I absolutely would not run fenders if I didn’t live in a rainy climate. Aesthetics is part of it - I like the more muscular look of an unfendered bike (bikepacking rigs representing an extreme example). Fenders also limit tire size, can interfere with brake straddle cables, and in muddy conditions can get jammed up pretty quickly (a few years ago we rode the Canal du Midi after a wet spring and spent a *lot* of time prying “la boue” from under the fenders). While it hasn’t happened to me, fenders have the potential to fail catastrophically if a stay breaks and gets caught in the spokes at speed. Plus there’s the rattles, potentially finicky installation, the up-front expense, etc... Given my local climate I’ve come to regard them as a necessary evil, but still evil.
Jay Lonner Bellingham, WA Sent from my Atari 400 > On Dec 15, 2020, at 12:05 PM, Esteban <proto...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Fenders always offer a more finished look. They can also be removed for dirt > stuff... although I must admit that I almost never remove mine. > > Esteban > San Diego, Calif. > >> On Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 10:50:39 AM UTC-8 Jack Barnes wrote: >> Patrick, what rear rack are you using on the 2003 Curt? Looks like Nitto but >> not a model I've seen. >> >>> On Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 8:41:19 AM UTC-8 Patrick Moore wrote: >>> I think you need to get out more. Still, I can sympathize, having sweated >>> over similar trivial but obsessive questions myself. >>> >>> My opinion is no, racks sans fenders don't look odd. >>> >>> The 2003 Curt in earlier appearances: racks no fenders, no racks or >>> fenders, racks plus fenders, rear shortened, and rack with flowers, a still >>> life. I think that the bike looks fine in each mode, apart from the >>> blackwall tires. >>> >>> Note that, for my own personal aesthetic opinion, tanwell tires look better >>> on bikes like this than blackwall tires. >>> >>>> On Mon, Dec 14, 2020 at 11:05 PM Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> I need opinions on this matter because I've wrestled with it enough to >>>> think I might be bonkers loony and need to get out more (probably and >>>> yes): >>>> >>>> This is my Riv Custom (pictured below) and it's about to get a Nitto RBW51 >>>> rear rack to support a gray Medium Saddlesack. To go along with it I'm >>>> thinking of adding fenders even though I don't particularly need them, and >>>> find them to be a bit of a fussy headache. Here's my dilemma: I think >>>> racks need fenders. Like it looks wrong if you just have a bag-support >>>> rack and a bag over a bare tire. I know this is a thing with >>>> gravel/camping bikes now, but my brain is stuck on the 'full touring bike' >>>> look of the olden days which always had racks and fenders together. So >>>> whaddyathink? Do they need to go together to look "right", or is my >>>> drop-toptube low-kicker Rivendell already non-traditional enough that it >>>> doesn't freaking matter? >>>> >>>> Joe "he needs to get out more" Bernard >>> >>>> -- >>> >>>> 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 rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/58c96a66-ba8d-40bb-a1ec-b1af98a426cfn%40googlegroups.com. >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Patrick Moore >>> Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum >>> >>> > > -- > 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/ca83ede7-ac09-468b-8729-ebb1e9a42c2en%40googlegroups.com. -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/DF1ACE9C-32B7-4F0A-9F7A-969921F8E05C%40gmail.com.
