mudguards on the club run

[youngoldbloke]

Cannot agree with any of that.

This^^^
Me neither

 

[mjr]

Bingo. Mudguards are not hugely of value unless they have very long flaps that almost touch the ground (sometimes they can be worst than no mudguards) BUT if you getting spray from a mudguardless bike full in yer face IMO you are riding too close for the conditions.

Not bingo: IMO any mudguard reaching below the axle cuts out a lot of the thicker clingier muddier spray from reaching those riding behind you, so it's polite to have them if you ride in groups or high-traffic areas, as well as kinder to your bike. It's just not going to get 100% in the worst conditions, though.

 

[martint235]

How can mudguards " diminish the experience of riding" ?

I have bikes with and without mudguards. Neither diminishes the experience of riding.

It just sounds like a sentence to try and support a point. It doesnt.

It's the drag innit.

My bike with mudguards is far slower than without them. It can only be the mudguards creating drag at pace.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Not bingo: IMO any mudguard reaching below the axle cuts out a lot of the thicker clingier muddier spray from reaching those riding behind you, so it's polite to have them if you ride in groups or high-traffic areas, as well as kinder to your bike. It's just not going to get 100% in the worst conditions, though.

My point was that they are far from perfect as people would have us believe and you can still get plenty sprayed behind full mudguards unless they have a full extension which most IME don't.
If you're getting sprayed by the rider in front ride slightly to one side or out of the spray zone.

Alternatively just enjoy the free food, water and organic face pack.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Cannot agree with any of that.

 

[mjr]

Because water and mud travels in straight lines

 

[youngoldbloke]

I'm a saint then, AND I've got a front flap too!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Because water and mud travels in straight lines

Because I imagine getting wet riding behind full mudguard users ....

 

[Hacienda71]

Get out mountain biking, it will put a bit of spray off a roadbike into context.

 

[Louch]

Cycle solo and make your own rules

 

[Profpointy]

I really don't understand the no-mudguards fad at all. I remember taking my mudguards off to do some job or other, leaving them off afterwards. I was maybe 14 at the time. I put 'em back pretty smartish first time out in the wet. I would never have a bike without mudguards, it's just horrid getting a dirty wet stripe up your back soaking you from your arse right up to the top of your head. And "they" say mudguards aren't cool for some reason

 

[youngoldbloke]

Cycle solo and make your own rules

Do what you like, ride alone, don't expect to be welcome on a wet club run, and give me a wide berth when you come past. I hope those mountain bikers weren't expecting to be welcomed at a cafe any time soon, either.

 

[Vantage]

30+ years I've been cycling but it's only been 'mudguarded' for the last 4.
My new (then) tourer had them already fitted and before I even took it out for a test ride I'd fabricated mudflaps and fitted them.
The current ones catch pretty much everything. I was even thanked by a fellow clubmate a few weeks ago for having gone to to the effort of f&r mudflaps.
They may not be kewl and trendy to some, but I think they look the bees knees and I can ride knowing I'm one of the nice guys

 

[CaadX]

Clubrun with mudguards = 12mph
Cubrun without mudguards = 18mph.

 

[T4tomo]

My point was that they are far from perfect as people would have us believe and you can still get plenty sprayed behind full mudguards unless they have a full extension which most IME don't.
If you're getting sprayed by the rider in front ride slightly to one side or out of the spray zone.

Alternatively just enjoy the free food, water and organic face pack.

Indeed. The biggest benefit of mudguards is to yourself and your bike, and equally in the rain /wet you're a dick if you try to draft as close as you would in the dry.