Zefal mtb fenders, "dremeled" by default??

I got another set of those zefal CAB's, this time for the $8 Rockhopper
(See my thread on this) and was hoping that they wouldn't be warped like
the ones on the roadie (they were on sale, so it's not a huge deal). Well
of course they were--Nashbar must have a really hot warehouse or
something, since that CAB material is impossible to un-warp--mitigated
with the struts, so no biggie...

Anyhow, these fenders are WIDE--I forgot how wide 60mm is compared to my
35s, and the fender is cut away on one side where it attached to the
chainstay bridge. Apparently this is to offer chain clearance when you're
rocking a granny--but the cut out is pretty extreme and jaggy. Could sand
it down I guess.

Wondering if they ship like this or did somebody "dremel" them and return
them to Nashbar? Either way, they're pretty bulletproof fenders for $19,
and I can live with the cutout if that's the way they're supposed to be. I
really like the non-safety stays, as they look traditional and once you
mount them, they're done.

The seat stay hangar, as on all Zefal fenders I've used, is gimpy--but
it's just a matter of replacing with a L shaped piece of sheet metal and
some real screws.

In article ,
maxo writes:

Anyhow, these fenders are WIDE--I forgot how wide 60mm is compared to my
35s, and the fender is cut away on one side where it attached to the
chainstay bridge. Apparently this is to offer chain clearance when you're
rocking a granny--but the cut out is pretty extreme and jaggy. Could sand
it down I guess.

Wondering if they ship like this or did somebody "dremel" them and return
them to Nashbar?

My MTB rear Freddy Fender has a similar cutout, but the
cut is smooth and neat. So maybe the cutout on your
Zefal is supposed to be there but somehow got gibbled
during manufacturing, hence the discount price?

Either way, they're pretty bulletproof fenders for $19,
and I can live with the cutout if that's the way they're supposed to be. I
really like the non-safety stays, as they look traditional and once you
mount them, they're done.

I've lost just about all the rubber tips on my Freddy Fender
stays. Next time I'll stick 'em on with rubber cement or
sumpthin'. The stock mudflaps are still hanging in there,
though.


cheers,
Tom

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On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 13:31:48 -0800, Tom Keats wrote:


My MTB rear Freddy Fender has a similar cutout, but the cut is smooth and
neat. So maybe the cutout on your Zefal is supposed to be there but
somehow got gibbled during manufacturing, hence the discount price?

I'll buy that--no biggie, I'm just a little annoyed that both pairs I got
from them were warped--something they should have noticed. The CAB
material they're made from is pretty cool so I'm keeping them. It's an
aluminum/plastic sandwich. Tough as nails.


Either way, they're pretty bulletproof fenders for $19, and I can live
with the cutout if that's the way they're supposed to be. I really like
the non-safety stays, as they look traditional and once you mount them,
they're done.

I've lost just about all the rubber tips on my Freddy Fender stays. Next
time I'll stick 'em on with rubber cement or sumpthin'. The stock
mudflaps are still hanging in there, though.

I usually just cut the stays down so they don't stick out and the fit
looks custom.

Do the Freddie fender mudflaps really work? I like the quality as I've
seen them up close in the bike shop, and the mudflap looks nice, but the
fender still seems too short. Do you still get toe-spray? With the zefals
and a milk carton flap, it's pretty much zero spray unless I'm going over
20mph, where it goes around the fender.Not as handsme as the Freddie
Fenders, but hey, it works.

In article ,
maxo writes:

Do the Freddie fender mudflaps really work?

I've heard some moans & groans from other people about them
falling off, but mine continue to stand up to some pretty
hard and constant use.

I like the quality as I've
seen them up close in the bike shop, and the mudflap looks nice, but the
fender still seems too short.

Really?? Mine go all the way down. I'm pretty sure
they'd be randonneur legal.

Do you still get toe-spray?

That depends on my speed and the wind speed/direction.
But toe clip covers can fix that.

What I'd really like to do is fabricate (or have made)
some spats -- ones that cover shoe-toes and go up the
shins, but not behind (around the calves.) Those, plus
a rain cape, helmet cover, and decent fenders should
render a rider quite impermeable to rain, while
maintaining cooling/moisture-evaporating air flow.

Screw GoreTex.


cheers,
Tom

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(Tom Keats) wrote in
:

What I'd really like to do is fabricate (or have made)
some spats -- ones that cover shoe-toes and go up the
shins,

I had some old used up MEC foam booties that I was going to toss
because the zippers were toast but instead cut the toes off from the
beginning of the heel to just above the shoe lace line. They are the
most useful easy-to-put-on-keep-your-feet-warm-and-dry things you can
imagine.

On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 19:09:33 -0800, Tom Keats wrote:

What I'd really like to do is fabricate (or have made) some spats -- ones
that cover shoe-toes and go up the shins, but not behind (around the
calves.) Those, plus a rain cape, helmet cover, and decent fenders should
render a rider quite impermeable to rain, while maintaining
cooling/moisture-evaporating air flow.

How old fashioned! I love it! Do the spats have decorative buttons up the
side? :P Not a bad idea though, some type of "spats" type cover that's
waterproof up front and breathable in the back. That said, I did a 30 mile
drizzle ride yesterday in cotton socks with my flap setup and only the
ankle part of my socks got wet.

I do covet a rain cape! It would go well with a bobby helmet--but the
neighbors think I'm nutty enough...

Gore-tex I don't mind, I've got a fab Gill rain jacket that's served me
well for years. What it's really about is the construction. Mine's really
well vented. Gore-tex breathes, but in no way can catch up with a sweaty
cyclist. A rain cape would certainly be a better choice for a low speed
commuter.

On the fender length issue, are the Freddies as full coverage as these
zefals? (note that the lighter bit on the bottom of the front is an
improvised mudflap):

http://photos1.flickr.com/2634911_5897979186_o.jpg

Tom Keats wrote:
I've lost just about all the rubber tips on my Freddy Fender
stays. Next time I'll stick 'em on with rubber cement or
sumpthin'. The stock mudflaps are still hanging in there,
though.

I use presta valve caps to replace them. I glue mine now.

In article ,
maxo writes:
On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 19:09:33 -0800, Tom Keats wrote:

What I'd really like to do is fabricate (or have made) some spats -- ones
that cover shoe-toes and go up the shins, but not behind (around the
calves.) Those, plus a rain cape, helmet cover, and decent fenders should
render a rider quite impermeable to rain, while maintaining
cooling/moisture-evaporating air flow.

How old fashioned! I love it!

And I've just found a tentative source for ready-made ones.

Do the spats have decorative buttons up the
side? :P

No, just a sort of pocket that slips over the toe of
your shoe and, I'd expect, cordura/velcro straps to
hold them up.

Not a bad idea though, some type of "spats" type cover that's
waterproof up front and breathable in the back. That said, I did a 30 mile
drizzle ride yesterday in cotton socks with my flap setup and only the
ankle part of my socks got wet.

I do covet a rain cape! It would go well with a bobby helmet--but the
neighbors think I'm nutty enough...

You hang around a lot at your local Abercrombie & Fitch, don'cha? :-)

Gore-tex I don't mind, I've got a fab Gill rain jacket that's served me
well for years. What it's really about is the construction. Mine's really
well vented. Gore-tex breathes, but in no way can catch up with a sweaty
cyclist. A rain cape would certainly be a better choice for a low speed
commuter.

It's tried-&-true technology. I dunno why people insist
on ignoring and discounting things that have worked in
the past. I'm really not terribly concerned about speed
in the rain anyway.

On the fender length issue, are the Freddies as full coverage as these
zefals? (note that the lighter bit on the bottom of the front is an
improvised mudflap):

http://photos1.flickr.com/2634911_5897979186_o.jpg

Pretty much so, yup. The mudflaps that come with
Freddy Fenders are probably stubbier and maybe not
as wide. But they /look/ like mudflaps. Anyhow, the
front fender goes down to BB level, and the mudflap
continues down from there. The rear fender starts
at the chainstay bridge; the tail end plus the mudflap
goes down to BB level. I do occasionally get wet toes.
The spats will fix that.


cheers,
Tom

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In article ,
Mike Latondresse writes:
(Tom Keats) wrote in
:

What I'd really like to do is fabricate (or have made)
some spats -- ones that cover shoe-toes and go up the
shins,

I had some old used up MEC foam booties that I was going to toss
because the zippers were toast but instead cut the toes off from the
beginning of the heel to just above the shoe lace line. They are the
most useful easy-to-put-on-keep-your-feet-warm-and-dry things you can
imagine.

That's a good idea. I always figured full booties were
rather overkill, when it's basically the front parts of
shoes & socks that really get wet. Don't need no NASA
spacesuit just to ride in the rain.


cheers,
Tom
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-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca