MUDGUARDS

If you want to ride fast in the winter you’ll need a front mudguard. They’re not particularly cool, they’re not exactly sexy and rarely do much for the looks of your fancy bike, but they do an essential job in muddy conditions keeping dirt and water out of your vision so you can see where you’re going.

Early designs mounted to the down tube, but these days all the best models attach to the fork lowers. This is because it’s close to the tyre, so stops much more spray and it also tracks the wheel as you steer, so you’re always protected.

The best guards are the longest and work at all speeds. If you’re riding slowly, mud comes off the trailing edge of the tyre and is thrown upwards, but as speed increases it’s thrown further forward and you eventually ride into this spray. Having a mudguard that covers the full arc of mud trajectory is the best option.

Most modern mudguards use zip-ties to stay in place because they’re a cheap and easy solution, but we’re starting to see bolt-on options and a couple of these new designs are represented here. As ever, innovation tends to bring with it increased cost, and while the top-end models can set you back over £40, there are really simple guards available for less than a tenner.

CRUD PRODUCTS XL FENDER

£35

SPECIFICATION Weight: 190g • Length: 380/200mm • Contact: crudproducts.com

The Crud XL Fender is made from injection-moulded plastic and it attaches to the fork lowers via six thin rubber bands that stretch around the fork legs and are held by hooks on the opposite side. The rings are quite tight and can be tricky to pull over the hooks if you’re not careful, but they’re secure in place and allow you to remove the XL Fender easily to stop it getting bent or damaged in your car.

Unlike the RRP and Mudhugger, the Crud XL Fender is totally cut away in the centre, with just two rubber flaps overlapping the fork brace. This means you can tweak the tyre clearance and adjust it to fit different wheel sizes by sliding the mudguard up and down on the fork. There are two foam pads on the inside of the leg supports to stop the plastic scuffing the paintwork — ensure these are free of dirt and grit when fitting because that can be just as damaging.

Compared to the square moto styling of the RRP and Mucky Nutz, the Crud XL Fender is a little bit more tapered at the