Author Topic: Touring without fenders - big mistake?  (Read 26712 times)

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Offline tbessie

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #15 on: June 07, 2015, 11:05:12 pm »
Just got back from my 2-week west coast tour - it rained just once (lucky me), but the bike and panniers got covered in grime, and my pump ended up getting filled with water and some grit.  I think I may get some fenders for the next tour. :-)

- Tim
Touring: Bruce Gordon Rock 'n Road Tour (2014)
Touring: Custom Steve Potts Ti with S&S Couplers (2018)
Century/Weekend: Custom Titanium Firefly with Campagnolo Chorus (2017)
Every Day: Bianchi Brava frame, Campagnolo Mirage (1999)
Every Day Backup: Jamis Quest parts on a Surly Pacer frame (2012)

Offline Venchka

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #16 on: June 13, 2015, 05:54:49 pm »
I just remembered telling myself that I should install fenders before touring again. Why you ask? Downhill. Raining. A steady stream of water is thrown up into the air and hit me in the eyes. All the reason I need.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.
Wayne
Deep in the darkest heart of the East Texas Rain Forest.
Quote
You've come far pilgrim...Feels like far...Were it worth the trouble?...Huh? What trouble?

Offline scottskaja

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #17 on: June 16, 2015, 08:24:27 am »
I use Planet Bike fenders for touring, it keeps my feet and back side dryer.

Offline pptouring

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #18 on: July 10, 2015, 11:37:56 pm »
Would not leave home without them.

Offline Bike Hermit

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #19 on: July 12, 2015, 06:25:16 pm »
Just got back from my 2-week west coast tour - it rained just once (lucky me), but the bike and panniers got covered in grime, and my pump ended up getting filled with water and some grit.  I think I may get some fenders for the next tour. :-)

- Tim
You just answered your own question! I agree by the way.
Bike Touring News
"Empowering The Bicycle Traveler"

Offline PeteJack

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #20 on: August 01, 2015, 11:17:19 pm »
Jand my pump ended up getting filled with water and some grit.
- Tim
I have fenders but water still gets into my Topeak Road Morph pump on the down tube. I've thought of putting something over the top of the pump to prevent this. There are latex devices sold in drug stores and supermarkets that would do the job but...

Offline daveandarfer

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #21 on: August 13, 2015, 04:00:56 pm »
the most vulnerable part is your chain. it will not be happy with dust grit and muddy water. without fenders ? go shaft drive.



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Offline Venchka

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #22 on: August 13, 2015, 06:17:27 pm »
Jand my pump ended up getting filled with water and some grit.
- Tim
I have fenders but water still gets into my Topeak Road Morph pump on the down tube. I've thought of putting something over the top of the pump to prevent this. There are latex devices sold in drug stores and supermarkets that would do the job but...

Can you not move it to the top tube? Every one I have seen was mounted there.

Wayne
Wayne
Deep in the darkest heart of the East Texas Rain Forest.
Quote
You've come far pilgrim...Feels like far...Were it worth the trouble?...Huh? What trouble?

Offline driftlessregion

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #23 on: August 14, 2015, 11:09:46 pm »
Fenders help protect leather saddles from the water  coming off the rear wheel underneath the saddle.
Choose wider if there is any doubt what size to put on.

Offline LouMelini

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #24 on: September 04, 2015, 08:14:31 pm »
Sorry, I am a bit late with this reply but I had to bring up that fenders help with stuff on the road besides rain. Coming over a Montana summit my wife and I smelled something horrible. As we crested, the 3rd trailer with cows entered the road spewing a lot of excrement. Fortunately they turned off the road after about 1/2 mile, but it was a nasty riding 1/2 mile. With cars coming in the oncoming lane, there was little to do but try to (impossibly) avoid the mess. I spent quite a bit of time cleaning the underside of the fenders, and little else.

Offline walks.in2.trees

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #25 on: September 19, 2015, 01:37:02 pm »
Jand my pump ended up getting filled with water and some grit.
- Tim
I have fenders but water still gets into my Topeak Road Morph pump on the down tube. I've thought of putting something over the top of the pump to prevent this. There are latex devices sold in drug stores and supermarkets that would do the job but...
Haha condoms would work, sort of,  but a silnylon drybag would work better ;)

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Offline atodaso

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #26 on: September 29, 2015, 07:58:25 pm »
The pros and cons of fenders from my experience.

My most recent experience being two 2500 km trips throughout the Northeast and New England: fall of 2014 and summer of 2015.  Plus cycling through two Toronto winters using my Litespeed Blueridge touring bike as my all-weather workhorse.
My fenders are SKS Longboards mounted over 28mm Continental 4 seasons. The longboards were shortboards before long as the rubber flaps and part of the plastic fender itself up to the clamping point shattered and broke off within the first few weeks, mostly from riding up and down curbs. I don't mind that they broke (feels like a design improvement.)

Pros:
 - Getting caught in heavy rain is no big deal, for the first 15mins. (beyond that you'll be soaked regardless)
 - Spring/summer riding in light rain for long distances is no problem. You'll stay relatively clean, grit free, and dry.
 - In winter, when it's cold and roads stay wet, fenders are a must. Nothing takes the pleasure out of a damp fall or winter ride like a constant stream of grit in the eye, and up your back, and thighs, and neck.  With fenders though, there is nothing more delightful than being protected from these annoyances and enjoying a brisk fall ride more or less impervious to the elements.
 
Cons:
 - If you're flying with your bike, fenders can make your bike just a bit too large to fit into a standard cardboard bike box.
 - fenders are finicky to install, especially at an airport.
 - Fenders add some weight.
 - Fenders can rub, and rattle, and loosen..., unless they are properly installed and not warped or otherwise mangled.
 - Fenders can detract from the feeling of oneness with the road - because they obstruct the tire, and the road, from view.
 - Fenders make it harder to keep tabs of the condition of the tire, because you have to make a point of examining the rubber. (I had a bald patch from an incident that I had been riding on unnoticed for days until I finally got a flat from the inner tube pushing through like a hernia.)
« Last Edit: November 12, 2015, 10:42:59 am by atodaso »

Offline rickpaulos

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #27 on: October 27, 2015, 01:52:55 pm »
Fenders yes for all the reasons above plus I've switched to Planet Bike fenders in bright YELLOW.  It is amazing how much they add to your visibility on the road.  Those yellow fenders stick out in a crowd or can be spotted very far away.

keep the bike/drive line cleaner
ride on wet roads
ride in the rain
visibility (see and be seen)

Planet Bike also made a PINK set for the breast cancer awareness if that's your preference. Those are harder to find.

I also swap out the mounting bolts.  I run a longer bolts from the inside of the frame out and use a nylock nut on the outside to hold everything.  Those don't ever rattle loose like a normal bolt can.  You can get low profile bolts for the right rear dropout that don't interfere with the chain in high gear.  The length on the rest can be extra long. I get stainless steel bolts and locknuts so they won't rust up.  Works for racks even better as the extra load does like to work regular bolts loose.  Most bikes use 5mm by .8 mm pitch.  You can get them at the local hardware stores in lengths up to 50mm. This is an "install and forget it system". With regular bolts I find I need to check them for looseness quite often on tour.

rick

« Last Edit: October 27, 2015, 02:00:43 pm by rickpaulos »

Offline Westinghouse

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #28 on: November 11, 2015, 04:02:14 pm »
I have toured about 40,000 miles without fenders. No big deal. Use them.

Offline walks.in2.trees

Re: Touring without fenders - big mistake?
« Reply #29 on: January 23, 2016, 12:24:30 pm »
Being able to navigate long descents without a water fountain constantly spaying into your eyes? Priceless.

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