Fenders, Part II

[7rider]

What is a "blade" type fender? I know the term as a model of fender from SKS. I ordered a set for my cross bike (I sure hope I have the clearance for them, I just ordered on a leap of faith). My mtb's get THE mini-fenders which just zip tie on the down tube in front, a completely different beast from road bike fenders.

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/searc...lts.asp?cat=fe

Maybe someone can give us a list of the different styles.

Oh, I guess that is my own term!
I mean the kind that bolt on to your seatpost and are not fastened to your rear dropouts - like this one from the link you provided. I think SKS has some "...blade" models like that, which is probably where I picked up the term.
"Since I have a rack, I don't think I can use the seat-post bolt on style", is what I probably should have said!

[SadieKate]

GLC - I have seen the SKS Blades sold individually, but haven't a clue about 24" fenders.

[Rai Sue]

I used to put have the full fenders which attached to eyelets and I hated them--they rattle, and if you want to take them off (during the summer, say) they were a pain in the ***, especially if--like me--you have center pull brakes and the fenders shared an eyelet with the rack.

So, I highly recommend the full fenders that attach to the seat stays (rear) and fork. They are very easy to take off and put on, and also easy to adjust (most adjustments involve slightly moving the rubber-attaching band up or down the stay). I think I got the Planet Bike brand, b/c they were cheapest--i think something like $25 for front and rear.

I have one like the "blade" above for my sexier bike, so that she didn't have to be weighed down by the fender look when it wasn't raining (the easy on, easy off was a big selling point). It kept the wet stripe off of my back, but definitely wasn't as functional as the full fenders.

[Rai Sue]

That's the one I was talking about from Planet Bike. They make wide ones for touring/mtb/cross, and skinnier ones too. But the SpeedEZ system of mounting is what I like about them. And they seem to rattle less than my old ones as well.

[pooks]

So that rattling I hear is probably my fenders, huh? They're very lightweight and flimsy. I'd wondered about getting better ones, myself, but don't know anything about them. Good topic.