Fenders Can Fit a "Race" Style Frame

[radacrider]

I was installing some SKS Raceblades on my son's bike (Centurion Dave Scott Triathlete Master) and was explaining it to him. He noticed no coverage from the brakes down to the bottom bracket. He asked if there was a way to fit something in there so the bike would not get so dirty.

I tingled inside as usually it has not been an issue about his bike getting too dirty. The challenge is that his frame is not designed for adding anything, there are no eyelets anywhere on the bike.

Well, having adapted a set of SKS P45s to fit my SUB with 1.5" tires, I figured I could the same thing. We bought a set of SKS P35s and stopped at the hardware store to pick up some M5 allen bolts and nuts and some rubber cushioned C clamps.

3 hours of trial and error and test fitting and he happily now has fenders to keep himself and his bike much drier and cleaner through the wet winter months.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1143.snc4/148593_1382898747431_1680851358_780569_532084_n.jpg

Close up of the front fender stay mount:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs493.ash2/76670_1382899387447_1680851358_780574_4877562_n.jpg

The cushioned clamps are located at the bottom of the front forks and seat stays in place of eyelets and work great to support the fender stays. The upper part of the fenders are supported using the brake pivot bolts.

It's close, but no rubbing and no interference with brake operation.:)

[lph]

oh, excellent, good tip. Will keep this post for reference :)

[radacrider]

Thanks, lph. I love a good, creative challenge.

[Tri Girl]

VERY creative solution!!! I am really wanting fenders on my steel touring bike, but fenders for 650's are nowhere to be found in nature. I'm rather disappointed, but I haven't given up just yet.
Does your uber creative mind have any ideas for me? I'm SO open to any suggestions.:)

[radacrider]

Hey Tri Girl. I bet the SKS P35 would work.

My SUB is running P45mm hybrid fenders, which are based on a 700c tire, but I'm running 26" x 1.5" tires on it. May need to modify the fork crown mounting, the seat stay mounting and the mount near the bottom bracket to space the fenders closer to the tires.

On my SUB, I initially just took a small piece of aluminum to extend the front fender and used cushioned clamps on the rear fender rather than attaching the fender mounts directly to the frame.

Usually there is enough flex to make the adjustment in the fender. On my son's the trickiest area was right at the center pivot brakes and that was mostly the tire clearance. The Shimano Ultegra 600 calipers have no clearance issues.

Good luck, fenders do extend the riding pleasure.

Oh, have a set of pics of the SUB here, http://www.flickr.com/photos/freeheelgirl/sets/72157625052302309/.

[tattiefritter]

Ooh interesting. I am now using a set of Crud Roadguards:

http://www.crudproducts.com/

Have been using the Crud Catchers on my mtb for years. I find them so, so much better than the Race Blades, particularly on the front as they stop wheel spray into my face and onto my feet. They won't be as sturdy as your solution long term but it's easy to get spares.

I'll be using my road bike to commute into the wet winter much more this year before switching to the tank bike when they start salting the roads for fun as they seem to like to do here. They'll probably only come off the road bike for about three months each year, if that due to the lovely British climate.

[radacrider]

Ooh interesting. I am now using a set of Crud Roadguards:



Those are pretty cool.;) When I was looking at how to mount the SKS fenders on my son's bike, I had thought about how to use zip ties, seems they have figured it out.

I've wondered how the side spray is on fenders that do not wrap down on the sides of the tires. I can see the advantage of not having to take the brakes apart to remove fenders, though. We'll see if my son is okay leaving the fenders on all year round like I do with my SUB.:D

[Seajay]

A couple ideas from the rainy city.
In lieu of the coated straps...it works very well to wrap the frame with a couple layers of old school cotton handlebar tape (Cateye and Velox still make it) then zip tie the struts on. The tape protects the frame... but best allows the ziptie to bite into something and get really tight and never slide.
The other piece of fender gear that makes sliding them into a close tolerances road bike is the Full Wood brand fender reach over kit. This allows you to skip the narrow part of the frame/brakes and continue the fender on the other side.