmm... International Confederation for Mentally Fatigued People.

 

[PrettyboyTim]

Jimboalee, could you post another picture of your mudflap?

I tried making one the other day by cutting up a 4 pint plastic milk carton, but it ended up wobbling ffrom side to side causing the mudguard to bang against the wheel so I had to cut it off. I've not gotten around to making another one.

 

[fossyant]

Very clever....

 

[yello]

I do like your posts jimboalee. I'm not sure whether it's intentional (neither do I care ) but there really is something tongue-in-cheek weirdly humorous, almost other world, about them... as well as actually containing some useful info. A kind of geeky but don't give a damn self awareness... it's a lovely combination.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I agree with Yello. You remind me of my father-in-law in many ways, which is a compliment I assure you. He's a top bloke.

 

[Tynan]

I've got the guards Condor fitted at purchase, they're so tight to the tyres that I can't actually get even a finger tip to the tyre where the guards are

goes without saying that I hardly know when road are wet other than the usual bit off the very front of the tyre

I suppose 23 slick tyres pick and throw much less water though

 

[goo_mason]

Where's Bonj ? A mudguard thread and he's not jumped in yet to say that you don't need mudguards !!!

One day I'll get over my 'mudguards look horrible on a nice, sleek bike' mindset and fit some for winter. My newest Hi-Viz/Reflective vest has a massive mucky patch on the back of it that could easily be avoided !

 

[fossyant]

I hate mudguards, but absolutely necessary for an every day bike..... I've got a long'ish flap made from a piece of pond liner - does the job well and reduces spray significantly. This bit of tape on the front sounds good...

 

[CotterPin]

I know I am about to get shot down in flames (and possibly be accused of being Bonj's disciple), however I am not totally convinced whether a following cyclist gains much benefit from a bicycle with regular mudguards to one with no guards at all.

This is based upon my observations from a very damp club ride last Sunday. We had a mix of no guards, race blades, regular guards and (one person) guards with a mudflap.

The only person who I could cycle behind and not get muddy was the guy with the mudflaps. I did not notice any appreciable difference cycling behind any of the other cyclists. Mudguards may protect the rider of that machine but I am not 100% convinced that they do as much to protect following cyclists as some fondly believe they do, unless you are using full length mudflaps.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I doubt normal ones would protect anyone behind very much .. but then I've had few people behind me for very long, they just drift on past.

 

[jimboalee]

There it is. Wilkinsons car mat. Pop rivets.

 

[CotterPin]

Yep - that's what I want. I'm getting my tourer restored and will fit something like that when finished!