Mudflaps: size matters!

[Ross K]

I'm new round here so thought I'd make my contribution by sharing a small nugget of my colossal intellect.

Or in other words share a tip that may have been said many times before because it's not exactly rocket science.

I commute and do winter training out here in the Scottish sticks and to make matters muddier I live on a farm. As a consequence, I find that my bottom bracket, chainset and feet often resemble a mud-wrestling competitor and realised I needed to find a solution, partly because although I like to be well oiled I can't be bothered with cleaning too often.

In a moment of inspiration while mopping the floor with Flash liquid

I realised I had found the perfect raw material for my long-planned extra-long mudflap.

After a bit of fettling, the side of the bottle was transformed into a flap of the perfect size, profile and flexibility and attached to my mudguard. I made it stop just 50mm off the ground which I think is essential if you really want it to keep your feet and bike relatively dry and clean. It's always puzzled me that 'guard flaps are never long enough to stop the trajectory of road filth making a mess of the toothy chainy parts of the bike.

I hope that my fellow cycling moppers may have their own lives improved, as mine has been, by this as yet unpatented invention.

I'll just leave you with an image of my previous life, now banished forever.

But seriously, the difference, before and after, has been amazing, even on wet roads my overshoes are pretty much dry after 12 miles and the underside of the bike is staying very clean now.

 

[snailracer]

Now you're just aggravating those guardless riders, who will insist that the 5s seconds they theoretically gain on every commute will make up for the time they spend cleaning and servicing their rapidly wearing transmissions .

 

[snorri]

Now you're just aggravating those guardless riders,

.....and causing great distress in recycling centres around the country as input of raw material slumps.

 

[Moodyman]

For me mudguards (and panniers) are a must on a commuter/utility bike

I can't understand those riders who say that these spoil the look of a bike.

 

[Jezston]

These additions survive going over speedbumps?

 

[Brommyboy]

In the past it has been considered necessary for the front wheel mudflap to be 5" wide and down to 2" from the ground. This will stop the front wheel spraying the rest of the bike with water or road gunge. My Brommy has this fitted: An extended mudguard with a floppy flap below it. The original flap was too floppy to prevent the spray from spoiling the chain/bottom bracket.

 

[snailracer]

These additions survive going over speedbumps?

They might break off - which is why you can't buy them, no manufacturer wants to have to pay for warranty. For DIY, repair costs are not a concern.

 

[Ross K]

We don't have speed bumps round here, but the flexibility has been tested a few times on our farm track. It's made of polythene so just bends and goes back to its original position, so it will survive speed bumps just fine.

The other thing is the width is the same as the mudguard so you don't really notice it's there until you realise your feet are still dry! I run 25c and it catches pretty much all the crap.

I've looked down on it (very briefly!) on a 44mph downhill and its curved profile means it keeps its position even at this speed instead of being bent back like more floppy counterparts.

I know my original posting was a bit tongue in cheek but in terms of fit-for-purpose, the long side of a Flash bottle is just perfect for this job.

 

[gaz]

My rear one is nice and big, i just need to replace my front one.

 

[BentMikey]

Gaz, Gaz, the style police are onto you. Too many lights as well.

 

[MattHB]

When I got my bike I got some cheapo plastic jobs, but after a few trips on rainy tracks I'm getting a muddy back, so they can't be long enough. I'm looking at the SKS Chromoplastic black ones, wiggle have them for £26 which looks like a bargain!

 

[Baggy]

My rear one is nice and big, i just need to replace my front one.

We've just had some of those delivered - they're great but I was a bit disappointed that they aren't reflective.

 

[gaz]

Gaz, Gaz, the style police are onto you. Too many lights as well.

It's my commuting bike, not my best one

 

[BentMikey]

That makes it worse, not better. It's the one you spend most time on.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Done this trick as well. My lovely old commuter/tourer pinched in 86 had a fairy liquid bottle sprayflap.

The L5 Brommy has one fashioned from a screenwash jerry. Cut to the original Brommy size though!