Use of mudguards on MTB...

[gdb2b]

A question for the MTB'ers members. If I may, can I get some feedback from the site's MTBers members that race? The race season for the Midwest here in the US starts in three weeks. This first race, the Barry Roubaix, if wet, is a sloppy mud run. The race is run at a time when the spring thaw is underway and the frost is coming out of the ground.

Cold, wet, muddy, grimmy, gritty, sloppy gravel hills and two tracks. Apart from the race competition, there just isn't anything redeeming about a mud run in the cold. Anybody use mudguards in these kind of conditions? I've jeard goog things about the SKS ShockBlade front. Anybody able to recommend a rear one that actually works? Keeping the crap out of the front derailluer is a big help. If you race in these kinds of conditions and have any suggestion, I'm all ears...

Hey SKS and Planet Bike - redesign your rear units to extend all the way down to the chainstays. It'll help riders still be able to shift 20+ miles into the race.

 

[BerthaPog]

Some discussion/banter here: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=173446

 

[merckx]

if the conditions are that bad, i would rather not race. mudguard problem solved!

 

[poweredbypies]

Cold, wet, muddy, grimmy, gritty, sloppy gravel hills and two tracks.

Welcome to England.
In the summer.
On a good day .

 

[Chute55uk]

Cold, wet, muddy, grimmy, gritty, sloppy gravel hills and two tracks.

Welcome to England.
In the summer.
On a good day .

+1

 

[firedfromthecircus]

I run a set of topeak defender guards front and rear. I don't race with them as I don't race, but think they are a great addition to the bike. Not too heavy if you worry about that sort of thing and quite flexy if you hit stuff. Keep the shit out your face and your arse dry. Got to be worth a couple of seconds.

http://www.topeak.com/products/Fenders/ ... rM1_M2_Set

 

[tintin40]

I'd fit studded tires on the bike for riding that. Forget mud guards it will give the people behind you some thing to think about.

 

[gdb2b]

So, any MTB'ers here in the forum got any recommendations for rear guards that keep the crap out of the front derailluer? Pretty much all of 'em keep it off the back and backside. I'm looking for one that shields the front mech., if one exists.

Suggestions or recommendations are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[gdb2b]

Oh, in the pic sent with the original post, that is a mud pit in the pic mid-ground. One of six on that mile stretch alone.

I did a bit of recon on the course yesterday morning. It had rained heavily on Friday afternoon and evening, snowed Saturday afternoon and evening. So Sunday morning, another 2 mile stretch is now close to becoming a snow covered bog/rice paddy, and almost all but impassible. High ground clearance all wheel drive pickup trucks can barely make it through. It'll be a good place to take pics come race day with 1,500 riders ploughing thru. It'll be interesting to see how the cross bikes do.

I don't mind riding it for practice and getting trashed. But a couple hours cleaning the bike is a pain. The sand, grit, and crap chew up a drivetrain real fast....