Best mudguards for cyclocross bike?

[Rob Jones]

Any thoughts? I've had the race blades xl before and they weren't too bad but did move about a bit and fit poorly on the front.

I am using 25mm tyres so unlikely to need anything too wide. I think what may limit my choice is the cyclocross style brakes (forget the name for these) as opposed to the road brakes that a lot of mudguards incorporate into their design for a fixing. I don't really mind whether they are guards that stay put for winter or quick release for taking on and off. I will probably leave them on for the winter so long as they don't rattle around or rub.

Thanks

[Jason T]

Next year I think I'm going to purchase a steel Ribble or Rose Cyclocross bike as I've probably spent close to a Ribble Winter Frame on different mudguards, it's the only way 

I've found the SKS Race Blade Clip On to be good as well as the Crud RoadRacer Mk2, both have their pros and cons.

For those who have not used these;
SKS Race Blade Clip Ons do not give you full coverage and do not fit all bikes, I cannot fit the front one to my Trek Madone which has huge tyre clearance.
Crud RoadRacer Mk2 can be a real pain when you first fit them, after this they are easy to fit but you don't have that much clearance for wider tyres on sportier frames (some model frames like colnago will not even take them).

If your bike is drilled for mono/single pivot brakes you could probably wangle a solution using P-Clips;
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/accessories/bags-baskets/halfords-19mm-luggage-p-clips

These also look pretty good if the frame/fork is drilled as well;
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/sks-raceblade-long-mudguards/rp-prod82995

[Paul Nicholas]

My Cyclocross bike is a pig to fit mudguards to. Carbon front fork, carbon rear stays with canti brakes. I resorted to this:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/sks-x-tra-dry-rear-mudguard/rp-prod25803

and learnt to put up with the front wheel spraying water into my face!

Got a real love hate relationship with my cyclocross bike, it doesn't brake in the wet (at all), it sprays water into my face, and the gearing is a bit too light for on the road but... I've had the best rides on it, you can't beat riding at speed up hill around Llantrisant forest while everybody else is pushing their downhill mountain bikes around you. Belting it accross farmers fields on top of Gilfach mountain being chased by a horse. Cycling past a policeman on Llantrisant road up the climb by Radyr as he's telling me the road is closed as theres a foot of snow on the road!

[Rob Jones]

I know what you mean Paul. They are versatile and if I could only keep one bike it would be the cyclo x. But my brakes are poor too, geometry is weird for mudguards and those secondary brakes make fitting a front light plus Garmin a right faff. My cross bike makes a reasonable road bike but I don't stick my 35mm tyres on and go offroad nearly enough. I have used it quite a bit with a rear child seat mind, which I probably wouldn't do with a road racer.

I have brought the sks chromoplastic guards by the way as I remembered I've been using these on my folding bike for years without even noticing them. I have a feeling the problem will be the stupid brakes on the x bike that get in the way when I try and fit them! If I can get them on they should be good.

[wardhaugh]

Since threading the mudguard eyelet on mine, I've been using Zefal Swan.

Pros - take seconds to fit, cover any tyre size, quick to remove (important considering cons belowdecks), cheap, no rattling or tyre rub

Cons - completely lacking in style - make your bike look like a MTB wannabe; bum/ back protection good; front guard almost useless.

The lack of style is, of course, the main issue - but the problem is riding around with a big brown streak up your back and bum also lacks style. Ultimately a judgement call.

[Jason T]

Cons - completely lacking in style - make your bike look like a MTB wannabe; bum/ back protection good; front guard almost useless.

The BLB Fenders have been on my "Want List" for over a year... I've never been able to justify them though;
http://www.bricklanebikes.co.uk/blb-classic-bamboo-fenders

http://www.bricklanebikes.co.uk/mudguards?pagenumber=2