Fox poo mudguard mishap! - Mudguard safety concerns...

[papasmurfyogi]

Hello,

Many years ago I went over my handlebars after a stick jammed between my front spokes and mudguard stays, forcing the stays into the tyre and bringing me to a sudden stop. Luckily I was only doing about 10 mph and wasn’t injured.

That incident made me aware of SKS Secu Clips, which release the stays if the mudguard jams. I didn’t buy them at the time — I just removed the crumpled up mudguard and didn't buy a new one.

Now I’ve got a new e-bike (Pedibal Navigata: https://pedibal.com/products/pedibal-navigata-cite-folding-electric-bike?variant=45866554491097) and, remembering my crash, I bought Secu Clips straight away. But the mudguards aren’t standard and the stays are too thick for the secu-clips. I figured I’d just take the risk, thinking the mag wheels would make sticks less likely to jam.

Today, though, my front wheel locked again — not from a stick this time but from fox poo! A fox crapped on my gravel drive, my tyre rolled over it, and the sticky mess plus stones jammed tight between tyre and mudguard. Thankfully I was walking the bike, not riding. I cleaned everything thoroughly, but the incident reminded me how dangerous a jam can be.

I don’t want to put the mudguard back on — this feels like a warning, and I’m sensitive to front-wheel lock after my previous accident.

So my questions are:

Is there a way to fit a front mudguard that doesn’t sit between fork and tyre? (I’ve seen downtube styles, but nothing seems to fit my weird bike.)
Is there an alternative to secuclips that will work with my fat mudguard stays?
How important are front mudguards really?

Many thanks

 

[thelarkbox]

DIY a downtube /crossbar guard from abs guttering, a heat gun should allow you to form it over any shape to spread out where needed and a couple of holes should allow easy cable tie attachment in a couple of places.

For more exotic shapes look in your recycling bin for any thermoplastic bottles or cartons suitable to start with.

 

[AntonyC]

Without a mudguard gravel seldom jams under the fork crown. I think that's partly because it isn't being wedged by the slow taper of a mudguard, so try setting the rear edge to be the closest point to the tyre. Similarly, before my time a wire loop (or brush) was used to skim the tyre and knock off glass before it bedded in.

Another warning: the smell of fox poo is hard to eradicate but badger poo's way worse. DAMHIK

 

[Cadence]

Rubber lined P clips will do the same job as a Secuclip on a single stay providing that the stay is long enough to reach the threaded hole in the fork. They are readily available on eBay and elsewhere in different sizes to suit the diameter of your stays. As long as you don't tighten the mounting screw too tight the stay will pull out of the clip in the event of a mudguard jam. Search for:-
Zinc Plated Mild Steel - or - Stainless Steel | Rubber Lined P Clips | Mikalor

 

[saneagle]

As long as you have mudguards, a stick can jam the wheel. There is no 100% solution. I've had sticks caught up a few times, but it was only once in 14 years that the wheel jammed and sent me over the bars. That mudguard was the un-stayed type.