Fender flaps

[d_douglas]

Not sure if this is what they are called , but I need one. I was out riding with a few people and unfortunately, while being off the back, I got soaked by fender spray one a bike with SKS fenders (like mine)

What do you use to extend the coverage almost down to the ground? I have
E seen Brooks ones etc, but there is no need for real syle - just functionality. I havkpe seen the old water bottles cut in half, but I think I can do better than that!

Thanks for your ideas.

[Stan Lee]

I have seen the old water bottles cut in half.

There are other options out there but functionally with SKS fenders this ^ works great and is easy to do. With SKS I just use a hot auger punch to make the holes, a couple of bolts and your good.

[mtb_frk]

I used some rubber floor mat stuff I had laying around. It works quite good.

[keevon]

Planet Bike sells their Cascadia flaps separately. Not sure how they'll fit on the square profile of SKS fenders, but for $5 it's worth a shot:

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/7028_1.html

Of course your best option is to get longer fenders. The aforementioned Cascadia's are good, as are the even-longer SKS Longboard fenders. Honjo's and V-O's come super long too, if you want to go that route.

If you use a roof rack, remember that there's a limit on how long your front fender can be.

[shovelhd]

I have the Cascadia fenders on my CX/commuter bike. The flaps work well. I think it's a great option if you can make them fit. The Cascadia fenders have a round profile.

[wasfast]

Having come from the Portland OR area, I've had plenty of time with fenders. I have a set of Cascadia's currently and have had good success with them after I removed the factory flaps and added flaps from 2mm (.080") plastic sheet and heat formed them. Attach with stainless fasteners and nylock nuts.

I definitely appreciate the molded flaps but why didn't they make them extra long so the user can trim to fit? It would be easy enough to make some molded cross lines every inch or so. If you're spending the money for a mold, the extra material is trivial.

Flaps are most effective when they are nearly touching the ground, especially on the front to keep your feet dry.

[bart998]

Velo Orange has a nice set of mud flaps....

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/leather-mud-flap-plum-limited-edition.html


Or- just get some leather from a leather craft shop and make your own... treat with baseball glove oil to make it last.

[palincss]

Buddy flaps (http://www.buddyflaps.com/) are well though by randonneurs.

http://www.buddyflaps.com/img/home_img.gif

[11.4]

Buddy flaps work better than anything I've found.

The only problem with sliced up water bottles is that they can oscillate in the wind and torque your fender. I've had them induce hardening stress fractures in Honjo alloy fenders. Also, you want mudflaps to be really long, going to 2-3 inches from the ground so nothing kicks up underneath them, and water bottles aren't long enough for most fenders.

[cnighbor1]

use old clorox white plastic containers cut to size ala
grant Petersen

[Hartlin]

I've got PB Cascadias with another couple inches added via a big Poweraid hockey water bottle. Put a couple holes in the bottle pieces and the current flaps and stitched some zipties in the in them.

[bikinchris]

Milk jug. Add graphics via paint and brush. Either Yosemite Sam or...

[lukeheller]

I second the buddy flaps. They will outlast the reflective tape.

If you use them, I suggest a flat bolt with the head inside the fender with the nut on the outside

[sand fungus]

I use the Rainy day biking highly reflective flaps. They work great just make sure to mount them on the inside of the fender so that they take the shape of the fender slightly. That makes them stiffer that way. Having the extra reflective surfaces on the bike also makes me a little more comfortable riding in the rainy dark northwest weather. Check them out at their website. www.rainydaybiking.com

[EricEstlund]

The two narrowest sizes of PB flap fit the corresponding size SKS. The widest ones are a bit off in the fit.

Road size/ 35mm:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8292464210_6693a73848_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8291410315_02fe33bd28_z.jpg

Nice and low, light enough to not tweak the fender, and not so low they get snagged on stuff riding or moving the bike around.

[pdmtong]

I second the buddy flaps. They will outlast the reflective tape.

I got the buddy flaps with the "trucker girl" design...plenty of "oh yeah" comments from folks on the road....and, they work great

[JLP]

The rainy day biking reflective ones are my favorite. They are much lighter than buddy flaps. They are wonderful.

If you want to make your own, water bottles, rubber stair tread from home depot, cut up milk jugs, your old leather briefcase, or decorative plastic binders are a good place to start.

[krhea]

Official "Buddy flap" on this bike but have used everything from milk carton plastic, of course cut up water bottles, heavy floor mats etc for flaps. Now I visit a place called "Tap Plastics" here in Portland and they have a specific plastic sheeting they recommend for home made buddy flaps that works perfectly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/KRhea/Redline%20rain%20bike/IMG_4512.jpg

[shovelhd]

Honest question. I have the Cascadia fenders on my CX/commuter bike, with the factory long mudflaps. I have never felt the need for anything longer. What does this extra length really buy you? (I know that's NWSS).

[William]

Buddy flaps (http://www.buddyflaps.com/) are well though by randonneurs.

http://www.buddyflaps.com/img/home_img.gif

http://cache.cyclingportland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/buddy-flaps1.jpg

http://www.cyclingportland.com/2010/12/13/buddy-flaps/


Work very well.

Also, One long time racer out of Corvallis used to cut old water bottles in half lengthwise and attach it to his rear fender. It hung an inch or two off the ground and worked great.







William

[krhea]

Honest question. I have the Cascadia fenders on my CX/commuter bike, with the factory long mudflaps. I have never felt the need for anything longer. What does this extra length really buy you? (I know that's NWSS).


If you don't ride group rides then the extra length does nothing for you, however, if you ride in a group or with just one other rider in foul weather and your flap isn't long enough then trailing riders get covered with crap. That's why they're called "buddy flaps", so you don't throw crap all over your riding "buddy(s)".
If the flap isn't within 2 or 3 inches of the ground it's not effective at blocking the spray from your rear tire.

Our club has a mandatory long buddy flap policy during the winter months. If it's not long enough you're immediately relegated to very back of the group.

[Hindmost]

Our club has a mandatory long buddy flap policy during the winter months. If it's not long enough you're immediately relegated to very back of the group.

This is what my friends told me when visiting Portland some time ago. I went back home to California.

[shovelhd]

Thanks for the honest answer. I do group rides, but not everyone has fenders, and even those that do use clip-ons.

[martinrjensen]

Ride close behind someone in the rain and you will appreciate that policy. I would have no problem with it. In addition, a long flap in the front just helps keep your bottom bracket, chain and such cleanerThis is what my friends told me when visiting Portland some time ago. I went back home to California.

[krhea]

This is what my friends told me when visiting Portland some time ago. I went back home to California.

Seems to us to be common courtesy to those we're riding with. The difference in riding 60miles while being splattered by grit, dirt and slop and being relatively clean and protected makes a world of difference.

You're probably living exactly where you should be if you don't "get it".

[wasfast]

krhea states what's common "policy" for group rides in the PNW. That applies primarily to rear flaps.

The flap I really care about (selfishly) is the front. Keeping water off my feet is the #1 concern. When it's really raining, there's lots of water coming off the tire even with a 2" gap. This is just one part of the receipe for tolerable riding in the wet. Booties, winter shoes, plastic bags and leg coverings are a whole different set of topics.

[Hindmost]

No, I do get it...I am just a general rainaphobe. Hats off to those that slog the wet winter miles and to what it takes to make it tolerable.

Sorry, should of posted a smiley face.

[krhea]

krhea states what's common "policy" for group rides in the PNW. That applies primarily to rear flaps.

The flap I really care about (selfishly) is the front. Keeping water off my feet is the #1 concern. When it's really raining, there's lots of water coming off the tire even with a 2" gap. This is just one part of the receipe for tolerable riding in the wet. Booties, winter shoes, plastic bags and leg coverings are a whole different set of topics.


+1

Amazing how much warmer your toes are if you have a low enough front flap to stop the spray from blasting your toes and as someone else mentioned, it also protects your bottom bracket.