How much do mudguards slow you down ?

[Welsh wheels]

I ride so fast that mud and water spray can't keep up with me

 

[tommaguzzi]

About as much as clippie pedals speed you up.

 

[Mr Celine]

Depends if you count the time spent tracing and fixing rattles.

 

[Banjo]

Depends if you count the time spent tracing and fixing rattles.

And time cleaning out built up mud that is now rubbing on your tyre. (at least you hope its mud...)

 

[derrick]

I tend to leave them on year round .
I wonder if any scientific experiment has been done.

It's the rattling that's the problem for me, i like a nice quiet bike, They make me go faster when i come across a bike with them on, I need to get away from the noise.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Mudguards IMO do slow you down and they rattle and rub or can do at least . Just taken them off my CX bike for now since its summer nearly . Will look at purchasing a clip on guard for the rear for quick off and on . Come winter it will probably go back into full commuter winter mode.

 

[phantasmagoriana]

Mine slow me down when they get clogged up with mud and the wheel can't turn round.

 

[ChrisEyles]

It's got to be negligable, hasn't it? Unless maybe you are already on an aero-tastic tri bike in a skin suit I suppose. I must say while I've often justified my difficulty keeping up with a friend as the product of a heavier bike, or panniers attached etc etc I've never thought to blame my mudguards... possibilities there

 

[derrick]

[QUOTE 4788503, member: 259"]They only rattle if you use sellotape to attach them. I use them newfangled bolt things. [/QUOTE]
Even with them new fangled bolty things give them a couple of weeks and there rattling like a little ratley thing.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Less than the fat lump on top

 

[iandg]

My fastest 10 miles was on a bike with mudguards (indoors on the rollers)

 

[Milkfloat]

Ok my mudguarded winter bike I am about 2mph slower than my summer bike. There are lots of differences, about 1.5kg in weight, thicker clothing, different wheels etc. Plus usually wet ground and mud.

All this makes my post irrelevant to the conversation.

 

[Vantage]

Even with them new fangled bolty things give them a couple of weeks and there rattling like a little ratley thing.

Even while careering out of control down a rock strewn fire road mine dont rattle. And theyve not needed tightening since they were fitted over a year ago.
What are you doing wrong?

 

[lutonloony]

As my usual speed is slow, my non- rattly mudguards don't make a lot of odds, on my commute, club run, and anything else, all in one bike

 

[Deleted member 1258]

As all my bikes have mudguards attached permanently I don't know if they slow me down or not.