Clip-ons or ‘full’? If the frame will take them, full-length mudguards are still the preferred choice over lighter but shorter and less protective clip-ons, the effectiveness of Crud Roadracers notwithstanding.
Full-length ‘guards not only cover more of the arc of the wheel but generally provide more clearance and can be used with tyres fatter than the 25c maximum of the otherwise estimable Roadracers.
These ‘guards from ETC make the point nicely; listed as ‘700×25-32c’, they will, of course, happily accommodate 23c tyres and narrower. With 25c rubber fitted, there is plenty of room between the sidewalls and the plastic fittings. 32c tyres will fit, but leave little rubbing room.
Like the main competition in this particular market, ETC’s ‘guards are made in a tough plastic – polycarbonate in this case – with a metallic finish thanks to what looks like a layer of aluminium sandwiched inside. There’s a black version with the same gleam inside. That’s about the only real similarity between these and SKS guards; elsewhere, there is enough of a difference to make the ETC product a distinct as well as credible alternative.
Key to the design is the cross-section of the guard; basically a semicircle, it has a round bead at each edge that not only stiffens the extrusion but provides a location for the stay mounting brackets. These are each in three parts, one of which has a claw shape that exactly matches that of the bead. To assemble, it is slid in place from one end of the ‘guard strip and, once positioned, locked in place with a small self-tapping screw.
The second part clips into the first to provide a safety feature; it releases should an object jam the ‘guard, preventing it bunching up and locking the wheel. The other end has a split jaw that closes over the stainless steel stay, in turn being locked by a threaded collar with internal cone that squeezes the side of the split jaw.
It is not clear from the instructions whether the stays are meant to be cut to length before insertion but, since they won’t go far in to the middle bracket piece, shortened they must be unless they happen to be the right length.
The front ‘guard attaches to the fork crown at the brake caliper bolt via the usual steel strip. The rear guard is attached to the brake bridge using a moulded plastic bracket that, like the stay mounts, has to be slid in to position from one end. Once in place, however, it grips well enough to stay where it is put. The leading edge of the rear guard is designed to be bolted to the chainstay bridge. If there is not one to hand, some lateral thinking with zip-ties may help.
Just about the only real oddity is the provision on the front of just one pair of stays, which support the lower end of the ‘guard and leave the middle unsupported. This seems to work well enough in terms of lateral stability but does allow the unsupported section to be bounced up and down over bumpy roads. Time will tell whether the crown mounting strip suffers from the vibration.
Those who like a mud flap will have to make one, since none is provided. First impressions are otherwise highly favourable. The outward positioning of the stay brackets maximises tyre clearance and does not interfere with water flowing back down the inside of the guard, while the increased stiffness of the plastic guard itself over, say, an SKS makes for a very quiet ride.
Update to come with a few more miles ridden.
ETC 700x 25-32c Full Mudguard Silver/Black £21.99, 700×38-45c £22.99
