mudguard

The SKS X-Blade is a brilliant solution for a wet bum when you don't want to fit full mudguards.

Seatpost-mounted clip-on mudguards sweep me back to South London housing estates where sinewy young men dripping in bling would swoosh through on mountain bikes so cool, you knew they were hot. Mercifully, the SKS X blade rear dirtboard leaves me with much happier memories. Made from a curious dual compound composite material, it oozes a highly engineered, rugged refinement synonymous with the German brand.

The San Marco Ass Saver is a simple and reasonably effective solution to keeping spray from soaking your bum when riding rain soaked roads. If you can't, or don't want to fit traditional full-length mudguards to your bike, and most racing bikes won't take them, this is better than nothing.

For anyone else despairing the lack of decent 650c mudguards - particularly removable ones - here's how to mod SKS Raceblade Longs to fit. Yorkshire Tea not included.

http://gateauvelo.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/sks-race-blade-long-and-650c-wh...

The clock has well and truly struck mudguard o'clock now, and there's plenty to choose from out there. Vavert is a brand you may not of heard of; they're fairly new to the game and their product range revolves around accessories that you can colour code to your bike. As such, the Fixed mudguard comes in five colours. Whichever you pick, you can be assured it'll do a good job at a low price.

If your road bike doesn't have eyelets then winter riding means one thing - a thick stripe of cack up your back. Round these parts that cack is distinctly organic, with a hint of nervous cow. Not so great, unless you're a big fan of e-coli, which is where snap-on guards like these DeFenders from Topeak come in.

SKS Race Blades have spawned a host of arguably competent imitators but few can match the superior materials, precision fit and legendary build quality backed by a five year warranty. Sure, they’re not comparable with the full- length type in terms of weather protection (for the bike at least) but they weigh a good deal less and will certainly win brownie points with the chain gang.

SKS Race Blades in situ

SKS Race Blades

SKS Race Blade Rear