My Bike Is My Car

A new addition to my commuter is a big, fat and ugly black leather mud guard. Leather mud guards are not easy to come by. Bicycle stores generally do not stock them. Brooks sells one, but it is quite expensive (it is stamped with the Brooks logo. I suppose that explains the hefty price). I found mine for a third the price at Velo-Orange. Assembly took less than five minutes (a drill is needed). I’m using one guard attached to the bottom of the front fender. Some people put mud guards on the back tire as well, but that is only to decrease the splash on anyone riding close behind.

With the first good rain I noticed a dramatic reduction in splash to the frame and feet. This is not a minor convenience, but a major addition to my foul weather preparedness and something I would recommend to anyone commuting in the rain. It’s remarkable how much water the guard prevents from splashing back and up. Get one if you ride for transportation.