Which road bikes can take mudguards?

[jimboalee]

Road bike.

Anything that complies with UCI regulations for competing in a Roadrace.

This is a minor step-down for me, insomuchas I would classify a road bike as one which was designed and intended to be raced, and nothing else.


Within the 'Road' bike spectrum, there are all sorts of machines.

Bikes for flat stages with 'laid back geometry' and a little heavier than UCI limit.
Climbing bikes. Really laid back, right on 15lb.
Criterium bikes with more upright head angle and steep seat angle.
Time trial bikes.


I'll stick with my oldie-worldie terms of 'Sports' and 'Sports tourer'; which have modern equivalent names of 'Winter trainer' and 'Audax'. Bikes designed with mudguard clearance.

A further message to the OP. There was once a system called the Salmon Profile. A very basic mudguard system which was nothing more than a strip of aluminium sheet approx 20mm wide.
These are, with the agreement of oldie-Worldie club riders, acceptable on the Road bike.

http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/review/reviewproduct/mps/RPN/21703/prod/Salmon-Super-Profil-Cycle-Mudguards/RCN/0/rgn//sp//v/1

They are bloody expensive, but when you are seen with them, you get instant kudos over the cheapskates with Raceblades.

 

[bonj2]

I have a 1975 Puegeot 531 road bike.
I also have a 2005 Specialized SWorks.

Basically, they are both the same.
The Spesh is made of lighter metals and has more gears, so it is 16.5lb rather than the 22.5lb of the Pug.

I had an adapted 26" upright with cowhorns.
I had a Muddy Fox when they were first imported. It was an easier and more secure ride with derailleur gears and those big knobblies instead of ribbed 26" tyres, but basically the same bike.

I had a test ride on a modern up-to-date downhiller.
http://www.2x2worldwide.com/LR2009/technoDH.html
One of these cus I work for Land Rover.
A lot lighter with a 'staircase climbing' gear. Very nice ride, but I wouldn't buy one because there's nowhere near where I live to take full advantage of it.
There are plenty of roads, so that's where I ride.

what the HELL is going on with the cranks/BB/drive train on that thing?

 

[Smokin Joe]

Jimboalee,

you are wrong in your definition of "Sports bike". It was a term invented by the magazines in the late seventies to describe the sort of bike they were then too polite to call a pile of shoot.

Generally all steel componants, gas pipe tubing and a single chainring.

 

[jimboalee]

Here's what Sheldon Brown says:-

Sport-touring Bicycle

Sport touring bicycles occupy a middle ground between touring and road racing bicycles. The meaning of this term has been changing:

• Older "sport-touring" bikes, the typical 10 speeds of the 1970's bike boom were solid, sturdy machines that differed from touring bicycles mainly in that they didn't have as wide a gear range. They could be used for moderately loaded touring by riders strong enough to get along without serious low gears.
• Current "sport-touring" bikes are more like road racing bicycles which have had a triple crankset added. These bicycles have low enough gearing to let aging baby-boomers still get up the hills. Most bikes in this category are not well suited for serious touring, because their wheels are too fragile, and they often are poorly designed so that there is not adequate frame clearance for fenders and touring-width tires.

--------------------------------------------------

To me, that says "Somewhere between a tourer and a racer".

 

[jimboalee]

When I conducted the supplier search for my Summer commute bike, I looked at several 'Sports' bikes, such as the Trek 1.2.

As Mr Brown says, it was ill-designed with not enough clearance for mudguards and as you say, it was a pile of shoot.

 

[jimboalee]

Confusion might arise thus:- In Europe, a 'Sports' bike was a racer style bike constructed with 26" wheels, aimed at the youth market of ages 11 - 14.

This is how Peugeot saw it in the seventies, but American manufacturers even before Trek and Specialized viewed 'Sports' as Sheldon has described.

 

[jimboalee]

http://mysite.verizon.net/imagelib/..._Sport_BikeBoomPeugeot.JPG&target=tlx_pic4zgd

Here's the page from the Peugeot catalogue of 1966. A 'Sport' bike and a 'Competition' bike.

Here's the cover of that catalogue :-

http://mysite.verizon.net/imagelib/...Covers_BikeBoomPeugeot.JPG&target=tlx_pic1j7d

Who's that big guy?

 

[Paulus]

Who's the big guy??? That is a certain Mr Tom Simpson, English, from Nottingham who was the world champion in 1965, rode several TDF's being the first English rider to wear the yellow yersey in 1962. He died on Mont Ventoux in the 1967 Tour. He used to ride Peugeot bikes and ride for their team.

 

[ed_o_brain]

Don't normally disagree with Jimboalee.

A road racing bike will not have the clearances nor the necessary braze ons for mudguards.

A road bike being a broader or more general classification of bike, may take mudgards.

I'd add Ridgeback Horizon to your list of possibilities.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Who's the big guy??? That is a certain Mr Tom Simpson, English, from Nottingham who was the world champion in 1965, rode several TDF's being the first English rider to wear the yellow yersey in 1962. He died on Mont Ventoux in the 1967 Tour. He used to ride Peugeot bikes and ride for their team.

Simpson's bikes may have had Peugeot decals on the frame, but they were not made by Peugeot. He had his frames built by Masi in Italy and sprayed in team colours, something that used to be common among pros. When he died there were two frames awaiting his collection from Condor in London, to be painted appropriately when he got them back to France. Many of Barry Hoban's frames were built by Woodrup in Leeds.

 

[ed_o_brain]

I'd add Ridgeback Horizon to your list of possibilities.

Also, Dawes Audax, the 2006 version of which is available from Spa Cycles for £650.

A third very rugged possibility is the Specialized Tri-Cross.

 

[Crackle]

Also, Dawes Audax, the 2006 version of which is available from Spa Cycles for £650.

A third very rugged possibility is the Specialized Tri-Cross.

I think it's only left in one or two sizes now and I'd have to go and look at mine to see what the max tyre size would be, it comes with 23's.

Kona Jake is another cross bike in the same price range as the Tricross.

 

[Paulus]

Simpson's bikes may have had Peugeot decals on the frame, but they were not made by Peugeot. He had his frames built by Masi in Italy and sprayed in team colours, something that used to be common among pros. When he died there were two frames awaiting his collection from Condor in London, to be painted appropriately when he got them back to France. Many of Barry Hoban's frames were built by Woodrup in Leeds.

I'Ve learnt something today. I bow to your knowledge Smokin joe.

 

[Chris James]

I think it's only left in one or two sizes now and I'd have to go and look at mine to see what the max tyre size would be, it comes with 23's.

The back wheel is tightest. You might get a 28mm on, especially if it was a 'small' 28mm. I am happy with 23s though.

 

[jay clock]

such as the Trek 1.2......As Mr Brown says, it was ill-designed with not enough clearance for mudguards and as you say, it was a pile of shoot.

I have a a trek 1.2 2008 model and there is ample room for mudguards although it doesn't look like it at the back. No rubbing, no rattling. The bike is actually an excellent all rounder. I just did a week of tri training in Lanzarote on it (took rack and guards off!) and it performed fantastically, keeping up with others on bikes 2 to 5 times more pricey. Glad I left my other road bike behind!