Bike mudguards for MTB, road and city

Why fit bike mudguards?

In wet weather, the front wheel throws water and mud onto your feet, legs and face, and the rear wheel onto your back. Mudguards keep your clothes clean for getting to work, reduce the grime on the drivetrain and bearings, and improve your view on a mountain bike when the ground is greasy. Riding in a group on the road, they also stop you spraying the cyclist behind, especially if the rear mudguard comes down low or has a mudflap.

With stays, clip-on, fork-mounted: which type?

• With stays: the mudguard wraps well around the wheel and attaches to the eyelets of the frame and fork with stainless steel stays. It is the solution for city bikes, touring bikes and e-bikes ridden all year round.
• Clip-on: it attaches without tools, at the rear on the seatpost, at the front on the down tube or under the fork, and comes off when the weather turns dry again.
• Fork-mounted: bolted or strapped to the arch of a suspension fork, it follows the wheel through its travel and also protects the stanchion seals. It is the usual choice for mountain biking.
• Roll-up or flexible: a sheet of plastic folds and attaches with straps, then stows in a pocket or a bag.

Wheel size, tyre width, clearance

A mudguard is chosen first according to the wheel diameter, from 16 inches for a child's bike to 28 or 29 inches, and according to the tyre width: take a mudguard slightly wider than the tyre so that it catches the spray properly. Then check the space between the tyre and the frame, especially under the brake callipers of road bikes: a mudguard with stays needs a few millimetres of clearance all round. On a road or gravel bike without eyelets, models that attach with a clamp or straps can still be fitted.

Fitting and maintenance

Fit the mudguard at an even distance from the tyre, with no contact when cornering or when the suspension compresses, and tighten the bolts with a light threadlocker. The stays can be cut to the right length; their plastic end caps protect your legs. A front mudguard must be able to break free if a branch or an object gets caught between it and the tyre: some models with stays have safety fittings that pop out. Clean the inside regularly so that dried mud does not rub on the tyre.

Other wheel parts

Switching to wider tyres often means rethinking your mudguards: compare bike tyres and bike wheels before ordering. Inner tubes and bike wheel parts complete the equipment, all gathered in wheels and tyres.

Which bike mudguard brands?

Stronglight offers pairs of mudguards with stainless steel stays for 28-inch city bikes and hybrids, for the road in 700, for 26-inch mountain bikes and for e-bikes.

RRP, a mountain bike mudguard specialist, offers the ProGuard for suspension forks, with a shield that protects the seals from mud, as well as the compact EnduroGuard and the FatGuard for wide tyres.

Riesel Design offers its Schlamm:PE and Kol:oss front mudguards in many designs, and a rear model for children, the Schmutz:Fink.

Musguard came up with roll-up mudguards, cut from recycled polypropylene and attached without tools by straps; the Omni suits all bikes, the Omni Wide wide tyres.

Polisport offers plastic mudguards for every use: the G-Mud with hook-and-loop strap fixing, the Cross Country Evo for mountain biking, the Expander for city and touring, and a Mudflap.

SKS, a German accessories manufacturer based in Sundern, offers the Mudrocker for mountain biking, the Bluemels range for city and touring, and the Speedrocker, Edge and Veloflexx mudguards.

Bike mudguards on sale

Mudguards in discontinued colours or from replaced series are offered in spare parts clearance; recently listed models appear in new arrivals. The winter sales arrive just when the roads are at their wettest.

Frequently asked questions

What size mudguards do I need for my bike?

Take the wheel diameter printed on the tyre, in inches or ETRTO, then a mudguard width greater than that of the tyre. Models sold for several diameters, such as 27.5 to 29 inches, cover both sizes.

Can you fit mudguards to a road bike?

Yes, if the frame leaves enough space between the tyre and the callipers. With eyelets, a mudguard with stays offers the best protection; without eyelets, choose a clamp or strap model designed for the road.

How do you fit mudguards to a mountain bike?

At the front, a mudguard bolted or strapped to the fork arch follows the wheel through its travel. At the rear, a model that clips onto the seatpost or attaches to the seatstays avoids contact with the wheel when the suspension compresses.

Do you need specific mudguards for an e-bike?

Not necessarily, but an e-bike is often ridden every day and faster: go for a sturdy mudguard with stays that covers the wheel well and is designed for the width of its tyres.

Front or rear mudguard: which is more useful?

The front mudguard protects your feet, face and drivetrain; the rear one protects your back and the cyclist following you. For everyday use, a pair remains the best solution.