A little while ago I put SKS P45 fenders on my new LHT (yeah you know me) and was happy about it. After some time has passed and I've put a few hundred miles on them I realize that the P45s are just too narrow. My bike and legs still get filthy after a wet ride. Don't get me wrong I love the fenders, I just wish I had gotten the next size wider. Another problem on that front is that when riding on dirt, the stock Continental Contact tires spew dirt and dust everywhere. By the end of a 55 mile ride I looked like a character out of Mad Max and my fenderless buddy riding a mountain bike was all clean. The only explanation I can come up with is that the tires pinch up dirt in the grooves as the contact the ground and toss it back against the bike. Has anyone else come across these issues?
Scooters
1 day ago
Posts
4 comments:
You are probably right on your thought that the fenders could be wider - as wide as your fork and brakes will allow. A flexible mudflap hanging to about an inch from the ground is the real key. It can be rubber or high zoot leather. Some people have luck makingthem from plastic bottle, etc, but I like them more flexible.
I have been thinking about making flaps out of old tubes. Either gluing or ironing several layers of inner tube rubber together then using zip ties to attach them to the fender.
We'll see.
I got the wider P65s and they do pinch a little but no problem functionally. Not sure they are "too wide" for your tastes, but they do look a little big with the stock Slickasaurus tires. I think they'll look more filled out when I get the wider Marathon XR tire.
I agree with Gunnar Berg. Try a long mud flap before you worry about getting wider fenders. Flaps will probably solve the problem. While you're making them, put one on the back. Riders behind you in the rain will appreciate the rear mud flap.
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