Fenders... and why I'm an idiot

[Tri Girl]

So I've never had fenders before on any of my bikes. I got a touring bike (old- from a pawn shop) and I've been riding it to work. We've had lots of snow and the result is lots of sand on the streets once it's all gone away.
I was riding to work last week (when it finally dried up) and kept hearing this noise that sounded like my fenders were rubbing my tire. I stopped, checked for clearance (there was plenty) and kept on. The noise continued. I was getting irritated.
Then, after an embarrassingly long amount of time- I finally realized that the noise was all the sand hitting the underside of the fenders. DUH!!! :rolleyes: What an idiot. I've never had fenders so I didn't think about all the sand/road debris that was hitting the underside of the fenders. They're plastic, so I don't know if metal is just as loud with all the debris- but I feel so dumb for not immediately figuring that out.
What a dork I am!

[Melalvai]

It is an alarming sound. Congratulations on the fenders!

[Trek420]

No, you're a jeeeeenious! Just imagine if you had not chosen fenders that sand would be all over you. :)

We want pictures of the pawn shop touring bike (or maybe I'm the only one who wants to see how it looks).

[bikerHen]

Just wait until you pick up a big(er) rock. Those sound like something has fallen of your bike and into the wheel. It happens alot this time of year and still scares the cr@p of me. Especially at night! Of course I have metal fenders which rattle even louder :rolleyes: bikerhen

[KnottedYet]

What's really fun is when you pick up a pebble with the front tire and it whips through the front fender and shoots out in front of you!

"Yehuda Moon" had a strip where the bike was shooting the pebbles at cars.

[Melalvai]

"Yehuda Moon" had a strip where the bike was shooting the pebbles at cars.
Oooo...I gotta get me one like that! :D