This winter, I decided that I needed to do whatever I could to protect my chain, downtube, and bottom bracket from all the salt and road spray.
So, I rigged up a DIY fender extender and have been riding with it for months now.
After every ride, I do tend to wipe my chain and any parts that got sprayed, but I’m blown away by how clean the bike stays simply by having that front fender extender.
The photo shows the fender extender, held in place using duct tape (didn’t want to drill holes in the fender, although, some fenders are designed so fender extenders can be put on easily). It’s held like this through numerous puddles and all kinds of weather, so “it works”. Make it out of a plastic file folder, which I got from Walmart for a few dollars. I can probably make another 3 out of the single file folder.
The only downside I see, which can probably be tweaked by trimming the extender to mitigate it, is that it causes more drag as it acts like a mini sail that’s always working against you. LOL I’m not racing with this bike, so it’s a small sacrifice for keeping it clean! I’m sure someone more crafty could come up with a design that could be easily removed, although, my setup only requires you to pull the tape off. Easy enough.
Do the same on back and be amazed how clean your back/neck/helmet stays too…it feels like whenever there is some crap on the roads/paths existing mudguards are just that little bit too short to be worth a damn
I have full fenders in the rear, so I never get splashed on my back/but/head.
But I am considering putting a fender extender on the rear to keep my bike trailer from getting sprayed.
No joke at all! Bike trailers come as child trailers, cargo trailers, and even pet trailers! So many brands make them, and they work with just about any bike😀
I’ve had a burley travoy, like a dolly that attaches to your seat post, and an old burley bee, it attaches to the wheel hub. They make it possible to do large infrequent grocery runs and pick up stuff I would have to rent a car to do otherwise. Much cheaper and more flexible than a cargo bike as well.
The BEST use of political candidate signs I ever saw was as DIY fender extensions
What are they made of? In my area they are either wood or a plastic bag with no handles stretched over a metal rod bent into a boxy U
I usually see them made of Fluted polypropylene, it looks like cardboard but it’s plastic, and has holes to stick metal stakes in
Usually corrugated cardboard coated in plastic. So strong, thin-ish, and waterproof.
Is this front?
I’m sure it actually (wheel tread ambigious) is as you say it is but it sure could be the rear fender.
Wish I had known this hack bike commuting in Oregon for years. Only concern I could see is getting too far from the support wire, but like you said, some one craft could probably get another one in. Big wind it could push back against the tire and rub.
Is this front?
Yes. You can see the rear wheel in the background 😉
Only concern I could see is getting too far from the support wire, but like you said, some one craft could probably get another one in. Big wind it could push back against the tire and rub.
The fender supports don’t interfere with the extender on my bike. Some fender supports are designed differently, so they can be used to help fix the extender to the fender.
Wind, even riding in 40km+ headwind, has not bent this extender back. The curved shape keeps it strong. If I were to go over a curb, it will bend back before returning to its original shape. So it’s designed not to break (or over stress the fender if you hit it), but also to not bend when it’s not desired.
Wish I had known this hack bike commuting in Oregon for years. Only concern I could see is getting too far from the support wire, but like you said, some one craft could probably get another one in. Big wind it could push back against the tire and rub.
Yeah, I’ve just had cheaper/ crappier fenders get pushed back, and then the rubbery bits got pulled into the wheel.
It needs to be shaped like a scoop, and not a flap. A slightly more rigid material (i.e. thin plastic sheet) would be better than something softer.
Most fender extenders you can buy are rubber, but they aren’t nearly as long as the one I made, and thus, not nearly as effective.
It’s the back of the front wheel, which is why it looks weird I think. Thought it was supposed to be the front of the front!
yeah what got me was that it’s actually not on the bike. with the other bike in the frame I thought “oh they are working in/ tuning up all their bikes”, thinking this was just the front wheel of another bike (out of frame).
It’s on the bike, the tire is just turned a bit too the side so that the back of the tire is more prominent since that’s where the fender extension is. The frame and rear tire visible are for this bike
I never used fenders it was “unnecessary added weight”. Now I commute every day so I put them on … and I have to say that they are not unnecessary.
Yeah, I bought my commuter hybrid bike with fenders. People were like why do you want to ruin the look with fenders? As they have wet lower pants, and turn around and have a muddy stripe splashed up their back. The only time it became a problem was switching to winter studded tires, and snow would sometimes build up inside the fender, but they have those adjustable posts to move it up off the tire some and that did the trick.
I make mine out of a thick piece of leather which works great too.
Yeah, I’m vegan, so leather was out. I couldn’t find a similar piece of rubber or silicone, so I went with something cheap and easy to get. LOL
Did you screw yours into the fender or mount it in some other way?
Wasn’t meaning to knock yours. Just throwing that option out there for others. I appreciate your post because it’s one of those things that can make a big difference in keeping people riding year round. I drill two holes about an inch apart vertically and use small bolts with washers and locking nuts. I put the leather on the inside so it takes the curve of the fender and looks nice.
I didn’t take it as a knock at all! I saw plenty of leather ones, which helped to give me ideas for size/shape, it’s just not a material I choose to use.
I drill two holes about an inch apart vertically and use small bolts with washers and locking nuts.
Nice! I think I may do that if I decide to keep this as a permanent fixture. 👌
Vegan to vegan: What are your thoughts on reclaimed leather, like the tongue from a broken work boot? It is going to get landfilled. So my thinking is that has less impact on our planet, than molding a new rubber or plastic flap. But small enough market where it doesn’t generate demand for people selling old workboots to upgrade. Thoughts?
Reclaimed leather doesn’t contribute to animal (ab)use, so I don’t really have any ethical problems with people buying or using it.
I find certain animal products (leather or fur) to be off-putting, but that’s a personal thing. If you have use for them, and you’ve already got them (or can get them second-hand), I don’t see anything wrong with that.
We donated all of our fur years ago, and I think the only leather in our home are old knife sheaths and patches on old jeans. 😂
