Photos from the inaugural edition of Fenderfest in Germany

[fiamme red]

Link courtesy of Dale Brown on the CR list: https://bikepacking.com/plog/fenderfest-2024/.

When I first heard the idea of a fender festival, I thought, “Surely people don’t actually gather somewhere to celebrate the metal accessories that protect their bikes from dirt, do they?!” Then came the weekend of the gathering earlier this month, when I found myself somewhere between Berlin and Hamburg surrounded by around 120 folks who, indeed, believe that a mudguard isn’t just an accessory that goes over a tire; it’s an enduring symbol of century-old craftsmanship and philosophy.

This first edition of Fenderfest was conceived by Thomas Becker, the brain and hands behind Meerglas Frameworks, a small but beloved operation that builds classic randonneur bikes in the village of Gross Lüben in the sleepy state of Brandenburg, Germany. Thomas credits the inspiration for Fenderfest to a popular annual tradition on the other side of the Atlantic, French Fender Day, a gathering of like-minded riders and bikes organized by legendary American framebuilder Peter Weigle...

[slowpoke]

They should've invited K-Fed to perform.

[Talrand]

When I read the headline I assumed it's not just a bunch of dudes meeting up to talk about fenders, and yet...

[spoonrobot]

Hahn Rossman really gets me

More generally speaking, fenders keep your bike cleaner, but they also make it more reliable. Because when I’m riding, I want to be able to do whatever I want to do and not think about anything. Fenders are part of that. There’s no reason not to have them. If I were in charge, I would even make them mandatory—like lights in some countries.

Such good photography, surprised to see it on Bikepacking.com. They really fell off the past couple years.

[Spaghetti Legs]

Im sure some dudes showed up with their Stratocasters and Telecasters and were confused by all the bikes.

I’ve wanted to go to French Fender Day for a few years. One day …

[saab2000]

I would love to go to that! I could bring my Indy Fab, which is the only bike I have that can accommodate fenders. But they’re plastic and not bespoke, artistically crafted fenders.

[unterhausen]

There is a pretty wide selection of fender types in that picture. The bike on the left doesn't even have fenders (metal on metal shirt). And there is one on the right that has mtb-style fenders.

[El Chaba]

Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs

Im sure some dudes showed up with their Stratocasters and Telecasters and were confused by all the bikes.

I’ve wanted to go to French Fender Day for a few years. One day …

It is my understanding that French Fender Day may be no more….

[72gmc]

I'm partway through this article on bikepacking dot com. While I know other fender weirdos exist in the margins of the world, proof is nice.

Is a bike with a custom Telecaster-toting rack inevitable?

[rwsaunders]

Thanks for posting…pretty cool that Peter Weigle also inspires folks across the pond. I think that I read the Weigle/Heine Rinko bike/Japan article in BQ about every three months and it never ceases to amaze me.