Category Archives for Advice

OK, so you’ve bought the mountain bike or road bike, but it doesn’t come with fenders and mud would spray up from the tires all over you. Not to worry, there are plenty available on the market to buy that won’t set you back a fortune. There are many reasons as to why a cyclist may want to consider attaching fenders—or mudguards as they are known in the UK—to their road bike. But the main one is protection. Fenders, especially the rear fender, protect the brakes, as well as you and your clothes from getting splashed with water or mud as you ride through puddles or wet roads. They also protect the bike from dangerous elements such as debris, dirt, or sand that could cause significant damage over time.

Choosing the right fender for you

Like with most products these days, there are different variations of the road bike fender. So, now that you’ve made the decision to buy some, you just need to work out what type you need. The two main types of fender are:​

Other considerations

Before you make your road bike fender purchase you may also want to keep in mind:​

To give you a head start in your fender shopping expedition, below are a few of the most popular road bicycle fenders available currently:

1. Planet Bike Clip-Ons bike fenders

Price range: Mid

As far as clip-on bike fenders go, these are pretty good all around. They’re made of a weather resistant polycarbonate material that is hard-wearing and will last for years. You can clip them on and off with ease and they’ll fit on almost any bike. They’re very effective at keeping mud at bay and will make a great accessory to any bike.

Weight: 243 grams

Verdict: I love the sleek black look and the fact that they feel really sturdy too. However, you may need to use zip ties to keep them in place as they don’t feel mega secure when going over bumps.

Overall rating: 8/10

2. VeloChampion Rear Guard – Folding Road or MTB

Price range: Low

For a slightly more secure fitted bike fender you want to consider this model as a permanent fixture to your cycle. It’s simple yet effective design is flat at first then transforms into a curved mud guard once placed into your saddle’s rails. No tools or brackets are needed to fit this road bike bender either.

Weight: 20 grams

Verdict: These are extremely lightweight and you hardly even notice they’re there. They look good and provide adequate protection against the rain and mud. My only gripe is that they are a little on the flimsy side.

Overall rating: 9/10

3. SKS Raceblade Pro Bicycle Fender Set

Price range: High

If you’ve got a few dollars to spare then check these road bike fenders out. Made with a quick-release fitting system, these fenders provide great protection in even the worst of weather conditions. After some slight adjusting they can be removed and replaced in under 30 seconds and are fully disc brake compatible. They also have a paintwork protection film applied to keep them looking their best for longer.

Weight: 355 grams

Verdict: I love how solid these fenders feel and the ease at with which they can be put on. Definitely worth the extra money.

Overall rating: 10/10

4. Planet Bike 7058 Cascadia Fender Set Road

Price range: High

Another of the higher end models, these Planet Bike road bike fenders are very well built and, at 130 mm long, they provide more coverage than most standard models. Their all-weather-resistant coating means they can withstand even the harshest of weather conditions ensuring they remain looking their best for a long time.

Weight: 37 grams

Verdict: These fenders are very well made and will look great on any bike. They are a little awkward to fit, but once you have them on they do a great job at keeping you dry.

Overall rating: 9/10

5. BlueSunshine Adjustable Road Mountain Bike Fender Set

Price range: Low

If you want to add a splash of color to your bike, then look no further than these road bike fenders. Lightweight, easy to assemble, and available in a range of colors, these fenders will keep you looking fresh in the worst of weather. Made of high-quality synthetic fiber plastic, these fenders were built to last. They’re extremely stylish and will fit almost any road bike out there.

Weight: 203 grams

Verdict: They’re funky, they’re a great price, and they work well. And, considering they’re of the budget range, the quality isn’t too bad either. For the money you’re paying, what more could you ask for?

Overall rating: 10/10​

Saddle seats for road bikes must be the right size in order to be comfortable. Unlike with mountain bikes, where you are going short distances, you are setting yourself up for a whole lot of misery if you buy the wrong size seat and go on a long ride, even if that seat is otherwise high quality. The best bicycle seat on the market does you no good if it’s sized wrong, so first and foremost you need to focus on getting the right “bike fit” for your saddle seat.

Seats are available in a variety of widths and positions like the noseless saddle from good bike shops but the “right” size—at least according to experts—is the one that supports your sitz bones or “sit bone” area. This is the bony part of the pelvis where your leg and bottom join together. Though you can sit on and try out a variety of bicycle seats to find one that feels comfortable, your best bet for getting the right fit is to be fitted by a pro. Bike shops usually have sitz bone width sizing tools, so you’ll get a measurement that you can use to guide your buying choices.

Everybody is different, but by combining measurements with your general comfort level, chances are you’ll be able to get a saddle seat that is right for you.

Road saddles are usually V-shaped. They have a more pronounced seating area with a longer nose. Saddles for females typically have shorter noses, though.

​Saddle seats sometimes don’t look as padded as some of the other style seats available, but there are actually road bike saddle seats that are extremely padded. Just remember padding will add weight, so you’ll need to account for that if you’re racing. If your goal is comfort, you can get saddle-shaped seats that have added gel or thicker foam than normal. This can come in handy for recreational riders, but if you’re focused on time you’ll need to sacrifice padding.

Do All Saddle Seats Have Cutouts?

No, there are seats without cutouts, but most riders tend to prefer them from a comfort point of view. Cutouts offer relief and prevent pressure from building up on soft tissue during longer rides. Since saddle seats tend to be gender specific, the cutout can keep pressure minimal and enhance the pelvic tilt for greater comfort. This is especially true for riders that tend to have a forward tilting pelvis, which is nearly everyone.

One final note:

Saddle seats tend to be expensive, but they’re a good investment if you’re serious about riding. A quality saddle can last as long as a decade, so you’ll be making an investment. Of course, quality affects how long any seat lasts, so don’t assume that if you invest in a cheap road bike saddle seat you’ll be using it for the next 10 years. Seats made of synthetic leather tend to break down faster and cheaper seats usually have gel or foam that wears out faster.

What are the Best Road Bike Saddle Seats?

Fabric Scoop Pro Saddle

The Fabric Scoop Pro Saddle can be used on road and gravel. It is carbon fiber and nylon base offers shock-dampening assistance and it only weighs 198 g. We love it because it’s durable and offers high-performance, all-day comfort. There are three different shapes available that help you get the fit that’s right for your pelvic structure. There’s no pressure relief channel like you’ll find on other seats, but most riders think this is a very comfortable saddle option. It retails for about $150 to $200.

​WTB Women’s Deva Race SE Saddle

This saddle is designed for female road and cross-country riding. It features foam enhanced with vibration dampening gel. It’s heavier than some of the other saddles available, but it had a flat profile and is very comfortable because of the pressure relieving channel. It’s shortened nose and smooth edges make it good for standing and climbing. This is a great bargain saddle and retails for about $35.

ISM Adamo Road Saddle

This saddle is ideal for riders who struggle with perineum pressure when riding. This saddle is nose-less and is radically channeled with gel and foam padding. This allows for maximum blood flow and reduces pain on all length rides. Triathletes love this saddle because they spend so much time in the aero tuck position. The seat is made from quality materials and is long-lasting and tough. It has 100 mm of fore-aft rail adjustment, but riders usually sit further forward on this seat than they do on others. It retails for between $120 and $250.

Terry Carbon Butterfly

This women’s saddle seat has been around for several decades and is still a favorite among female riders. It’s designed to fit the shape of the female pelvis and was one of the first saddles designed with a woman’s body structure in mind. The overall design has stayed the same since the seat was introduced in 1999, but now it features much softer padding and is made from durable carbon rails so it weighs less than the original seat. Riders get support and comfort and a thin layer of shock-absorbent and fatigue-reducing gel. This saddle retails for about $185.

Brooks England Standard Saddle B17

This is a classic saddle. It’s made by Brooks, a company that has been making seats for more than a century. This saddle requires some breaking in and, initially, it’s uncomfortable. It features a full-grain leather cover, which, once broken in, adjusts to the body temperature of the rider. This means it will keep you cool on hot days and warm when you’re cycling on cold days. Breaking in the saddle also means riders will get a completely customized seat body if you’re willing to put up with some riding discomfort to break it in.

It features steel rails to ease road shock and provides long ride support. It also helps to cut down on chafing.

This seat is not everyone’s cup of tea, but we love it for a couple of reasons. First, it’s a classic. You know you’re riding on something reliable that’s been loved by cyclists for more than 100 years. Can something be that bad if it’s been popular for so long? And we love how customizable it is. You get a saddle custom made to your body, if you’re willing to put up with some riding discomfort to break it in.

This saddle is available in black and brown leather and retails from $95 to $180.​

If you’re a mountain biker in the market for new bike tires, you’ve likely already determined there are several different options—including tread patterns and front and rear tires. It can help to read reviews to narrow down your choices. This way you’re able to comparison shop and determine which tires will be best for you purposes.

Determining which tires you need comes down to a few important factors: size, width, and TPI or threads-per-inch rating.

Size-wise, slimmer tires tend to be faster, but the trade-off is stability. You won’t feel as stable riding on rough terrain when you’re on slim tires. Most mountain bike and trail bike tires are 26 inches or 29 inches, and typically have a width of more than 2 inches. 2.6 is the highest and strongest width available in standard mountain bike tires to tackle rough terrain.

As far as tread goes, you’ll want something with a lot of grip. Smoother tires are designed for smoother surfaces and you need something that can stand up to muddy, rocky trails and not make your rides any bumpier than they already are.

Once you know what size and other specs you’ll need, you can begin comparing the various bicycle tires on the market. Here are some that we think are the best options:

Schwalbe Hans Dampf

These tires are ideal for those who ride on a variety of different terrains. They are available in 27.5 inches and are tubeless. Riders love the great grip these tires provide on harder terrain, making them some of the safest tires you can buy. Unfortunately, they aren’t as durable as some of the other options and they are not appropriate for on-road rides. In general, they’re a great all-around tire that works when on several different surfaces. It’s also possible to inflate the tires more if you’re riding on harder, rockier terrain. The tires come with sidewall protection that reduces the risk for tearing even if you’re riding around sharper rocks. These tires are slow, but we like them because they give a great off-road performance that’s reliable and safe.

Maxxis Mammoth

These bicycle tires are a great option for hard-packed terrain and colder weather riding. They are 26 inches and tubeless. You’ll pay up for these tires, but we think it’s worth it. This tire tends to be faster, relative to off-road tires, due to the smaller profile center tread. We love this tire’s performance on harder-packed terrain, but it’s not the right tire for everyone, especially if you aren’t doing the majority of your riding on harder surfaces.

Michelin Wild Race’R

This tire is a great option for those riding on rockier terrain. It’s 29 inches and gives rear tire traction that helps with cornering. It’s also a durable tire, but you’ll pay up for quality. There are cheaper options available, but if it’s in your budget, you won’t regret investing in this tire.

We love that this Michelin tire is fast rolling that is ideal for dry conditions on all surfaces. It features a shallow, hard center that keep rolling resistance down, which means you’ll get fast acceleration and be able to dig into corners even when the terrain is loose. We also think it’s a good option for long distance riders. The only downside about this tire is how it handles the mud—if you’re riding in wet areas on a regular basis, you’ll want to opt for another tire.

Schwalbe Racing Ralph

This is a great tire if you’re tired of sacrificing speed and you’re willing to give up some durability for it. It’s available in a variety of sizes and offers great cornering. This tire has a cult following for riders who love speed and because it offers so much flexibility size-wise. Among the tires that offer speed for mountain biking, these offer the best support for riding through patches of looser dirt and mud—most of the faster tires available aren’t going to offer this. If you want faster race times and you’re OK with tires that wear out fast but help you get the time you want, these are a decent option.

Continental Trail King

These tires are ideal for those who spend a lot of their time on rocky terrain. They are 29 inches and handle well on just about any type of terrain. They aren’t the best mud option, but if you spend the majority of your rides on hard-pack rocks and loam, you’re going to love this tire. The tire has a soft, conforming feel that is still fast and durable. Most riders report they are surprised by their ability to corner and brake with this tire—they were expecting less based on the cost and look of the tire. You’ll find you slip on mud, so stick to dry trails when riding otherwise, this is a solid choice in mountain bike tires.

Schwalbe Rock Razor

If you’re looking for a tire that works well on rocky trails and you’re OK with slower riding, this is a great option. It comes in 26-inch and 27.5-inch sizes. It works great on rocky terrain but tends to slip when you break quickly. We love this tire for downhill use because it allows for fast acceleration and can continue to hold speed on a rocky terrain and corners well. Keep in mind it’s designed to be used only as a back tire. This tire isn’t going to work for you in loose or wet soil, so keep it away from muddy terrain.

WTB Wolverine

This tire is a great, versatile option that works well for simple mountain biking. It’s our top pick for beginners and for those who just want a simple choice and don’t need a lot of specialization. It comes in 26 inches or 27.5 inches. It works well on loose surfaces (as long as they aren’t too deep) and gives a decent amount of traction, especially for riders who aren’t pushing too hard. It’s great for general riding, but not “racing fast” and not durable enough to stand up to seriously hard riding.​