mudguards on the club run

[iandg]

I don't think the majority of Hebridean CC members know what a mudguard is. Shame really because it rains a lot out here.

There's no rule relating to mudguards, written or otherwise. The majority of people who turn up on club runs are wannabe racers rather than tourists so mudguards are not common place on club rides

 

[steveindenmark]

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.

 

[youngoldbloke]

@youngoldbloke That's a marvellous flap with an aesthetic appeal.

And I subscribe to the notion that most marketed mudguards for racing (as opposed to touring) bikes are not long enough to keep the spray off the rider on one's wheel. So you need to fabricate a flap. But functionally, how far down does it need to go? I remark on this because your marvel seemed to be extreme - maybe you needed the space for the brilliant sticker. Was there some science basis included in the club mudguard flap competition scoring system? However . . .

If one assumes the rider on your wheel will be no closer than one wheel diameter away (it's not a team pursuit) then bare knuckle geometry suggests (to me) that you want to stop the water (+) coming off above about a 40 degree angle (criterion: 'water' thus thrown off will not hit/be hit by the following bike above the handlebar level). This implies that the mudflap needs to be no more than about 15cm above the ground. I've just been out to measure mine (added to SKS Raceblades) - they're 35cm off the ground ie at the 90 degree point. Protects me well but not anyone following closely.

Yours look like they're less than 10cm off the ground, which is probably over kill. But I have more work to do. Morals: 1) When there's a fair bit of water on the road, keep your (following) wheel at least 5 times the distance that the mudguard you're following is off the ground. 2) To be effective (added) mudguard flaps should be longer/lower than you think.

- no scientific basis. There are some weird and wonderful examples emerging*, as most people are fitting guards (even on the chaingang) and some sort of flap.That one of mine is about 75mm off the ground, seems to work well - no complaints from riders behind anyway - but it does foul kerbs. It is probably too wide, I've detected 'flutter' at speed - a regular side to side oscillation. Narrower ones can work well, but provide less room for aesthetic enhancement! A simple strip of flexible plastic not much wider than the guard will be very effective.
* I trialled a 'weight weenie' version made from plastic mesh - didn't work very well unfortunately!

 

[Katherine]

I got sprayed a lot this morning, not many people can be bothered to fit mudguards. They've gone home with stripey backs, but were very happy to sit behind me when we went to single file on narrow bits. 'After you.', 'No after you.. '!

 

[mjr]

I got sprayed a lot this morning, not many people can be bothered to fit mudguards. They've gone home with stripey backs, but were very happy to sit behind me when we went to single file on narrow bits. 'After you.', 'No after you.. '!

Nobbers. Same antisocial attitude that leads to some using offroad torches and head torches too. Oh well. Yesterday I saw a motorist pulling a van which had its mudguard bobbing up and down bouncing of its tyres, spraying mud everywhere.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Not having mudguards is anti-social nobbery at it's highest level (halfwheeling is up there too) Ass-savers don't count and my experiences of Crud MK2's is that in NI, they often flex to one side and still allow substantial spray into the face of the rider behind you.

The "I don't like the look of" is nonsense. You have a duty whether official rule or not, to do what you can to make the ride pleasant and less damp for others.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Not having mudguards is anti-social nobbery at it's highest level (halfwheeling is up there too) Ass-savers don't count and my experiences of Crud MK2's is that in NI, they often flex to one side and still allow substantial spray into the face of the rider behind you.

The "I don't like the look of" is nonsense. You have a duty whether official rule or not, to do what you can to make the ride pleasant and less damp for others.

I still fail to understand why 'half-wheeling' is an issue. Nor the absence of mudguards particularly, I don't see it as anybody's duty ....

 

[CaadX]

Not having mudguards is anti-social nobbery at it's highest level (halfwheeling is up there too) Ass-savers don't count and my experiences of Crud MK2's is that in NI, they often flex to one side and still allow substantial spray into the face of the rider behind you.

The "I don't like the look of" is nonsense. You have a duty whether official rule or not, to do what you can to make the ride pleasant and less damp for others.

See you're spending more time in here than on the bike then ? Don;t ask !

 

[youngoldbloke]

I still fail to understand why 'half-wheeling' is an issue. Nor the absence of mudguards particularly, I don't see it as anybody's duty ....

Do you ever ride in a group, and if you do, do you always ride at the front, by yourself?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Do you ever ride in a group, and if you do, do you always ride at the front, by yourself?

Mostly ride in a group, not necessarily at the front, sometimes tail-end-Charlie behind non mudguard users, often get sprayed ... It's no big deal.

 

[bozmandb9]

I went out with my LBS group ride today, where they have no rule about mudguards, and I must say I sort of wish they had. I can still feel some crap in my eyes (grit I guess), I abandoned the glasses after a while due to not being able to see through them, but think in future, I'll keep them on.

Having said all of the above, I have to admit that part of the reason for me joining the LBS ride, rather than my club ride, is because I haven't yet fitted mudguards. I've pickup up some Crud's, but going to have to switch back to 23 mm tyres to stand a chance of fitting them, due to clearance issues.

I'm beginning to see the appeal of having a winter trainer!

 

[screenman]

I would not feel happy spraying the rider behind me, just my good natured side showing through.

 

[mjr]

There were only a few of us out today but it rained hard enough and roads were muddy enough that even guarded+flapped bikes were flicking up some muck. When it's that bad, all you can do is not ride too close.

 

[Fab Foodie]

There were only a few of us out today but it rained hard enough and roads were muddy enough that even guarded+flapped bikes were flicking up some muck. When it's that bad, all you can do is not ride too close.

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.

 

[screenman]

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.

Cannot agree with any of that.