Just for the record, and not trying to change anyone's mind: I've used most major brands, extant and defunct, of plastic fenders, and many makes of metal fenders, aluminum and stainless steel.
Good plastic ones -- SKS, Planet Bike (not Avocet or Zefal!), perhaps Bumels, tho' it's been too long for those -- are sturdy, relatively easy to install, and -- *if long enough:* some PBs and SKS's are shamefully short in front -- work well, especially if you add mudflaps at the "spray" end, ie forward edge of rear, trailing edge of front. But metal ones are stiffer, quieter, lighter, generally have fuller coverage, can be adjusted more precisely, and look better. OTOH, they do take practice. I can install them quickly and accurately now, but at the expense, in the past, of more than a couple of sets installed badly and having to be replaced. I would say, either get expert help for your first ones, or buy 2 pairs, one to mess up and the other to install correctly. Or, if you are handy and follow the instructions on the Jitensha Studio site, you might do it right the first time. I happily rode SKS's on my ex-Ram and many other bikes and have used a few PBs out of many pairs that weren't sinfully short, but IMO metals set up more like an integral part of the bike. I can see how the owner of a small business might panic at the thought of all the returns, bad feeling, and bad press that might come from selling metal fenders to neophyte klutzes. Patrick Moore, who ceased being a neophyte klutz the hard and expensive way, in ABQ, NM (where we say, "Rain? Whazzat?" -- who actually has metal fenders on 2 bikes, and though he'd get caught in a SW downpour on this afternoon's ride, but it blew away in the strong southeasterly headwind). On Wed, Apr 27, 2022 at 12:39 PM 'John Hawrylak' via RBW Owners Bunch < rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com> wrote: > Roberta > > I believe Grant was spot on regarding the metal fenders drawbacks. I > recently installed 52mm VO Zeppplins and the installation was a challenge. > In contrast, the SKS go on much easier. > > John Hawrylak > Woodstown NJ > > > On Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 7:12:37 AM UTC-4 Roberta wrote: > >> Grant responds. >> >> GrantthatGrant <https://www.reddit.com/user/GrantthatGrant/> >> · 5 hr. ago >> <https://www.reddit.com/r/xbiking/comments/ubs2oy/comment/i6dclgq/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3> >> >> We let everybody pick their saddles, and encourage them to ride one they >> already have and like, rather than buying new. But boy or boy, wait till >> you see what we've got coming from Brooks. It may be a year or even two >> out. My favorite Brooks ever, good for men or women with upright positions. >> It won't be right for everybody, but it'll be hard to hate. Not impossible, >> just hard. >> 1 >> Reply >> Share >> ReportSaveFollow >> <https://www.reddit.com/user/GrantthatGrant/> >> level 2 >> GrantthatGrant <https://www.reddit.com/user/GrantthatGrant/> >> · 4 hr. ago >> <https://www.reddit.com/r/xbiking/comments/ubs2oy/comment/i6dddh0/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3> >> >> Metal fenders are fine, but plastics are good, too...and as a business we >> have to be careful about things that individual riders don't have to give >> much thought to. SKS recycled plastic fender, besides being quiet and only >> about a thousand times easier to mount (if I am allowed an exaggeration) >> also have a quick-release feature on the front, and that's a safety thing >> I've got to insist on if I'ma gonna sell them. I'm not saying Honjo fenders >> are dangerous. I'm saying there's an extra level of prudence that comes >> with being a seller of stuff. I am not saying that other businesses are >> irresponsible. I am just saying that when it comes to things like this, I >> always try to err on the conservative side. That way, I don't have to fret >> as much. That's all. My first two posts on Reddit. I probably won't get >> hooked, but I saw this and the Brooks one, and thought what the heck, I'll >> risk it. >> >> On Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 8:11:57 AM UTC-4 Doug H. wrote: >> >>> If you've been following Grant's "Bicycle Sentences" on Instagram you >>> probably saw the one about saddle to handlebar rise. It spurred an >>> interesting Reddit conversation linked here: Reddit >>> <https://www.reddit.com/r/xbiking/comments/ubs2oy/grant_petersens_opinion_on_bike_fit/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3> >>> >>> Doug >>> >> -- > 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/88aeb53f-ef30-4100-9fcb-591cedcf9159n%40googlegroups.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/88aeb53f-ef30-4100-9fcb-591cedcf9159n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/CALuTfguMOFtSEdjpCWau-7sSY8Fxezq65aeRbAjSgGqk%2BTpXZg%40mail.gmail.com.
