Up until now I have not been the biggest fan or advocate of mudguards, either front or rear on a mountain bike. Call me a traditionalist or dirt fiend, but coming back from a ride, a good measure of how much fun the ride was should be how muddy and dirty is my bike and more importantly how muddy am I!
Maybe my opinion is the minority or slightly niche, but until this week I have always dismissed considering buying mudguards for my bike. That changed on my last two rides!
The first incident on my ride was during a blast through Delph Woods near Broadstone (Dorset). Some great twisting single track was being enjoyed when I noticed a rather unpleasant smell radiating up and around me. After a couple of minutes I stopped to investigate and found to my disgust that my front tyre was "caked" in dog sh*t, which had then sprayed up on my forks, underside of the frame and all over my shoes and lower legs. I was livid cursing inconsiderate dog owners. I did my best to clear off the excess with sticks and clumps of leaves, but it did spoil the enjoyment of my ride. Once home it was lots of washing and extensive cleaning and scrubbing.
After my anger and frustration had passed I chalked the experience down to bad luck and thought little more of it.
That was until my next ride a couple of days later. A different route and location but a very similar incident. Dog sh*t everywhere, not as bad as the first but still not a pleasant experience.
Therefore it was into research mode, looking on-line and then visiting my local bike shop
Primera in Poole. The choices or options seemed quite straightforward. Either a oval type front mudguard that attaches to the underside of the down-tube. Or a "fender" style contraption that is inspired by moto-cross bikes.
On style alone, I was considering the "fender" style from
Topeak. A model called the Defender, at an acceptable cost that appeared to offer mud protection above the tyre under the fork and at the rear of the tyre. On visiting Primera and picking one up off the shelf and taking advice from the helpful assistant, I changed my mind. It was not the smallest and in my opinion was quite long and not very wide. Although one advantage was that it attached to the front fork, so would turn with the wheel, offering potentially better coverage from spray on corners etc.
But the man in the shop recommended the
Crud Catcher. A simple classic design at a great price. It is made of a really good grade plastic that appears to be very tough and hard wearing. A nice feature is that the end nearest the fork is made of a softer rubber compound so it will not clip or catch on the front fork.
To fit and secure to the frame is again very straightforward. Using the two supplied rubber looped bungees you secure via a clip under the mudguard and then loop through a hole, around the frame and back to another fixing clip. Simple, fitted in seconds.
The cost was great at £7 and it comes in a choice of black, white, red and blue. I opted for the blue version to match my frame.
Last night it was very poor weather so didn't go out for a ride. Planning to go tonight, so will blog a review or opinion when I have used it in anger.
