Chris Boardman’s most controversial post of 2020? Mudguards, he says

Yes, mudguards are essential on a bike you use every day. Not on the 'best' or 'discretionary use' bikes. I've been trying a set of Curana C-Lite mudguards on the Brian Rourke, since it was upgraded to everyday bike, as it has very tight clearances. So far, so good, though the rear brake bridge fitting is proving problematic, as there's not even enough clearance for a pop rivet head over the 25c tyre.

Definitely mudguards for me.

Have been soaked and claggied too many times on bikes that didn't have them.

Otoh, I can see the point of discarding them in an effort to get rid of weight, but I'm not in that class of rider.

'Nuff said.........

I got some mudflaps after reading a recycled article here (don't tell the ed). Made a difference to the bb.

My wife has sks mudguards which wrap round really well and no need for a flap.

I'm actually quite shocked at the dearth of bikes sold with guards as standard. No matter what bike shop you go to. Very few will have them. Even hybrids are sold sans guards!  Used to be that all bikes sold had guards as standard. The only exception being a race specific bike!  

Used to go to school with a guy who raced with his club. His guardless bike only came out for races and TT's or when weather was guaranteed to be dry all day. Otherwise everywhere he went was on a bike with guards. 

I will not like to spray coronavirus on my face.

I guess Chris doesn't have to worry about maintenance as he can whistle up a new bike pretty much any time he likes

I hate mudguards. They're ugly flappy things that come loose, rattle, get in the way or break. 

But they serve a purpose. Riding in the wet with a wet stripe up your back isn't much fun.

Reading the comments below fills me with shame for Britons. A once tough and resilient people, renowned for time trialing and track, turning soft and stooping to the use of mudguards on road bikes. All I can say is toughen up while you still can. What is the UK coming to? Almost time to emigate.

I honestly fail to see why this is so controversial: we spend oodles of money on clothing trying to stay warm and dry over the British winter, so why wouldn’t we want to fit mudguards to keep us and our bikes a bit drier and cleaner?

My deep winter bike has worn SKS chromoplastic ‘guards for 13 years and these have just been replaced for this winter with some alloy ‘guards from Kinesis. The latter have proved outstanding over the last three months and I am especially pleased with the mudflaps fashioned from the plastic headcard they came with. So not only do I stay relatively dry,  my bike is saved from vast amounts of muck thrown up from Yorkshire’s roads.

I wonder if some riders shy away from ‘guards as they feel less ‘pro’ using them. 

I used to worry that mudguards would spoil the look of my bike. But once I'd felt the chill of icy floodwater spattering up my arse crack, I was cured.

And there is something very liberating about being able to ride through wet farmyard slurry and sloshy roads without worrying about it. And without getting permanent oily splattermarks on your jersey.

Unless the mudguards pretty much go all the way to ground level and you select a tyre with a pattern which doesn't pick up and fling water in a roostertail then you are really only fitting them for your own benefit.

I always find it strange that people cite aesthetics as a reason for not running mudguards. Do they not look in the mirror? Seriously, it's not a good look!

Definitely mudguards - if you ever ride anywhere near other people. Back in the day, when I used to commute to the office, I would often be stuck behind slow cyclists just because the cloud of spray they put up was so large I couldn't overtake without ending up looking like I had wrestled a pig.

No mudguards is just anti-social.

'Clean lines'? That's a defence that is catapulted through the window on any bike with disc brakes - and knobblies. 

Mudguards, obviously.  We live in the UK.

Although I finally have a "summer bike" without, the usual steed has mudguards.
 

Mudguards protect following riders too and show that you are a considerate person.