mudguards on the club run

[alecstilleyedye]

mudguards used to be pretty much at the discretion (or conscience) of the rider on the social club run when i first joined the club. there were training rides that the club captain used to lead where mudguards were compulsory during the winter, but the club run had no such rules.

recently, said club captain and his coterie are riding the social club run and there seems to be a move to an unwritten rule about having mudguards (even staunch opponents thereof now seem to be turning up with a fully guarded bike). i know all about the social niceties of having a rear mudguard with a flap when riding in a group, but some bikes just don't have clearance for mudguards, even the raceblade kind, and the experience of riding is diminished by their presence.

whilst i have got mudguards on the winter bike (raceblades, had to butcher them to prevent them rubbing), is it really reasonable to expect to go out on a wet muddy ride and not get wet and muddy? modern washing machines and detergents will get the muck out of virtually any kit, and if you wear your best white assos kit on a wet winter ride, you deserve all you get.

 

[cyberknight]

Depends in you want a face-full of whatever poop/ pollution is mixed in with the muddy water when it fly off the back of the wheel in front .

 

[screenman]

I was behind somebody who was inconsiderate and did not consider his fellow group members when we rode over an area where the cows crossed for milking.

Cow poo tastes quite sweet, and freckles do no suit me.

 

[crazyjoe101]

It's not about not getting muddy and wet; it's about not having a constant stream of horrible surface water / dirt shot into your face, all over your cycling glasses and into your mouth. I won't ride behind anyone who does not have mudguards and if the group is small I sometimes politely suggest they go on the back if it is really bad because it's usually just one or two in a group of maybe eight spraying everyone.
At the same time, I do empathise for those with no clearance - I use to use Raceblade Longs with some Crud RRII parts and although they got the job done they were very high maintenence. I sold my set to a clumate who rides a Bianchi (hardly mudguard friendly)and he seems to think they are amazing.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i can understand my ribble r872 (essentially a race-ready frame) not having clearance, but the carrera virtuoso, at £250 when bought new, i would have thought would have had enough…

oh well, let's look forward to when the mudguards can come off…

 

[Venod]

Our club captain (rightly IMO) constantly voices the need for full mudguards on club runs, if you turn up without them you are expected to ride at the back of the group, its OK if your by yourself, but its a bit unconsiderate in a group where most people have guards to keep themselves and other people clean.

 

[screenman]

Nothing like doing a fast club run on your training bike equipped with guards, rack, light, etc. That is when you know you can hack it.

 

[Elybazza61]

Yep,full 'guards required on our club runs.

 

[Hacienda71]

Racebladelong 2's will fit where Cruds won't and give sufficient coverage for even the strictest club rules. They are far easier to adjust than clip on standard Raceblades.

 

[screenman]

Just ride your old bike, surely guards fit on that one.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

My club has a simple rule, once the clocks go back mudguards are mandatory on the clubruns. We can take them off again once we're back in BST.

 

[HLaB]

Up in the central belt I think you'd be crazy without them.

 

[HarryTheDog]

Our club captain (rightly IMO) constantly voices the need for full mudguards on club runs, if you turn up without them you are expected to ride at the back of the group, its OK if your by yourself, but its a bit unconsiderate in a group where most people have guards to keep themselves and other people clean.

Same in my road club.

 

[Tin Pot]

I'd go further - its inconsiderate to not have them anywhere there are a lot of cyclists.

My last bike hire in the city taught me that.

 

[mjr]

i know all about the social niceties of having a rear mudguard with a flap when riding in a group, but some bikes just don't have clearance for mudguards, even the raceblade kind, and the experience of riding is diminished by their presence.

I'm surprised you describe the rides as social if mudguards weren't encouraged. Spraying others with road crap sounds positively antisocial!

Riding a bike without mudguards is cheating, riding only part of a bike. Next you'll be saying it has no luggage rack or chain guard!