I blame Bonj...

[Danny]

My teenage son refuses to have mudguards on his bike as he thinks they look "dweebish". I suspect he may have been influenced by catching sight of some ill advised comments on the subject from a leading forum member.

Now as winter approaches, and there is more muck on the road, he is increasingly returning home from even short rides into town with the back of his top covered in mud.

Apart from making him wash his own clothes how can I persuade him that mudguards are a sensible, and cool, option, at least during winter?

 

[wafflycat]

Since when has looking as if you have a bad case of amoebic dysentry 'cool'?

Be a proper parent - don't put up with his foolishness - be assertive - put the mudguards on his bike anyway. Set those boundaries! He'll thank you for it in the end.

And in the meantime - make him wash his own kit and don't offer any alternative form of transport.

 

[rich p]

I find myself agreeing with Bonj for the first time ever. I may have to go and lie down.

I hope you don't try and make your son wear Tesco own brand jeans too!

 

[Nicensleazy]

Yes, there is always more than one way to skin a cat! I like the Tesco clothing idea!

 

[Arch]

Apart from making him wash his own clothes how can I persuade him that mudguards are a sensible, and cool, option, at least during winter?

I think you've hit on the solution there... And hand wash, of course, so ask not to muck up the washing machine....

Or hire groups of kids to stand on the corner of your street and shout "Hey, shitty back!" as he rides by?

Maybe he'll get the message the first time he rides down the riverside path after a flood has left it all silty....

 

[NickM]

I agree with your son, and im 38!!!!

Yes, but...

 

[Danny]

Be a proper parent - don't put up with his foolishness - be assertive - put the mudguards on his bike anyway. Set those boundaries! He'll thank you for it in the end. .

I did put some one when he got is latest bike - the bugger took them straight off.

Clearly I've have made him feel too confident about doing his own maintenance

 

[Danny]

Maybe he'll get the message the first time he rides down the riverside path after a flood has left it all silty....

He did ride down the riverside path just after it had flooded!

On that occasion he was at least a bit mortified - mostly because he was on his way to meet a girl for his first ever date.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

go for a ride with him and insist he rides in your wake (no mudguards on your bike of course) and he'll see why they aren't the bad idea you think they are.

interesting discussion of mudflaps (let alone mudguards) here

 

[Danny]

I hope you don't try and make your son wear Tesco own brand jeans too!

If only - have you got any idea how much name brand jeans cost these days

 

[dodgy]

Mudguards do look uncool, don't pretend otherwise. They say to the observer that the rider is worried about getting dirty and wet, how can that possibly be cool?

 

[Joe24]

Give him some stuff of custoize them, he might like them then.
Race blade goes on my bike, even though i hate the look but it goes on.

 

[wafflycat]

Mudguards say that the rider cares about not only not having him/herself look like they've suffered amoebic dystentry, but that they don't want to spray the rider behind with amoebic dysentry. Good manners are always cool.

Speaking of bottom offerings...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7727136.stm

Should be work-safe.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I still blame bonj... for everything.

 

[Mr Phoebus]

If Greg LeMond had mudguards fitted he'd still look like he had amoebic dystentry.