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Front Mudflaps (Fender Flaps?)
Sorry for the description confusion, UK rider!
I've been messing about for a while with different types of flaps on the front fender. I have tried long & short, thin and wide, and all other possible combinations. It is very difficult to determine what works best, some shapes seem to protect the bike but spray your feet, some keep the feet drier but the bike gets covered, some don't work at all! Has anyone done (or seen) any research on this? I guess what I'm trying to establish is: What is the optimum length/curvature/width for a front flap? What is the best material to make it out of, flexible, stiff? Material suggestions? Any advice will be gratefully received. Thanks in advance. -- Mark _____________________________________ Nerves of Steel, Heart of Gold, Knob of Butter |
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#2
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Front Mudflaps (Fender Flaps?)
MSA wrote:
Sorry for the description confusion, UK rider! I've been messing about for a while with different types of flaps on the front fender. I have tried long & short, thin and wide, and all other possible combinations. It is very difficult to determine what works best, some shapes seem to protect the bike but spray your feet, some keep the feet drier but the bike gets covered, some don't work at all! Has anyone done (or seen) any research on this? I guess what I'm trying to establish is: What is the optimum length/curvature/width for a front flap? What is the best material to make it out of, flexible, stiff? Material suggestions? I use a section cut from a black plastic flowerpot, superglued onto the bottom of the front mudguard. It works well although it does occasionally catch on a kerb when hopping down. The only problem is the water thrown *forwards*, which the bike catches up with. No real way to avoid that. |
#3
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Front Mudflaps (Fender Flaps?)
On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 18:42:02 +0100, MSA wrote:
What is the optimum length/curvature/width for a front flap? What is the best material to make it out of, flexible, stiff? Material suggestions? Optimum depends on many factors including the "spray pattern" of your tires. My skinny 28mm tires pretty much just send up a thin stream, so require a basic flap. I use thin material cut from a milk/juice container which I glue on with construction adhesive. Curving to follow the fender keeps it rigid in the wind, but it'll bend when encountering curbs and such. http://photos22.flickr.com/30668717_dfb1d0edde_o.jpg I've also successfully used the tongues out of old boots, but the plastic works better to be honest. A lot of folks seems to like rubber stair tread material and pop rivets. |
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Front Mudflaps (Fender Flaps?)
On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 18:42:02 +0100, MSA wrote:
What is the optimum length/curvature/width for a front flap? What is the best material to make it out of, flexible, stiff? Material suggestions? Optimum depends on many factors including the "spray pattern" of your tires. My skinny 28mm tires pretty much just send up a thin stream, so require a basic flap. I use thin material cut from a milk/juice container which I glue on with construction adhesive. Curving to follow the fender keeps it rigid in the wind, but it'll bend when encountering curbs and such. Exactly what I use, a plastic milk carton. |
#5
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Front Mudflaps (Fender Flaps?)
try in tech archives-
DIY CHAIN GUARD $2 |
#6
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Front Mudflaps (Fender Flaps?)
In article ,
MSA wrote: Sorry for the description confusion, UK rider! I've been messing about for a while with different types of flaps on the front fender. I have tried long & short, thin and wide, and all other possible combinations. It is very difficult to determine what works best, some shapes seem to protect the bike but spray your feet, some keep the feet drier but the bike gets covered, some don't work at all! Has anyone done (or seen) any research on this? See http://www.phred.org/~alex/bikes/fendermudflap.html But as Zog The Undeniable pointed out, water thrown forwards is also a problem, at least when you ride fast. Maybe fenders could be designed to extend down further towards the front, as with motorcycles? -- Ned Mantei Zurich, Switzerland |
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Front Mudflaps (Fender Flaps?)
On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 18:42:02 +0100, MSA wrote:
Any advice will be gratefully received. Have a look at these: http://circlecitybicycles.com/lrp/mudflap.htm Good for a giggle at least! I like the red "trucker slut" one. |
#8
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Front Mudflaps (Fender Flaps?)
Ned Mantei wrote: Maybe fenders could be designed to extend down further towards the front, as with motorcycles? http://tinyurl.com/7ma9z Honjo, with a rear fender used on the front. » |
#9
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Front Mudflaps (Fender Flaps?)
On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 19:33:45 -0700, 41 wrote:
http://tinyurl.com/7ma9z Honjo, with a rear fender used on the front. » Nice! That's a damn handsome ride as well, love the blue color! |
#10
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Front Mudflaps (Fender Flaps?)
MSA wrote:
Sorry for the description confusion, UK rider! I've been messing about for a while with different types of flaps on the front fender. I have tried long & short, thin and wide, and all other possible combinations. It is very difficult to determine what works best, some shapes seem to protect the bike but spray your feet, some keep the feet drier but the bike gets covered, some don't work at all! Has anyone done (or seen) any research on this? I guess what I'm trying to establish is: What is the optimum length/curvature/width for a front flap? What is the best material to make it out of, flexible, stiff? Material suggestions? I've had good results with the stiff plastic "wrappers" that Michelin tires come in (used to come in?). Beware - if the front flap is rigid and too wide, you can get some unpleasant aerodynamic effects on fast downhills with winds. Mark |
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