Mountain bike-style mudguards will fit almost any bike, and offer loads of clearance regardless of frame design. On the flip side, they offer less protection than other types of mudguard. Your feet will still get wet, your bike gets no protection, and they don't shield the rider behind you. If your bike has rim brakes, you’ll usually need long-reach brake callipers, especially if you want to use mudguards with tyres that are 25mm or larger. Usually mounted under the saddle, fork crown or down tube, these will protect you from the worst spray and are best suited to mountain bikes. What width of mudguard or fender should I buy?

Mudguards can even offer a performance advantage. Yes, really. By keeping you dry and comfortable, they allow you to train more effectively than if you’re wet and cold. By keeping as much of the water off your body as you can, you're going to be able to ride for longer, and faster, when the roads are wet. The term rearguard (also rereward, rearward) comes from the Old French rereguarde, [3] i.e. "the guard which is behind", originating with the medieval custom of dividing an army into three battles or wards; Van, Main (or Middle) and Rear. [4] The Rear Ward usually followed the other wards on the march and during a battle usually formed the rearmost of the three if deployed in column or the left-hand ward if deployed in line.

Mudguard Guide

The other advantage of these mudguards is that they offer the most protection to the bicycle. They keep all the water and mud away from the rim brake callipers (if your bike has them), which really don't like being dowsed in gritty water, and it's the same for the front derailleur. They also keep water away from a saddle bag and rear light that you might have attached to the saddle/seatpost, so that's another plus for mudguards. Think mudguards aren't cool and that they'll spoil the lines of your bike? Think again. Even professional cyclists fit mudguards to their training bikes through the winter. Mudguards are key to keeping dry – or drier than you’d otherwise be – in typical British conditions. That’s especially true in winter when water tends to stay on the roads for longer. If you’re riding year-round, make sure you have some of the best bike lights to keep you safe too. This makes them super easy to fit for even the most mechanically inept home mechanic. It also makes the mudguards easy to adapt if you decide to fit different tyres on your bike. The included, high-quality stainless steel hardware is corrosion resistant and plentiful.

Even if your tire isn’t rubbing on the fenders / mudguards, when the conditions are particularly muddy - and if the clearance isn’t capacious - you’ll end up with a large amount of unwelcome resistance as the accumulating clag acts as a brake on your tire. In particularly muddy conditions, a narrower tire can be the better option, all things considered. Finance is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Performance Cycling Limited FRN: 720557 trading as Tredz are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a credit broker not a lender – credit is subject to status and affordability and is provided by Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC. Terms & Conditions Apply. Fenders / mudguards that attach to the frame and fork of your bike are incredibly versatile. They are easy to take on and off and fit a wide range of different bikes. The downside is that in attaching to your frame, they run a very real risk of damaging your paintwork - and in extreme circumstances, even your frame. To prevent this, it’s worth getting yourself some helitape. This clear tape that is incredibly strong and won’t be worn through by the straps of your guards. It’s almost invisible when the guards are removed, so your frame will stay looking as pretty as ever.Clip-on mudguards don’t require the frame to have eyelets or long-reach brake callipers, or extra clearance. Instead, they attach to the frame using simple fastenings like rubber bands, Velcro or zip ties. This gives far more versatility than full-length mudguards as you aren’t hindered by bike choice, and it means you can keep riding your favourite road bike through the winter if you want to. Frucht, Richard (ed.), Eastern Europe: an introduction to the people, lands, and culture, Vol. 3, ISBN 1-57607-800-0 (2005) p. 542: The Serbian rearguard actions allowed some 125,000–145,000 soldiers of Marshal Putnik's Serbian Army together with several thousand civilian refugees to reach Adriatic ports in Albania, where they were eventually evacuated, reorganized, and reequipped for the campaign in Salonika. Murray, James A. H.; Bradley, Henry; Craigie, W. A.; Onions, C. T., eds. (1933). The Oxford English Dictionary (vol. 8) (1sted.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. The Philological Society.

Consider what width of mudguard is most appropriate for your tyres and the amount of clearance your frameset offers. Read more: Ass Savers Fendor Bendor Big rear gravel mudguard full review Gravel fenders / mudguards: Things to think about

These mudguards are useful for commuting bikes, especially where clearance might be an issue because of frame design and/or wide tyres. The simplicity of fitting makes them attractive, and they can be whipped off in a minute too. While these mudguards don't provide 100% protection compared to full-length options, they do keep a surprisingly large amount of spray off.

As with seemingly everything in the cycling world, choosing the right mudguards or fenders for you and your bike isn’t always the most simple task. Mountain bikes, because of the huge variety of design thanks to factors like suspension and huge tyres, need a mudguard fitted very high above the wheel. The solution is a rear mudguard that clips onto the seatpost so the height above the wheel can be adjusted, and a front mudguard that's attached to the down tube. Having said that, even clip-on long-coverage mudguards aren’t as easy to fit as many short-coverage options. Also, because they tend to fit closer to the tyre than short-coverage guards, you may need to be more cautious of trail debris. The last thing you want is for your lovely plump tires to be worn down by an ill-fitting fender / mudguard. Although there are many benefits of wide tires, sometimes it’s better to go for a slightly smaller option that won't rub on the 'guards. Weighing 60g, the Fendor Bendor Big is certainly lightweight but remarkably stable with some well-designed creases and folds giving the thin polypropylene its shape and rigidity. Fitting is straightforward, the single Velcro strap means you can easily attach and remove it from your bike, but we did find compatibility issues with frames that had a mono stay and it may well not play nicely with rim brake calipers either.Be aware that the profile of some mudguards won’t play nicely on bikes with tight clearances, particularly around the fork crown, so it’s well worth doing some research online or popping into your local bike shop and having them fit you a set they know will work with your model of bike. Where you’re planning on riding will have some bearing on what type of mudguards to look for. Portland Design Works Original usage [ edit ] An illustration of British Army Colonel Redvers Buller's rearguard action during Battle of Hlobane of the Anglo-Zulu War With the wide variety of styles and fitments available, there is almost certainly a mudguard that will fit on your gravel bike. Some mudguards require the frame and fork to have specific mounts, whereas others fasten to the bike without the need for mounting points, so whatever bike you have there is no need to endure a wet and dirty ride. How we test The worse the conditions you ride in, the more you’re likely to benefit from long-coverage mudguards.