Much like cold weather outerwear, fenders or mudguards are a regional requirement: critical in some places, laughable in others. If you live in a place with regular seasonal precipitation, fenders are a necessity. As someone who grew up in New England and has spent the last decade in the PNW, I’ve tried nearly every type of fender there is, and I have learned a few things along the way. For those of you in an arid or semiarid climate, you can skip this one: go ahead and enjoy your dry roads, cloudless skies and the knowledge that while you may live in a riding paradise, you are soft. (Only joking.)
I live in Seattle, Wash., which sees roughly 150 rainy days a year. For the vast majority of those days, it’s just kind of a drizzle. Staying in when roads are wet would mean never getting to ride your bike. And while it’s not much fun to get caught in a downpour, riding in the rain can be pleasant if you have the right gear. A breathable, water-shedding jacket, warm gloves, and shoe coverings are helpful, but the most important piece of equipment is a pair of fenders/mudguards. Here’s why: when it’s raining, most of the water is on the ground. Well-fitted fenders keep it that way.
