Even full-length mudguard coverage doesn’t necessarily prevent that arc of spray that comes from a fast-spinning wheel, fitting a flap (an Ass Saver performs well) to the end of your mudguards is a great way to offer absolute coverage, and it’ll probably help you make friends on the winter club run. How close should it sit against the tyre? Mudguards can even offer a performance advantage. Yes, really. By keeping you dry and comfortable, they allow you to train more effectively than if you’re wet and cold. By keeping as much of the water off your body as you can, you're going to be able to ride for longer, and faster, when the roads are wet.

If you’re planning to kit out your road bike with some mudguards, then you’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up our list of the best road bike mudguards, and divided them into those that braze-on, and those that clip on. Not sure which type of fenders you should go for? We’ve also included a handy guide to how to choose the best road bike mudguards for you. Mountain bikes, because of the huge variety of design thanks to factors like suspension and huge tyres, need a mudguard fitted very high above the wheel. The solution is a rear mudguard that clips onto the seatpost so the height above the wheel can be adjusted, and a front mudguard that's attached to the down tube. The flare makes for a wider stance and confident handling at speed, even on rough roads. The end of the drop section is straight for a palm’s width and immediately above that is a pistol grip for all-out efforts where you need access to the shifters and brakes.

Threading your mudguard through a rim brake calliper isn’t always a simple task, and must be considered when investing in a set. Some fenders are designed to split at this point to offer full-length coverage on race bikes. Which length and shape mudguards do I need?

Mudguards are key to keeping dry – or drier than you’d otherwise be – in typical British conditions. That’s especially true in winter when water tends to stay on the roads for longer. If you’re riding year-round, make sure you have some of the best bike lights to keep you safe too. It sounds like a faff and took a bit of experimenting and Dremelling, but the end result is actually pretty neat and works really well. Still a shame that the bike doesn't really live up to the dream of a lightweight aluminium rim brake road bike with space for 28mm tyres and guards!

There are three widths available, and these 37mm wide mudguards are able to accommodate up to a 30mm tire. They looked in proportion when using a 28mm tire and there was a good amount of space to the side of the tire. Clip-on mudguards don’t require the frame to have eyelets or long-reach brake callipers, or extra clearance. Instead, they attach to the frame using simple fastenings like rubber bands, Velcro or zip ties. This gives far more versatility than full-length mudguards as you aren’t hindered by bike choice, and it means you can keep riding your favourite road bike through the winter if you want to. There are, broadly speaking, two types of fender / mudguard: those for frames with mudguard eyes –‘fixed mudguards’– and those for frames without, known as clip-on mudguards. Of course even if your bike has mudguard eyes there’s no reason why you can’t use clip-ons if you’re looking for a lightweight, easily removable solution. Why fit fenders / mudguards? SKS’s Bluemels Basic fenders / mudguards do a reasonably good job of keeping you dry. Their coverage isn’t as long as some - and our tester did find that you get spray over your feet from the front wheel and anyone following behind will still get a coating. Threading your mudguard through a rim brake calliper isn't always a simple task, and must be considered when investing in a set. Some fenders are designed to split at this point to offer full-length coverage on race bikes. Which length and shape mudguards do I need?

Mudguards stop water and dirt from your tyres spraying upwards over you, your bike, and anyone riding behind. Think mudguards aren't cool and that they'll spoil the lines of your bike? Think again. Even professional cyclists fit mudguards to their training bikes through the winter.

KranX FendR Full Length Mudguard 45mm

But that said, you perfectly well attach your own mudflaps to the Bluemels Basic and extend their spray protection that way. It’s simple (and cheap) enough to fashion a set from a few sheets of rubber - and there are even brands which offer funky designs, such as Raw Mudflap. Finance is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Performance Cycling Limited FRN: 720557 trading as Tredz are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a credit broker not a lender – credit is subject to status and affordability and is provided by Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC. Terms & Conditions Apply. The rear mudguard also mimics the fitting for SKS mudguards, with a hole to bolt onto the chainstay bridge, and a sliding bridge fixing onto the seatstay bridge. To stop your toes from clashing with the stay end caps, the Full Metal fenders / mudguards use a single stay design that is kept higher on front fender than a double stay type. It made low speed manoeuvring easier, although there was still toe overlap on my bike but that's the bike and not the mudguards fault.

Cycling clubs and group-rides the world over will have differing policies when it comes to mudguard usage. Some clubs will flat-out ban riders from joining if they don’t have full coverage, with the argument that if Rider A invests time and money into fitting full-length mudguards for the benefit of the riders behind them, it’s unfair to then have to sit in the permanent-shower behind Rider B’s uncovered wheel. This, combined with the minimally fussy fitting, makes the SKS Raceblade Pro XL Stealth Series better than any of its clip-on competitors - which generally either don’t fit as well or don’t offer as good protection. Value-wise they are a bit more expensive than the competition, but they are also readily available for less online. Mudguards are also a vital courtesy on group rides. Sit directly behind a bike that’s not fitted with mudguards on a wet ride and you’ll soon realise just how much water tyres can spray up. A long rear mudguard, preferably with a flap, keeps spray out of the face of the rider behind you. Many clubs and riding groups demand mudguards over the winter. These mudguards are useful for commuting bikes, especially where clearance might be an issue because of frame design and/or wide tyres. The simplicity of fitting makes them attractive, and they can be whipped off in a minute too. While these mudguards don't provide 100% protection compared to full-length options, they do keep a surprisingly large amount of spray off.If your road bike doesn't have mudguard mounts, there are still a lot of mudguards options available to you. Fenders – or mudguards – are seemingly going out of fashion. When I started riding a bike, it was a rule enforced on the club ride that mudguards must be used. Then, the ass saver started making appearances on weekly rides – and now even they are rare. It seems we’ve stopped caring about getting ourselves, our bikes and our riding buddies wet and muddy. Beyond that, the tyres are a weak point on many bikes. They’re an easy way for brands to cut costs and make a price point. Downgraded groupset components and wheels are really noticeable, but cheap tyres can slip under the radar. Changing to some of the best road bike tyres can improve handling, comfort, and speed.