Metal fenders: dangerous on dirt roads?

[fiamme red]

From Grant Petersen's blog (or "blug" as he calls it):

http://rivbike.tumblr.com/post/55908010706/july-s240-some-other-stuff

Today a fellow called and this happened when a stick or something rode his tire up and under the fender. This cannot happen when the fender has a quick-release, as SKS fenders go. Rider is OK, but it happened 3 days ago, and today’s the first day he’s able to talk.

http://media.tumblr.com/50250ff8f32f6b95dcf171a8c146758e/tumblr_inline_mq7ftcz7WR1qz4rgp.jpg

That’s quite a bent fork and wrecked-up fender. Here’s a closerupper:

http://media.tumblr.com/e1c90377b47f58d201329518643f8fa9/tumblr_inline_mq7fw6HhiO1qz4rgp.jpg

Don’t be going guessing what was wrong with the fork, because the answer is nothing. This is exactly how a fork is supposed to behave. Somehow he’ll be on a new fork. Maybe new blades brazed into the crown, maybe we’ll keep this as a museum piece and he’ll buy a new fork. Important thing is he’s safe.I was thinking about replacing my old Honjos with Berthoud stainless steel fenders, but SKS with the quick-release are definitely the safer way to go.

[KidWok]

This looks like worst case scenario beyond what a safety release would have been able to deal with. Something big got jammed up in there for sure, but if it was at fast enough speeds to bend a fork that much and a big enough object to stop the bike, I can't imagine any fender design being able to withstand.

Tai

[AngryScientist]

that's just bad luck.

no different than the outcome that would have happened if the big stick got jammed in the spokes of the wheel or in the RD and ripped something else apart.

[Pegoready]

Similar thing has happened to me. Stick stuck in fenders, nearly sending me over the bars, and destroying an expensive Honjo fender.

I won't ride offroad with fenders anymore. If I had to, I'd use a plastic fender with a release.

I think it's a valid concern.

[sparky33]

It happens.

I suffered a jammed Honjo fender last year riding on pavement. Something, not sure what, crunched the fender, broke 2 spokes and threw me over the handlebars. Fork was fine. Cracked helmet, bruises. Sucked.

I still use Honjo's because they work better than any other fender. My off-road bikes don't have fenders.

[fiamme red]

that's just bad luck.

no different than the outcome that would have happened if the big stick got jammed in the spokes of the wheel or in the RD and ripped something else apart.In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, I was riding my commuter bike on a road strewn with branches, and one small piece of wood was kicked up by the wheel and got jammed into the front SKS fender. I had left off the black quick-release piece, so the fender was torn in two. Fortunately, I was going slowly enough that I stopped in time before any worse damage could happen.

[MattTuck]

well, that should buff right out.


:help:

That sucks. Don't run over sticks.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Fact: Rivendell sells only plastic fenders. They also sell these (http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/ar4.htm).

Opinion: Plastic fenders look cheap, have poor coverage (too short) and rarely result in a satisfactory fender line.

I'll continue to use aluminum fenders and watch where I'm going while riding my fop chariot loaded with 47 pounds worth of racks and canvas bags on the epic 8.5 miles to a camping spot where I'll take super cool photos to post on that Google Group.

[keevon]

...fop chariot...

Made my day.

[Aaron O]

Fact: Rivendell sells only plastic fenders. They also sell these (http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/ar4.htm).

Opinion: Plastic fenders look cheap, have poor coverage (too short) and rarely result in a satisfactory fender line.

I'll continue to use aluminum fenders and watch where I'm going while riding my fop chariot loaded with 47 pounds worth of racks and canvas bags on the epic 8.5 miles to a camping spot where I'll take super cool photos to post on that Google Group.

Translation - he's sore that someone stole his pocket watch.

[ColonelJLloyd]

It's not funny. He let the air out of my Schwalbe Big Apples and made off with my Topeak frame pump and the brass floor pump secured to the rear rack with three "Irish" straps and duct tape.

[merckx]

Now we know why that machine has a redundant top tube.

[Aaron O]

It's not funny. He let the air out of my Schwalbe Big Apples and made off with my Topeak frame pump and the brass floor pump secured to the rear rack with three "Irish" straps and duct tape.

Didn't he also steal your Bonnie Prince William edition iPod touch?

[rwsaunders]

now we know why that machine has a redundant top tube.

+1.

[Louis]

the epic 8.5 miles

Given how often they've taken pictures at that spot, I'm starting to think that it's the only photogenic area within an 8.49 mile radius.

[fiamme red]

Be very afraid: http://boulderbicycle.blogspot.com/2013/09/fender-safety-thoughts.html

Now the fenders in the Rene Herse store (http://www.renehersestore.com/servlet/the-Fenders%2C-Mudflaps-and-hardware/Categories) have this safety warning:

"Do be sure to read our fender warnings on our website - fenders do pose safety risks should debris get caught between a front fender and the tire which can cause the front wheel to lock up. That can cause an accident that ends very badly."

[bicycletricycle]

Technically, all fenders are always dangerous.

[MRB]

I had a rock get stuck in a plastic fender once. By the time I got stopped, the rock had melted a hole in the fender. I don't remember what the tire looked like, but it couldn't have pretty. Thankfully we have black duct tape now.

[Frankwurst]

Technically, all fenders are always dangerous.

As is cycling and all bicycles.........and that my friends is what gets my YaYa's out.:beer: