I recently put some plastic PB fenders on and had some of the same reservations, especially since I'm in central Texas where it has only recently (last couple years) seemed like rain is in the forecast more often. I mostly got them so I wouldn't have to wash my bike after rainy rides and to avoid the dreaded muddbutt, but now I'm wondering if it's worth it, especially because this is my do-it-all bike. And when it rains here during the summer, there's not much I can do to stay dry that won't cause me to sweat through my clothes anyway. My usual tactic for getting through the rain is to wear a cycling cap, grin and bear it.
The PB fenders are kind of frustrating because the metal bracket that holds the fender stays to the fender bends down a good centimeter directly towards the wheel. To stop it from hitting the tire when going over bumps or going at speed, I've had to pull the fender even further from the tire which then makes it easier for the whole thing to sway and perpetuates the problem. If I get rid of the fenders, I plan on finding some corrugated cardboard sign (the coated political yard sign kind) and sticking it between my saddlebag and rear rack to act as a frugal Ass Savers (also Ass Savers don't keep muck from getting all over and up into the bag). If that works okay I might upgrade to some hard plastic vinyl or something. On Friday, May 26, 2017 at 1:42:17 AM UTC-5, lum gim fong wrote: > > I have been using fenders now for a few years on my Rivbikes, but I get > nervous sometimes. Where I live it rains pretty often and lotsa sticks on > the shoulders. > I have heard about the stick jamming effects that can happen, and > sometimes I wonder if using fenders is worth the risk. > > For instance, it would be easier for me to just clean myself and the bike > after a rain ride than to heal up after an endo. > > Also, Unless it is a very light rain, I get soaked anyway, even in quality > rain gear and shoe covers, from sweat/rain. Shoes become marshlands despite > shoe covers, etc. > > Today I rode 30 + miles in a light rain with full fenders and quality rain > gear. Arms soaked, back soaked, head soaked, hands soaked. Rest of me was > dry. So it worked pretty well. But that was a continual light rain. > > I got heavily rained on in the last 5 miles of a metric century last year, > in same gear and full Honjo fenders and was drenched to the bone, sloshing > sneakers, whole nine. I may as well have been without fenders the whole > ride and not had the stick jam crumple fender risk. > > *How do you cope on long rainy rides if you don't use fenders?* > > I wear wool to keep warm, but if I get drenched anyway, what's the use of > fenders if there is the endo risk? One injury endo would pretty much negate > all the cleanness and dryness I have had. And I would probably swear off > fenders forever. > > Rethinking rethinking. > > Here is a shot from today's rainy ride. Enjoy! > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
