Joined in 2023 
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63 About this deal
Mudguards stop water and dirt from your tyres spraying upwards over you, your bike, and anyone riding behind. The two main things to keep an eye out for are clearance (the distance between your frame and wheels), and if your frame has eyelets. Eyelets mean you should be able to fit full-length mudguards (depending on clearance). If not, clip-on mudguards are what you'll have to work with. What types of mudguards are there? There are fenders / mudguards which do provide more coverage at a similar price - even within SKS’s own range, such as the SKS Longboards. If wet weather protection is most important to you, the choice between the two is pretty obvious. But there will be those who prefer the tidier looks of the Bluemels Basics. The construction consists of a sandwich of thin aluminium encased in plastic. It’s not quite as rigid as an all-metal design, but thanks to the sturdy stays, our tester didn’t have any issues with rubbing. But naturally, if you try to cram a wider tire than recommended - or if the clearance between your seatstays is particularly tight - you can still experience issues. Bike fenders—also known as mudguards—are handy accessories that keep mud and spray off of you, your riding partners, and important parts of your bike, like the chain and suspension. The terminology can be a bit confusing here, but mudguards and fenders are used interchangeably in the industry.
The SKS Raceblade Pro XL Stealth Series guards tip the scales at 380 grams, when weighed with the rubber attachment straps. They are compatible with 700c wheels and tire widths of up to 32mm. The front fender provides a coverage of 565mm and the rear 730mm. The ProGuard from RRP is a rigid polypropylene guard that comes in two sizes – standard and maximum. The standard is pretty big and offers plenty of protection, but the Max is 21mm longer at the front and 68mm longer at the rear so really ups the ante. It has a three-point fixing via the brace and fork lowers. There are 24 crown holes for zip-ties allowing it to accommodate a wide range of brace sizes and shapes and it’s compatible with 26in, 27.5in and 29in forks and (RRP claims) tyres up to three inches in diameter. The extended side mouldings also help protect the fork seals. To fit the Pro Guard, you do have to punch out some tiny holes, which is okay but there is a bit of trial and error getting it set to the correct angle. The Max size can also move a bit when riding hard and when sending it off a drop there was often a hard crunch as some part of the guard bottomed out on the fork/tyre. That said, if you want to ride 60mph through a peat bog and stay dry, this is the guard we’d recommend – dirt doesn’t get in your eyes, on your clothes, no matter how wet it is or how fast you’re going. Easily the best guard on test.
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Look for fenders that have some contouring or a rounded shape, if they are too flat they won't offer all that much protection. This, combined with the minimally fussy fitting, makes the SKS Raceblade Pro XL Stealth Series better than any of its clip-on competitors - which generally either don’t fit as well or don’t offer as good protection. Value-wise they are a bit more expensive than the competition, but they are also readily available for less online.
With a variety of holes (a bit like a belt), this can be fitted to almost any road bike, even those with wide aero forks.
Bicycle mudflap - Type
Mudguards are also a vital courtesy on group rides. Sit directly behind a bike that’s not fitted with mudguards on a wet ride and you’ll soon realise just how much water tyres can spray up. A long rear mudguard, preferably with a flap, keeps spray out of the face of the rider behind you. Many clubs and riding groups demand mudguards over the winter. As the guards will be going on a bike that is also ridden ‘ sans fender’, the ease of fitting and removal is important, as is the speed and simplicity. We like a guard set to be easy to keep together off the bike. Too many parts to get lost or slide under the fridge are never a good thing. How we test Generally speaking, there are three types of gravel mudguard: short-coverage clip-on mudguards (available for either the front or, more commonly, the rear), full-coverage clip-on mudguards and full-coverage mudguards that require eyelets.
Clip-on mudguards are a good alternative if you foresee taking the mudguard on and off, or if you only plan to use them for group rides. These are often lighter than bolt-on mudguards. You can also look for strap-on fenders, which attach with a hook-and-loop or zip-tie style closure to your bike’s seat tube, fork, or seatpost. How We SelectedThe worse the conditions you ride in, the more you’re likely to benefit from long-coverage mudguards. Full-length mudguards also offer the best protection for your bike, helping to keep water, salt, and grime out of the components. Clip-on mudguards usually don’t wrap as much of the wheel as full-length mudguards, nor have the sides or front rubber flap. This means they don’t keep as much rain and spray off your body or bike. However, they do keep most of the water off and can make a huge difference on wet roads. They can easily be removed and stored in the garage during the summer. This has been a fun design challenge and I hope it helps other speed pedelac owners get the most out of their bikes year-round.
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