Fitting is easier than ever, using a simple notched rubber strap, and adjustment is a doddle, too, with eight 2.5mm hex bolts on the stays allowing you to change the height and angle. It took us just a few minutes to set them up from scratch. Just make sure to add some electrical tape to your frame and fork first if you want to keep your paint pristine. As the guards will be going on a bike that is also ridden ‘ sans fender’, the ease of fitting and removal is important, as is the speed and simplicity. We like a guard set to be easy to keep together off the bike. Too many parts to get lost or slide under the fridge are never a good thing. How we test Full-length mudguards also offer the best protection for your bike, helping to keep water, salt, and grime out of the components. Other rivals include Bontrager with their NCS fenders / mudguards that are longer and easier to fit, but more expensive and the Portland Design Works Full Metal Fenders which are absolutely brilliant but are more than double the price of the Bluemels Basics. Mountain bikes, because of the huge variety of design thanks to factors like suspension and huge tyres, need a mudguard fitted very high above the wheel. The solution is a rear mudguard that clips onto the seatpost so the height above the wheel can be adjusted, and a front mudguard that's attached to the down tube.

Whether you opt for short-coverage mudguards for low weight and ease-of-use, or long-coverage mudguards for maximum protection, is largely down to personal preference, where you’re riding and who you’re riding with. Generally speaking, there are three types of gravel mudguard: short-coverage clip-on mudguards (available for either the front or, more commonly, the rear), full-coverage clip-on mudguards and full-coverage mudguards that require eyelets. SKS’s Bluemels Basic fenders / mudguards do a reasonably good job of keeping you dry. Their coverage isn’t as long as some - and our tester did find that you get spray over your feet from the front wheel and anyone following behind will still get a coating. Depending on what kind of mudguards your bike can take, you’ll also want to consider what length of mudguard your bike should wear. These mudguards from UK brand Kinesis would be a handsome addition to any winter bike. Formed of sturdy anodised aluminium in a neat square profile, they’re almost as pretty as the Portland Design Works fenders yet only half the price.Equally neat is the fitting, which took us no more than 20-seconds to complete – including the time it took us to read the instructions.

This has been a fun design challenge and I hope it helps other speed pedelac owners get the most out of their bikes year-round. Though they might not seem like the most thrilling accessory, bike fenders/mudguards come in a variety of styles and sizes, as well as having different installment methods and intended uses. We chose top performers for mountain bikers, road cyclists, and people who want traditional mounting styles versus clip-on ones. These fenders come at range of price points, so there’s something for everyone, no matter what style of riding you’re doing throughout the rainy season. Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles’ LifeLine components brand makes inexpensive mudguards for bikes with the necessary bolts and these clip-on guards for those without. They have quality stainless steel fixtures with bolts to fix them to the stays, making them easy to set up and adjust.We don't really need to say much here other than these are a must for your off-road adventure. Even on a dry day, you're likely to be cycling through mud and well... it's in the name. You'll need an MTB front mudguard as well as an MTB rear mudguard. While road riders will typically mount a set of mudguards at both the front and rear of the bike, gravel riders or mountain bikers may opt to run a ‘guard at only one end. Riding your bike in the winter without a mudguard is likely to result in you turning up at your destination like you've been dragged through the proverbial hedge. However, mudguards aren't just about keeping your clothes clean - they also help to keep your feet and legs dry and warm, as well as protecting your bike's frame and components.