Mudguards
Mudguards
Mudguards will not flatter your sleek racing machine, but they will keep you and those you riding with you dry. Cyclists who place style over function during the winter months are likely to find themselves riding alone. Anyone forced to follow an unshielded rear wheel on a wet road is unlikely to thank you, or invite you back to the next weekend’s ‘chain-gang’.
One of the distinguishing features of a ‘winter bike’ is its fixings for mudguards, and an increasing trend for winter-specific and four-season machines means carbon forks with mudguard mounts are becoming increasingly popular. If you’re the proud owner of a bike like the Kinesis Racelight TK3 or the Genesis Equilibrium, then selecting an appropriate mudguard and fitting it will be a simple task.
Don’t despair, however, if your machine is missing the requisite lugs. Mudguards supplied with their own mounts are in ready supply, with the SKS Raceblade arguably the most popular. Rubber bands, zip ties, and, in extreme cases, a certain amount of trimming, will make these non-permanent fixtures a secure feature of your treasured steed, for the winter months at least.
Other factors to consider when selecting a mudguard include brake drop (‘long-drop’ brake calipers, such as Shimano’s non-series RS650, fitted to our Kinesis Racelight TK3 test rig, or TRP’s new RG-957 are readily available) and tyre clearance. The latter can be a minefield, and we’d strongly recommend seeking advice at your local bike shop. Experience is hard to substitute in this area, and tips from a long-suffering mechanic whose had to shoehorn numerous brands of mudguard onto numerous brands of bike, is worth its weight in gold (or at least a coffee and packet of biscuits).