How To Extend Your Fenders & Never Get Dirty On The Bike!

[@gcntech]

What hacks do you have for staying clean when riding in wet weather? ☔

[@Hardi26]

Because I use a front camera and head lights on my bike. I have extended the front mudguard also to ahead too about 10 cm. It helps to keep camera lens cleaner and the light too.

[@CyclingLifePT]

Hack number 1: Stay home. End of list. If you ride in the rain, don't fight the elements. Embrace them instead. Learn how to ride while you are soaking wet, you will only get wet once. After that, you are already wet, you cannot get even more wet. You can be wet but comfortable, or wet and cranky. Being wet and cold is also not good. Also, don't extend you mudguards that much, just drive straight and avoid sharp turns (you should be doing that because the road is wet anyways). This will prevent most of the water from rising to your feet. Also, reduce the speed over potholes/puddles (You never know what lies beneath the surface and i've seen serious crashes because of that) and it also saves a lot of splash to your feet.

[@walcottav]

Always mudguards, though I confess I ride before or after rain these days but I still like to be dry and spend less time cleaning myself and the bike after! Plus there's the added benefit of the mudguards catching sealant spray should you puncture. 😁

[@neilcampion5265]

This on hack or bodge yet? I’m feeling compelled to vote 😂

[@FML22]

Alex, does your bike have a bridge between the chainstays? My bike has wishbone seatstays and no chainstay bridge either, so I’m having trouble finding fenders that will work.

[@cb6866]

Thanks Alex and crew....thats a bodge !

[@palmer3977]

Hack surely.

[@sweepsp8468]

When drilling the mudguard with the wheel in place put a bit of wood or thick plastic between the guard and wheel to prevent accidents

[@danalbert5785]

Zip tie job is never complete until a match is used to melt the cut end to form a smooth ball end. This solves the sharp end that Si is terrified of.

[@gcntech]

Great little hack 🙌

[@tangoengineering]

Just use proper flush cut side cutters

[@Bandit1379.]

You can also use a razor blade to cut the sharp end flush.

[@andrewpalmer]

Ohhh, a 'ball end'. My brain read ball as bell and I was mightily confused!

[@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589]

guaranteeing that you'll never be able to release it with a sharp blade if you need to, then reuse the tie #bodge

[@hawkeye5035]

Mudguards (fenders) are great; I have done this modification (with purpose-specific flaps), and I even added a flap to the front of the front fender. It gets really wet in the PNW, and I was getting spray off the top of the front tire, year-round bike commuting!

[@JonCannings]

Mudguards are brilliant. I wouldn't have/use a winter bike without them!

[@palmer3977]

Mine are on all year.

[@markusmencke8059]

I used sections cut from a PET bottle in the past. Pretty good because they are pre-shaped and keep the form. For fastening, I used rivets (the kind you can apply using specific pliers, don’t know what they are called in English, sorry). For cutting zip ties - I use my normal nail clippers, or heavy-duty nail scissors. A pretty clean cut, no sharp edges. But I have switched to mud guards that are pretty adjustable in position, and are fastend by rubber bands to the frame (SKS Raceblade). Saves a lot of hassle, once you have set them up correct one time.

[@robest334]

Did that to my mud guard. I made a mud flap extension using some scraps of leather. Then attached the leather mud flap to my plastic mud guard using leather rivets and a setter tool. To prevent the leather mud flap from soaking water, i brushed some acrylic varnish on the flesh side of the leather. Looks fancy and added some "value" to my bland mud guard.

[@GCNalex]

A leather mud flap, well i never thought of that. Top work

[@gcntech]

Oooo very nice! Sounds very stylish, is it on an old school looking bike too? 👀

[@robest334]

@@gcntech its on modern folding bike. ☺️

[@sethgriffiths6539]

I have mudguards that offer additional protection to my front mech and chain by wrapping around the rear tyre extra deep and stop the spray getting out of the side. The mech and chain stay free of grit and water and last longer through winter too.

[@pakamac]

Rather than using the GCN Ass Savers or similar flat section after market products, a better solution is to search for plastic containers that have a similar curvature radius to your mudguards and install sections as per Ollie's instructions. The add-n to the front mudguard for protecting you from face spray is best made from a section of old mudguard as this provides necessary stiffness. BTW, there are many comments from those who consider this modification a bodge ( appearance, aerodynamics etc.). The writers of these negative comments should be made to ride in the wet in a group whose members have inadequate or no mudguards., then asked to resubmit their comments.

[@drevo50]

Thank you Alex. Coming to my bikes this weekend!

[@daveyboy79]

I had visions of Alex drilling into the tyre at one stage. The resulting sealant spraying everywhere would have certainly qualified it for the outtakes video at the end of the year. 🤣

[@tomistaven]

i used to use an old mtb tyre or bmx tyre that id cut to size. works a treat and was free.

[@Spolingen]

Is that a thru axle adapter mount for your sks mudguards?

[@fcfaby]

might also be helpful to do the same (or similar) with the rear mudguard towards the bottom bracket

[@jeremynorth]

That's a great point, water splashes in all directions

[@markstone722]

A plastic fabric conditioner bottle would be alot cheaper and work the same way plus its upcycling 👍

[@emmabird9745]

Hi Alex, another good one. I like your idea. Nice "Hack/bodge of the week"? I always use mudguards because wet and mud spoil a ride for me and I'm not subject to the UCI muguard ban. A couple of suggestions: When drilling with the wheel in place put a strip of wood or similar ( a bit of formica or even metal works too) between mudguard and tyre as a barrier to your drill. I've fitted my rear mudguard (deliberately) too far foeward so that the front edge is slightly below the chain. It cobsiderably reduces the crud on the chain etc.

[@jonasvieth]

Sadly not seen in the close up but I am sure Alex was wearing protective goggles while drilling 😉

[@armadillito]

This is the kind of video that I subscribed for!

[@ariffau]

“Measure once cut twice” ??? I’m pretty sure it’s the other way round 😂

[@GCNalex]

🤣Jokes are always best said with a serious face

[@ariffau]

@@GCNalex good save 😉

[@hugotrudel]

When I was young, I thought that mud guards were ugly (only good for grandmothers') and riding in the wet was very fun (and wet). Now that I am older (and supposedly wiser) and that I use my bike to go to work the most times that I can (even in Canadian winter), I have found out that mud guards, even though they are not much nicer to look at than when I was young, allow me to get to work, hit all the puddles (or water or of melting snow) I see (as much fun as when young!) but now, I get to work or return from ride and do not have ton of laundry to do (also less in a hurry to get in the shower after a ride)! They are a must to ride in the wet, especially when it is cold...

[@eoayeni5287]

Nice one Alex👌🏾

[@sch79]

Looks good. Have used bottle or flexible rubber in the past. Velo Orange sells rubber and leather ones.

[@anthonybaxendale887]

Oh no, cable ties, how could you do that to poor old Si 🤣

[@philadams9254]

I've always wondered why mudguard manufacturers don't make these as standard?

[@klarkolofsson]

They would need to be adjustable depending on bike and tyre size but yes, everyone needs mud flaps on their mudguards.

[@philadams9254]

@@klarkolofsson Adjustable is doable - you could just have a screw or some sort of clip-in/velcro system

[@galenkehler]

Not a bad start, Alex! 👏 Just a few inches short all around: 1. Both extensions need to be a little longer. I always use the ground as a measure, if they touch, that's ideal, cause the wind will keep them from dragging as you ride. 2. Needs quite a bit more in the front, as the current setup will still get your face. The top of the front fender needs to curve over the top of the front wheel (pro tip, use a rear mudguard in the front as they have more length. 3. Needs a bit more length in the rear fender around the BB. Should extend past the lower run of the chain to keep the drivetrain clean. 6/10 for a great beginning though!

[@galenkehler]

Bonus points: Install an anti-splash layer on the extra flaps to attenuate the spray as it hits the fender flap. I use neoprene for this as it absorbs the energy of the water and prevents the splash from getting onto your feet. Extra side skirts on the rear fender can really help with drivetrain cleanliness. A small peice of plastic overtop of the brake calipers as a roof saves them from being covered with grit and rubbing the rotors.

[@Bandit1379.]

Just because the Ass Saver doesn't have a horizontal bend at the bottom (like the Toetector and Brotector they also make, check those out!) doesn't mean you can't add the bend yourself, I did that when I added a modified Ass Saver as a flap on my bike. For my ebike I swapped the stock flaps my fenders came with for the reflective version of the Toe/Brotector and it works great!

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

Quite a curious topic from Alex. I thought he was all about form over function. Goes to show, we all have a modicum of practicality somewhere!

[@SayMyName2674]

Thank you for tutorial! I have the same bike and the same problem of missing holes for attaching the protection. So I’m wondering: What is the model of mudguards? Any “hacks” used to attach it to thru axle?

[@Hdtjdjbszh]

made some out of reflective black vinyl, looks black in the day, reflects under car headlights.

[@paulcollingridge8387]

Bodge! I would use nylon nuts & bolts in the correct colour to make it a hack!

[@joeshmoe7967]

I went stainless. Nylon would be good if easily available.

[@paulcollingridge8387]

@@joeshmoe7967 I bought a box of 1000 assorted from amazon for a few pounds several years back.... They've saved me many times, and because they're less common they can look like they were a factory part!

[@marvmininger1835]

Did Si approve of the use of zip ties? LOL!

[@wenschobert]

Measure once, cut twice... the same way as I'm working on my bike... this is why I have to go to the LBS now for ruining something ... AGAIN... :D

[@jacobatherton8339]

Mudguards like these save your drive train from road spray as well!!!

[@craigmaberly8561]

It's measure twice cut once Alex. Mudguard are great.

[@eyelovelil]

The rule is “Measure Twice, Cut Once”

[@tonymc90]

Added mudguard extension yesterday, using plastic from a screen wash bottle. Seriously, using a £10 ass saver as an extension, not in this lifetime. Plus drilling mudguards with wheel on 🫣 Otherwise, good video

[@LegSpinna]

👍for mudguards.

[@moonwrasse]

Raw mudflaps are brilliant. Same idea

[@makeitwithmurm]

@gcn tech do you have any plans to test any of the "AI bikefit" phoneapps that have started popping up?

[@Ruggine85]

I can hear Si screaming in the background at those zip ties 7:36

[@joeshmoe7967]

1:37....there is the problem with mud guards....One may think that they get all the spray from behind the front tire, as indicated by how short the front of the guard extends. My experience is when riding fast, spray shoots UP, way in front of the guard shown here, and you ride through the spray. On my MTB, I found there are ZERO guards that will extend beyond a few inches past the fork stabilizer, and are therefore useless. My solution was to buy a rear and make a bracket to mount the fender a good 10 inches further. I still get some spray protection from the back, but the spray in the face was the real issue. It was annoying in rain, but in mud or salty slush in winter it gets old real fast.

[@ภูธฤทธิ์โชคเหมาะ-ท5ฐ]

Yes

[@janwillemkuilenburg7561]

Wow! This gets the most massive aero penalty of the year! Where is Ollie?

[@tangoengineering]

What about the bit of mudgaurd missing be hind the seat tube

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

Alex! What are you doing?? You look like a Belgian riding that thing 🤣👍

[@bolandbohlecke]

SKS Longboards, flaps are already installed, you don't have to bodge some ass savers on, no need for cable/zip ties. Problem solved.

[@BTcycle]

The new Win Wing from Ass Savers is a lifesaver. No spray on my behind on a wet ride.

[@carlk1183]

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA! WWSS (What Would Si Say)? Zip ties? Did Si faint? LOL, score 1 for zip ties!

[@georgeskinner2474]

You didn't do a test ride in the wet to prove your modification works well! I wonder if the added flaps are too flexible. I was thinking of doing something like this, but with a length of wire added to provide some stiffness.

[@armadillito]

Just beware the hazard that could pose if you crash...

[@phil_d]

Shouldn't this video have been broadcast in November 🤣 And a trick missed not protecting the front mech, especially for mechanical mechs where you have a cable running out of the frame....

[@GCNalex]

Hey, a very good point and since filming this, i ended up re drilling the hole on the mudguard by the front mech and rotating it round more for that reason. Great suggestion, cheers

[@andrdube]

You forgot to add or modify the upper part of the front mudguard. When you ride facing the wind, you get a lot of water from the front part of the wheel.

[@joeshmoe7967]

or just riding fast....the spray shoots up and you ride through it. Definitely extend 6-8 inches. It is a pain that no manufacturer a really good front. It is even worse for MTBs.

[@axelschneider1678]

That's a bodge. Not a hack. The hack would have been buying two sets of mud guards, combine them and therefore prolonging them. Also would have been a good opportunity to show off pop rivits.

[@GCNalex]

double cost though, mud flaps like these cost a few £/$ and weigh very little. But the addition of pop rivits does sound appealing.

[@axelschneider1678]

@@GCNalex true. However any parts bin in a bike coop is usually filled with mudguards. Or they can be sourced from Facebook marketplace and the like...

[@grndkntrl]

@@GCNalex True, although I've seen job lots of SKS mudguards on eBay UK from small bike shops, which have missing parts, have become mismatched, due to opened packaging, or customer returns due to wrong size/bad fit etc, going for pretty cheap every few weeks or so.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

Come on Alex. Submit that to Hack or Bodge.

[@gcntech]

It's a hack from us!!! 🙌

[@weeringjohnny]

That front flap doesn't look very aero. Oliie's not going to like that.

[@GCNalex]

Over 50kph it flaps back in the wind hahaha

[@gcntech]

Shhhhhh don't tell Ollie! 🤫

[@a1white]

@@gcntech or let Si see those Zip-ties 😂

[@TomTravelling]

Alas, would rub against our 30cm+ deep snow in Canada...

[@LykaByka]

I did exactly this at the beginning of winter, but instead of drills and zipties, I simply attached the extension using a hot melt glue gun..(having ensured it would mlet the mudguard or extensio first !)... No ziptie = hack ?

[@ales_krejci]

I was actually surprised how much of water and dirt gets into the air from the upper side of the front wheel and then directly into my face :-D And I have similarly long front mudguard, should be even much longer probably.

[@faquir28]

To be honest, I think his modification is still not good enough. If the front fender is extended, it should be as wide and long as possible. It is useless to just make it longer.

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

I love it! I hate it! Mudguards..

[@aarinyorke7312]

I wonder why you did not get Si to do this video? Zip Tie = Bodge!

[@stehgrad]

I hate to tell you, but SKS is offering mudguard extensions which you just can clip in. At least for my Bluemels.

[@jeskli11]

Try riveting the mud flaps instead of zip tying them. Looks way more legit.

[@mattmatthews5414]

“Flaps” “less cool” Now I gotta swap my black rubber flaps for some that match my paint or decals.

[@Afrikakorps68]

Min 07'23": "...this is actually looking pretty good!" Ah!Ah!Ah!Ah!Ah!Ah!Ah!Ah!

[@RaynerGuitar7]

Hack or bodge. Simon Richardson; “this is clearly a bodge because he used a zip tie. Zip ties have no place on a bike.”

[@scottlstone]

Great it’ll keep my feet dry but I’ll be the laughing stock with all the other riders!

[@gcntech]

They can laugh all you like, at least your feet are dry! 🙌

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

They won’t be laughing when they are riding on wet roads behind you. You’ll have a popular wheel to sit on.

[@savagepro9060]

1:10 take them off in winter time or in summer time?🤔 . . . 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mikewallis5937]

What a bodge, with lovely sharp edges to the cable ties, at least use flush cutters instead of side cutters

[@bolandbohlecke]

A nail clipper would do the job too.

[@thereelnickk]

That’s definitely a bodge! 😂

[@russstarke6004]

You really should have included Si in this project.

[@hoopdoggydogg]

Si will be happy about those zip ties

[@leightondavies8884]

Shocking looking… no way Jose

[@ltrtg13]

Was Si screaming at the TV/monitor when Alex said he was going to use zip ties to hold the mud flaps in place? Did Si say Alex should work for GMBN as Doddy loves zip ties?

[@GuionB]

Would’ve been nice to see a test.

[@mikehoffman3690]

Learned about a new cycling term/product today ‘ass saver’. 🤓

[@joeshmoe7967]

The saying is: "Buy nice, or buy twice..."

[@edzporn]

Pop Rivets better job than Zip ties

[@paulmorrison30]

I think you’ll find it’s measure twice cut once 🤔

[@stevehughes975]

Damn that's an ugly bodge on an otherwise nice looking bike.

[@petergoebelsmann4631]

Very good idea to enlarge the mudguards. But the printdesign of your ass-saver is creepy 😉

[@Erhan_H]

Is it legal to use zip tie in an official GCN video?

[@Pipsicle330]

The useless standard fit mud guards on my Riese and Muller bought me here……

[@stuartfreedman6854]

Total bodge. Effective yes, but a bodge. And I'd be worried about catching my toe on the flap at the front when turning if the wet stuff is pushing back on the flap.

[@two-eyedRoy]

SO. MUCH. DRAG. 🙃😁 I bet Ollie just has one fat ziptie down the wheel centreline instead for the aero g a i n s .

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

Do we need to be shown. I mean what diminished creton can figure two screws to attach a piece of plastic 🤣👍

[@a1white]

Zip-ties?! Hope Si hasn’t watched this video 😅. It’s a hack from me though.

[@davidevans9888]

I refuse to put mudguards on my road bike, just no. Cross bike has full mudguards however.

[@BikesKomsCRO]

Yeah that's a no.. Not going to happen.

[@peter04345]

Thanks, but you just ruined a good set of mudguards

[@michaelpeppersack8599]

measure twice ! cut once!

[@julianamccaffree7925]

Hack or Bodge? I think this is a bodge lol really not a fan of how it looks like on such a cool bike. Maybe a black ass saver would look a bit better than the GCN one.

[@thsaintful]

Thanks Bob, but it's a bodge for me

[@jw3638]

Si: Zip ties?! 😤

[@wildsurfer12]

Can you modify them so that they don’t scratch the paint off your bike?

[@GCNalex]

Just some tape in the correct places is enough, i mentioned this is the video 😄

[@helion741]

Don't go anywhere near Si with this bike. 😀

[@gcntech]

Hahaha it's one way to keep him off your wheel! 😂

[@edlazda3245]

Hack or bodge? 😆

[@chrisnumnuts8671]

when turning with the said mudguard you come a cropper and break your neck .bad mod

[@jed1mstr]

Zip ties? BODGE

[@tomgruitt6563]

Never used them!

[@thecoffeeblog]

Definetely not a GCN "super nice" award. Very uncool upgrade. Sometimes I rather be covered in mud