Life In The Saddle

On wet roads, a set of full-length mudguards will add comfort to your ride; as well as saving your bike from expensive maintenance costs. The Kinesis Fend Off Mudguards are an affordable and bombproof set of full-length winter mudguards; featuring an all-metal construction and stainless fitting hardware. Wet feet? Wet back? Gritty drivetrain? All these things can be solved with a set of full-length mudguards. Okay, they will not protect you from the downpour coming from above; but a set of full-length guards will prevent the worst of the road spray and debris hitting your body and bike. I fitted a set of the Kinesis Fend Off Mudguards to my Kona Rove Ti as we headed into the autumn months; a time when leaves, field run-off, flooding, and hedge-cutting leave our lanes strewn with wet debris and puddles. Fitting full-length guards is a bit of a fiddle; there is no denying that. It delivers hours of improved comfort though, so it is time well spent. The Kinesis Fend Off Mudguards t...

Fed up with a wet back (and crack), and want some protection from road and trail spray? This new Rain Fly guard from Tate Labs could well be the solution... Many readers will have seen and/or used an  Ass Saver  mudguard. The neat laser-cut plastic flap slots underneath your saddle, and provides valuable protection for your rear; while adding only minimal weight and aerodynamic drag. It is a KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) approach, to reducing the "mud-slick" effect. The Ass Saver works well; but it isn't without its faults... The most significant downfall for the Swedish designed product, is that it rather too easily goes askew; exposing your back to your rear wheel. The second, is that it doesn't really provide protection for the back of your legs, or for a saddlebag or rear light housed on your seatpost. The new Tate Labs Bar Fly Rain Fly promises to follow in the lightweight minimalist footsteps of the Ass Saver, but to overcome the two short-comings. The...

Mudguards are an essential piece of winter kit. In my book, they are as important as the winter jacket or overshoes that you invest in. However, when riding cyclocross or mountain bike in the winter months, you are left with the problem that full length fenders don't allow enough mud clearance. This is when mudguards like the Bar Fly Rain Fly series comes into play. Last year I reviewed the Bar Fly Rain Fly Rear Mudguard , and it impressed me greatly. I've had many readers comment on it as well, as it has remained on my Kona Private Jake since the original review. In this review, I'm looking at the new Bar Fly Rain Fly Front Mudguard. This straps to the downtube of the bike, and provides valuable protection for your feet, shins, and your water bottle. Easy to fit First of all, the Rain Fly front guard is blissfully easy to fit. You simple zip tie it to the downtube in three places, then bend it to fit the profile of your front wheel. Job done. Lightweight Y...

For a long time mudguards were dismissed by mountain bikers, at least those that I rode with; they were seen as cumbersome, ineffective and unsightly. In recent years that seems to have changed dramatically though, almost every mountain bike I see out on the Isle of Wight trails in the winter months is now fitted out with "fenders" of some description. Mudguards are no longer just for road bikes, and the Mudhugger is a prime example of why. Made of lightweight but super strong plastic composite, and with a design that fits neatly and smartly to the frame and forks, it holds next to no performance penalties, yet a significant advantage in terms of protection. The Mudhugger Rear Guard Starting with the rear guard: the Mudhugger takes a new tack on fitment; rather than attaching to the seatpost, as is the norm with MTB mudguards, it instead has a split design that mounts to the seat stays using cable ties. This means there are no bolts or brackets to break or corr...

Mountain Bike mudguards come in many shapes and sizes, and there are varying opinions on their necessity  looks and effectiveness. "They don't look cool, dude". "You're going to have to walk through mud at the gates anyway". "You're still going to have to wash your bike off". These are all excuses that I've heard for not fitting fenders to a mountain bike, but in truth they really are a useful bit of kit; keeping you drier, keeping mud out of your eyes, and protecting components on your bike. Mucky Nutz is a UK based company that has come up with an ingenious set of guards that are more discrete, better looking and more aerodynamic than your standard off-road fenders; yet they still do a sterling job of keeping you dry. Since I've been back on the Isle of Wight I've fitted them on the On One Whippet and have been putting them to the test. Here are my thoughts on their three incredible value guards that I reckon will change the way...