Full coverage fenders

7 replies · 743 views

Slim
300 posts
#1Apr 2, 2020, 11:51 AMedited
Hi,
Now that more and more bikes are compatible with fenders, let’s have another look at them.

I am planning to get a Stormchaser and build it with fenders, to create the ultimate spring conditions bike.

My original plan was 650b X 50mm tires, but might run 700c x 45mm wheels too.

Fenders I have seen are Planet bike ALX, in either 700x65, or 650x60.
And Portland Design Works, 650 x65.

My thinking was that for gravel and adventure riding, you need more clearance between tire and fender than is traditional with road based set ups. This will reduce the protection from spray, but hopefully help avoid clay, stone or sticks from jamming in the fender.

So what size and width have you used for your gravel/adventure bikes, how high have you mounted them and how has it worked for you?
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Koyote
288 posts
#2Apr 3, 2020, 2:36 PM
If you want to run fenders, and have enough clearance (should have 10mm on each side and on top) for mud and other debris to pass through safely, you may not be able to run max tire width. e.g., the Stormchaser's spec is for 50mm wide tires max, so you might best run some 60mm fenders with some tires in the 40-42mm range.
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flowbie
22 posts
#3Apr 3, 2020, 7:03 PM
I'm in the same boat. I think I may order the Planet Bike fenders as the PDW ones are too spendy for me.
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Koyote
288 posts
#4Apr 3, 2020, 7:19 PM
I am not familiar with any of the fenders that have been mentioned...but I would caution anyone to buy full coverage fenders. They need to be significantly wider than the tires, and they need to come pretty far down - the front fender, especially, needs to come down on the rear side to within a couple inches of the pavement. Otherwise, the front tire will throw road gunk up into the feet, pedals, bottom bracket, chain – and then you might as well have not even been using fenders in the first place. Your bike will be filthy.

If your front fender only extends down to about the 9 o’clock position, as is true of many of them, it’s almost worthless.
1
Volsung
878 posts
#5Apr 4, 2020, 7:57 AM
I'm using 700x50 planet bike ALX fenders with 700x44 tires. It's fine, but a bit wider would be better. These are leftovers from my 38mms tires.

planet bike alx are great overall fenders. My only complaint is the front doesn't go forward enough and I wish they came in more sizes, like 5mm increments for better fit.

Simworks has a bunch of sizes and is worth checking out. Also look at Gilles Berthoud stainless ones.
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Koyote
288 posts
#6Apr 4, 2020, 8:12 AM▲ Top
Volsung wrote:I'm using 700x50 planet bike ALX fenders with 700x44 tires. It's fine, but a bit wider would be better. These are leftovers from my 38mms tires.

planet bike alx are great overall fenders. My only complaint is the front doesn't go forward enough and I wish they came in more sizes, like 5mm increments for better fit.

Simworks has a bunch of sizes and is worth checking out. Also look at Gilles Berthoud stainless ones.

Yup. Simworks (which are Honjo, which are Rene Herse - basically all the same) and Berthoud actually extend far enough to offer full protection, and come with good hardware. You'll pay for it, but you likely won't regret it.

Rene Herse H50:

3
Slim
300 posts
#7Apr 7, 2020, 10:47 AM
How much room do you keep between fender and tire for non-paved riding, where there might be mud, sticks and grass?
I read a post somewhere else, where the person felt that after they increased the distance to the tire, they actually had more problems with stuff getting caught in the fender.
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Slim
300 posts
#8Apr 7, 2020, 11:01 AM
Koyote wrote:If you want to run fenders, ... should have 10mm on each side and on top.

Reneherse write:
However, you cannot scale up fenders indefinitely: Fenders wider than 60 mm do not work with “road” drivetrains, as the chain hits the fender in the smallest gears. For tires wider than 42 mm, stick with a 60 mm-wide fender. Choose a model that does not wrap around the tire very far, and mount it higher above the tire to provide the required clearance. You get a bit of “air” showing between tire and fender, but this “motocross” look is inevitable if you want to run ultra-wide tires with a road drivetrain. (Mountain bike cranks sit further outward and have room for wider fenders.)

I will use 1x mtb cranks with this bike, so chain clearance won't be an issue.The Planetbike ALX look like they are in the 'not coming down very far' category, but I'm not sure.

Koyote wrote:If you want to run fenders, and have enough clearance (should have 10mm on each side and on top) for mud and other debris to pass through safely, you may not be able to run max tire width. e.g., the Stormchaser's spec is for 50mm wide tires max, so you might best run some 60mm fenders with some tires in the 40-42mm range.

Well, they do list 47mm as max tire size with fenders. My hope was that I could go a bit wider with 650b wheels, because there will be plenty of space to lift the fender above the tire, even with a fairly fat tire.
After all, 700c x 47 = 358mm radius, 650b x 52 = 344mm radius, so even with 52mm tires, you'd be able to raise the fender 14mm more!
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