|   Crud Catchers anygood for Off road muddy stuff | fent
Dec 15, 2002 11:26 AM | | I have heard people saying they are not real mudguards and SKS are better is this ture?? I don't want to get muddy, will Crud Catchers stop the mud? |
| Front or rear? A dissertation... | Tscheezy
Dec 15, 2002 12:16 PM | | The little plates which mount on the downtube aren't that great because they don't follow the tire. In turns, the tire is angled off to the side and the crud just sprays into your face past the side of the crud catcher. Also, they do nothing to stop the wet from spraying off the front tire ahead of you when going fast, and all those drops get blown back into your face. So these offer minimal protection:
The next best thing (and I think the best compromise overall) are the clip on fenders. There are two main styles: burly moto-types and lighter XC types. The moto-style are heavier and stronger, but I think sacrifice a little function for looks. They are always shorter in the back (so you get sprayed more) and longer in front of the fork (to reduce spray-ahead). This is backwards as far as I can tell, but some folks like em...
I use the lighter XC version. These clip on style sometimes breaks in a crash where they mount on the fork, so after that happens I just drill through the fender and permanenly mount it with the screw to the expander bolt in the steerer tube. I have yet to have this remedy break a second time. The coverage is great and they don't weigh much:
You can also get full coverage fenders, but mounting these on suspension bikes is such a nightmare, and they offer so little mud clearance, it is not an option.
In back you can get tiny appendage types which again like the moto front, are mainly for looks and keeping your seapost clean. You can also get longer, more functional XC ones which will keep the dreck off you too. The short, stubby moto-look ones:
and the longer (imo better) XC style:
REI has a good selection. Search for "SKS". Here is Barny with her fenders (clean and smiling):
.jpg)
tscheezy |
| THANKS | fent
Dec 15, 2002 3:11 PM | | Well explained, makes sense to me now. What are the lighter XC ones called? |
| More info | Tscheezy
Dec 15, 2002 5:31 PM | | The front is called the SKS shockboard. Great little fender thought the mount is kinda flimsy. Like I said above, when you snap it off, just drill a hole through the attachment point and thread the expander bolt throught the fender itself. It is no longer quick-release, but it is now much stronger:
On the rear you want the SKS Xtra-Dry. It won't break. Headlands makes one called the backscratcher which is also nice, light, and strong, but a little more finiky to mount and less adjustable. Here is the SKS rear:
Both front and rear come in some fake carbon stuff which is more expensive and I don't see the point. Just get the cheap ones.
Here's mud in your eye- NOT!
tscheezy |
| Instead of the rubber plug you can use | AK Ken
Dec 15, 2002 5:54 PM | | a starnut, too. I've had some difficulties with the expanding plug systems from time to time, but driving a starnut into the bottom of the steer tube gives a solid platform to tighten to.
Ken |
| To fix THE's rubber plug | shiggy
Dec 16, 2002 10:13 AM | | Use a utility knife to cut some slots in the sides - clear through to the center hole but be sure the cut does not extend to the top and bottom ends of the plug. This lets the plug bulge more and grip better when the bolt is tightened.
shiggy's Mt. Bike Tire Site |
| My favorites are... | shiggy
Dec 16, 2002 10:25 AM | | The
i THE XC
lexan front fender and the
i Headland Backscratcher or Backslide.
rear fender. I like the Backslide better but the Backscratcher (in colors) is on sale for $5 on their Web site (on the order page).
The SKS Shockboard works well but I have to zip tie it on or it falls off all the time and the angle adjustment on the SKS rear fender does not hold well at all.
shiggy's Mt. Bike Tire Site |
| |
