Mudguards are also called fenders.

Many sports bikes, such as road bikes and cross bikes, do not come with them.

I would like to consider what this means and whether mudguards are necessary or unnecessary.

Functions of Mudguards (Fenders)

As the name suggests, mudguards prevent water and mud kicked up by the tires from getting onto the bicycle frame and rider.

If you ride without a mudguard, the frame will get muddy, and the rider's back will have a vertical streak of dirt.

To make it clear, we tested how much a pure white bicycle without mudguards would get dirty after riding 5km on a road after rain.

First, the frame gets this dirty after just 5km.

If you wipe it off immediately, it's not a stain that won't come off, but if you leave it as is and it gets sun-baked, marks will remain even after wiping it off.

Next, the area around the front fork also got quite dirty.

This means that mud and dirt get into the fine parts, so a simple wipe won't remove everything. If you want to do it properly, you'll need to use cotton swabs to wipe off the fine parts, or simply wash it with water.

This dirt was not from riding on a rainy day, but from a situation where it had rained until morning, it wasn't raining when riding, and puddles were avoided as much as possible.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mudguards (Fenders)

The advantage is that they prevent the mud and dirt mentioned above.

The bicycle doesn't get dirty, and the rider is less likely to get dirty.

If there are advantages, everyone should be using them, but in reality, most people who ride sports bikes do not have mudguards.

This is because there are disadvantages, as listed below.

• Adds weight

Most fenders are made of resin such as PP (polypropylene).

Many weigh about 300g to 500g per side, which isn't that heavy, but if you attach them to both front and rear, it can add up to about 1kg.

For road bikes that prioritize speed, where many people try to reduce even 100g, adding 1kg is not a good idea.

• Gets caught in bike bags

When traveling long distances with a road bike or cross bike, you sometimes carry it in a bike bag.

In my experience, fenders get in the way when put in a bike bag.

If they have a pointed design, you might even worry about them tearing the bag.

I don't feel that fenders and bike bags are very compatible.

In this case, a detachable fender would solve the problem, but it would also add a slight amount of weight, so the rider needs to make a clear decision.

Are mudguards (fenders) ultimately necessary?

The question of whether mudguards are ultimately necessary is one that no bike shop or website seems to definitively answer with a "yes" or "no."

This is because it depends on what the rider prioritizes.

If you don't mind getting a little dirty, then mudguards are unnecessary in the first place.

However, there may be situations where getting dirty would be problematic, in which case mudguards would be beneficial.

As someone who commutes by bicycle, my advice is as follows:

・I do not recommend the type that attaches to the seat post.

There's also the issue of where to attach the mudguard.

While there are types that attach to the frame, most sports bikes do not have brackets or holes for attaching mudguards to the frame.

Therefore, the type that attaches to the seat post is commonly used.

It's easy to install and inexpensive, which is great, but since it's attached to a round object, it will move left and right no matter how tightly you tighten the screws.

If you ride without noticing, your back might end up with a vertical streak of dirt.

If you choose the type that attaches to the seat post, select one that comes with a rubber sheet, etc., and try to prevent it from rotating as much as possible.

• "Not riding on rainy days" doesn't solve the problem

Once you understand the benefits of mudguards, you might consider the option of not riding your bike on rainy days.

However, it might have rained before or after you rode your bike, and there's always a chance of being caught in sudden rain while riding.

When riding a bicycle, your choices will be to ride in clothes you don't mind getting dirty, attach a mudguard, or attach a detachable mudguard.

• They are better to have for commuting to work or school.

If you use a bicycle for commuting to work or school, it might be difficult to prepare clothes specifically for cycling.

Since you ride at fixed times in the morning and evening, it might have rained early in the morning, and not be raining when you ride in the morning.

In such cases, the road surface is wet, and as I've already mentioned, mud and dirt can splash onto the frame and other parts even if you try to avoid puddles.

When commuting to work or school, mud can also splash onto your clothes, leaving spots of mud on your pant cuffs.

Spending a whole day in dirty clothes can be very disheartening.

Considering this, it might be a good idea to keep mudguards on regularly.

It's hard to know when it will rain, so if you use a detachable type, you'll also have to carry it around.

Finally, as for what I do, I don't use mudguards.

I've been commuting by bicycle for over 10 years now, and for about half of that time, my bike didn't have mudguards.

My judgment was that I wasn't really inconvenienced without them.

External Writer: Koichi Okuno