Holding ones head high using full mudguards

[futuristicoldman]

I was secretly hoping furious disbelievers would chastise me for my crimes against cycling leading to a furious debate culminating in an underpant cleanliness league with us noble gentlemen holding our heads up high and wearing medals of honour.
Im never going to get a medal for anything else, im far too slow!

 

[oldave]

Riding near enough every morning - and the weather is not the decider! - and being old enough to be a "grandad" (or in some parts of this county a great-grandad!), then I have no shame whatsoever in full 'grds.

As it happens, I took out one without this a.m. (tarmac and farm roads and paths) - quite apart from much wetter feet and and lower legs and back, it took me a lot longer to clean and dry and lube the bike when I got home than it would have for one of the guarded ones. But then I never put a bike away dirty or wet.

 

[cornholio's RC200]

I cheat - crud catcher on the front and rack from kiddie seat on the back. Almost cool

I stay much cleaner than if I used nothing at all; something work colleagues noted with amusement when I "had" to use the Vit last week because of a mechanical with the C-16...

Not sure I'd go as far as full mudguards though. Unfortunately I've got a sheared bolt where a rear mudguard would be attached to on the C-16 and the Vit has no mounts at all. That's my excuse anyway....

 

[Drencrom]

On-road/commuter - acceptable.

Off-road - never.

Maybe a Crud Catcher for old skool aesthetics up front, but under no circumstances must there ever be a rear 'Wolf Guard' style plastic monstrosity.

Or just enjoy the weather and ride with whatever you want. If it keeps you from staying indoors or driving the car then it's a bonus.

 

[feetabix]

I like the idea of a unique bike changed over the years to suit your needs, go for it I say!....it separates the commited old sweat experienced cyclists from the catalogue model wannabes who throw money at kit to use it 3 times, choke up the trail centres and not bother again.....be proud!....

 

[oldave]

"....it separates the commited old sweat experienced cyclists from the catalogue model wannabes who throw money at kit to use it 3 times, choke up the trail centres and not bother again.....be proud!...."

Now THAT'S a distinction I like!

 

[oshtja]

it's really quite simple:
---> on retro bike = crime!
---> modern bikes = on you to deside...

it's the same with the "bags" under the seat of the bike, isn't it?

;O

 

[Never Stop]

I got full mudguards on my commuter, I don't want to turn up to work with a soaked arse and legs, along with 2 lights front n back, wheel reflectors and soon getting a nice wald basket, can't get more practical

I now actually aim for the puddles.

 

[Neil]

it's really quite simple:
---> on retro bike = crime!
---> modern bikes = on you to deside...

Um, BITD (late 80s and early 90s) I ran mudguards on bikes (that are now considered retrobikes) when I cycled on road.

Back then, I didn't have a collection of bikes to pick for road or off-road use, my mountain bike (whichever one I had at the time) served me for practically all transport needs (commuting, getting around, and off-roading).

Let's not get all above ourselves and so prissy about the whole damn thing - bikes are meant to be used, and yes, in certain conditions, certain (albeit probably uncool) adornments make the damned thing much more civilised. I mean, FFS, does everything have to be this revisionist, aesthetic judgement on things that, well, really, are just a collection of metal tubes and bits, and largely not really, well that aesthetically pleasing, but more practically usable.

And truth be told, my days of having posters on bedroom walls of bikes or cars are long gone - didn't last very long when I was a spotty (well actually, I never really suffered from them, but it's poetic license doncha know) youff. Think I was more interested in the female of the species, least that's what I think, but the old memory ain't what it ought.

it's the same with the "bags" under the seat of the bike, isn't it?

This is the testicle thing / thread all over again, isn't it.

 

[apache]

If you're the sort of person who thinks your friends won't like you if you don't have a mobile phone less than 4 weeks old, or the sort of person who wont wear anything unless it says 'Superdry' in letters 6" high all over it, then yes, mudguards are a heinous crime.

If you are in the former group, you are probably 6 years old anyway, and us grown-ups don't care what kiddies think.

My old Sunn commuter had big black plastic mudguards, reflectors and everything. I got to work dry and not dead in the dark wet winter mornings. However, if I valued a telephone more, I'd have got there looking very stoopid and soggy, if I got there at all, cos I bet all the naysayers don't have things as uncool as lights on their bikes when its dark either. :roll: