Fenders for a Giant Sedona?

[Kell]

My mother recently purchased a Giant Sedona (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/women/589/28301/), which she loves except that we can't figure out how to put on decent fenders.

The guy at the bike shop sold her a Topeak fender (http://www.topeak.com/2007/products/fenders/defenderfx.php) that breaks off if you forget to remove it before putting the bike in the truck. Also, it doesn't do a very good job at keeping you dry. Basically, she's not at all happy with it.

So, we're trying to figure out what options there are for attaching a fender to this bike. Is there any way to attach a full fender to a bike with front suspension? If not, is there a more durable version of these mountain bike type fenders that she has?

Thanks!

Kell

[Eden]

hmmm looks like the front does have some eyelets so it seems like you should be able to rig some way to attach a standard fender. It's hard to see the rear forks, but if there are eyelets on the front I would guess there are eyelets on the back. It may take some creativity, but I would think you should be able to figure out something. Zip ties and the plumbing section at the hardware store are your friends. What's the little thing that sticks up over the brakes on the front fork? could you attach a fender to that.

[Kell]

Eden - thanks for the comment about zip ties. I'd been thinking about finding something that would just fit and hadn't looked much at what I could jury-rig. I'm starting to see a few more possibilities now. So, thanks :)

The eyelets are only on one side - the left side. I have no idea what they are for. Would bracing the fender on one side be enough?

Maybe on the right side I could use zip ties to attach to the fork, then wrap tape around the fork to prevent the ties slipping up and down?

Right in front of the fork is a little arch (to keep the suspension properly aligned?). No hole for a bolt - which would have been nice, but zip ties might work, if I can prevent them slipping down the sides of the arch. The arch is also pretty narrow, but with the right tool I might be able to trim the fender to fit through there. What would you use for cutting thick plastic?

I think I'll wander through the hardware store after work today. Who knows - I may have a revelation :)

[Eden]

eyelets on on one side? That's pretty weird.... I've seen people use hose clamps for attaching fenders on a bike without brazeons or eyelets. To keep the clamps from damaging the frame or sliding up and down wrap a piece cut from an old innertube around the fork. With a fork that moves you will have to be extra careful to make sure you don't interfere with it. On race bikes without enough clearance under the brakes for the fender many people will split the fender and then use a piece of bent metal to bridge the brake - but I get the feeling that would be easiest done by a bike shop since it involves cutting the fender and having the special little piece of metal riveted on to each part of the now split fender. You could also look into speed style fenders that attach with little rubber bumpers and bands. I use them on my rain bike and I haven't had any problems with them falling off yet. They still might require some modifications though since they are made more for non-eyeleted race bikes, though some are for mt bikes too like these - http://ecom1.planetbike.com/7016.html

[Kell]

Oooh :D

Those Planet Bike fenders look like they should work. I've never seen any that attach that way. As for getting around the brakes - I don't think I want to try the surgery myself, but I will if the guys at the bike shop balk.

Thanks, Eden, for the suggestions. You made my day :)

[VeloVT]

I use these on my Axis in the winter:

http://store.trekbikes.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1201&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C35%2C331&iProductID=1201&bShopOnline=0

Nice because though the fenders screw into eyelets, the blade has a quick release, so it's super easy to take them on and off (that is, if you don't want fenders, you don't have to unmount and remount them, you just use the quick release to snap the blade on or off). They're pretty lightweight and only require one eyelet each.

My only complaint is that while I have no toeclip overlap on the bike, sometimes I get a little "fender overlap" when making sharp turns.