Believe it or not, autumn is upon us. The balmy (if short) days of warming sun and shorts have of late given way to chilly mornings and tights. Rain, if not actually falling, is hanging around on roads as the feeble rays of milky sunshine struggle to burn off the fog, let alone dry the puddles. This spells bad news for your backside and the faces of your cycling buddies, should you be fortunate enough to be subjected to wheelsucking (it means you're at least going faster than someone else).
Yes, winter means rainfall (in this country) and rainfall means puddles. Some lucky n+1s have a winter bike, already set up with full mudguards, to roll out for their rides, but for others who either don't have that luxury, or want to give the summer ride a few more weeks, it's time for compromise.
There are already plenty of options for road bikes lacking the lugs to mount full guards - several clever ways of attaching a full set of guards in a frenzy of velcro, stretchy silicon and plastic. These do a very good job, but can detract from your pride and joy's overall aesthetic.
At the other end of the scale are basic spray catchers like the lauded Ass Savers guard. But for all their ingenuity and adaptability, they are really a form of compromise. Like a newspaper held close to your head in a rainstorm, there is collateral wetness that only the full spread of the paper plus magazines could hope to cover.
The point is, the closer to the source the guard is, the more effective it's bound to be. This is why mudguards, and not spray catchers,are the weapon of choice against surface water. Which brings me to the design of the Genetic Carbon Micro Fender. And a very smart, minimalist design it is too: a polycarbonate fender fitted to a carbon fibre pole, which mounts to your bike's dropout via a simple alloy bracket. The whole thing comes at a claimed weight of just 72g, and once mounted it's about as discreet as a mudguard can get.
Here's how the manufacturers describe the inspiration for the Micro Fender:
"A lot of sportive road riders tell us that having a rear fender (mudguard) to stop the worst of the dirt from splattering your back from mildly damp roads and puddles would be great, if it was easy to fit, weighed almost nothing, made no noise and was hardly noticed when you looked at the bike."
We're a demanding lot aren't we, but the Carbon Micro Fender certainly ticks the first box. Fitting the guard was quick and easy, simply a matter of swapping the nut at the end of the QR after threading on the ingenious designed bracket that has a lug to prevent rotation. The carbon fibre pole slots through a ring that allows micro adjustment of the angle, as does the clever ball socket on the end of the arm that you attach the guard to. Postioned 10mm from the surface of the rear wheel at an angle of 50 degrees to the vertical, it does a jolly good job of preventing the majority of ice-cold grit, sludge and standing water from being flung directly towards the v-shaped channel that starts at the small of your back.
The underside of the fender also disperses water downwards, away from the rider. Alas, there is no such redemption for any other riders following in close proximity. But seeing as they're probably aware of the prevailing conditions, a face full of wheel juice is to be expected.
Sadly this Micro Fender will not fit my winter bike as the rear dropouts are cowelled, but it can be adapted (using parts supplied) to fit the front wheel. Up front, I can confirm it does help keep knees to shins merely moist on expeditions through Nature's Roadwash. It also fits the wife's hybrid, so it looks like she'll benefit more from it than I'm likely to, should she ever persuade me to give it up (which I doubt very much).
Genetic Carbon Micro Fender, RRP £47.50 - available online or from your local bike shop via Ison Distribution
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