Touring without fenders - big mistake?

[tbessie]

I never had fenders installed on my touring bike, and don't really like them.  In my years of riding - and days of touring in heavy rain - it didn't seem so horrible not to have fenders.

What do y'all think of foregoing them?

- Tim

[Pat Lamb]

I'm very glad I've had them on multiple occasions -- namely when it rains.

Where do you ride?

[staehpj1]

I have used them in the past but have done a number of long tours without and didn't miss them.   Even in the PNC on the coast I didn't miss them.

[johnsondasw]

Never used them and don't plan to.  I know I get wetter without them, but that's ok. 

[jamawani]

Fenders?  Nah.
First off, I try to plan tours in low rainfall regions or seasons.
Second, if it does rain, I hunker down for a few hours and ride between rain showers.
Third, if it's raining all day, I chill out. Watch a game at the bar. Read in the library.
Since I don't like riding in the rain, I see little need for fenders.

[RussSeaton]

Why wouldn't you have them on a loaded touring bike?  My bike already weighs 30 pounds, so an extra 1/4 pound ain't gonna matter much.  They don't seem to cause any problems in the dry.  And they do help in the wet.  Don't see much downside to having them on the bike.  I bolted them onto my current bike about 10 years ago and have not touched them since.  Claiming they add extra wind resistance isn't applicable to a loaded touring bike.

[DaveB]

During actual rain, fenders do very little as you are getting wet from above, not below.  On wet roads they are a real benefit as they keep the road splash off of you and off of your drivetrain.  If you ride with a friend or a group the rear fender, assuming it's long enough, does your buddies a real favor by keeping the "rooster tail" from the rear wheel out of their faces.

[Old Guy New Hobby]

During actual rain, fenders do very little as you are getting wet from above, not below

Water from the sky is clean. Water that splashes up from the road, not so much. I was on a group ride on a rainy, muddy road. I was the only one with fenders. We all got wet, but I was the only one that didn't have a muddy streak down the center of the back of my jersey.

I'm loving my SKS.

[tbessie]

During actual rain, fenders do very little as you are getting wet from above, not below

Water from the sky is clean. Water that splashes up from the road, not so much. I was on a group ride on a rainy, muddy road. I was the only one with fenders. We all got wet, but I was the only one that didn't have a muddy streak down the center of the back of my jersey.

I'm loving my SKS.

Which model do you have?  I'm using 32mm tires and most of theirs targeted to touring seem to start at 35mm

- Tim

[SlowAndSlower]

I don't like fenders just because of the "fiddle factor" and the two more things to go wrong.

That being said I now have Planet Bike Cascadia fenders on the touring bike because I ruined my cycling jersey form gunky road crap in Kentucky.

[RonK]

Touring without fenders - big mistake?

Nope only a very small mistake. And then only if it rains.

[Old Guy New Hobby]

Which model do you have?  I'm using 32mm tires and most of theirs targeted to touring seem to start at 35mm

Tim,

I'm using SKS B53 which goes with my 700 x 38 tires. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't work with smaller tires. In your case, there isn't much of a difference between 32 and 35, so long as there's room in your fork for the width of the fenders.

[DaveB]

Water from the sky is clean. Water that splashes up from the road, not so much. I was on a group ride on a rainy, muddy road. I was the only one with fenders. We all got wet, but I was the only one that didn't have a muddy streak down the center of the back of my jersey.

I don't have a rear fender but my rear rack has a top plate that acts as a decent splash guard to keep the rear wheel's thrown up water off my back.  It does nothing to keep the spray off the rider following me but it does protect my jersey.

[indyfabz]

Never used them, even on the Northern Tier route, and don't think I ever will. If it's raining hard enough, no fender is going to keep me dry or drier Also, my tent is positioned on the rear rack in line with the bike. Under the tent is a folded 4x8 plastic "tarp." This set up keeps the spray off my jersey and rear end.

[Venchka]

During actual rain, fenders do very little as you are getting wet from above, not below

Water from the sky is clean. Water that splashes up from the road, not so much. I was on a group ride on a rainy, muddy road. I was the only one with fenders. We all got wet, but I was the only one that didn't have a muddy streak down the center of the back of my jersey.

I'm loving my SKS.

Which model do you have?  I'm using 32mm tires and most of theirs targeted to touring seem to start at 35mm

- Tim

The good folks at Rivendell Bicycle Works provide all the information you'll need for SKS Longboard fenders. Looks like the P45 fenders are correct for your tires. That is the size that I plan to buy for my 40 X 700C X'PLOR MSO tires. Give them a call.

http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/fe1p35.htm

Wayne