SKS Race Blades

Chris said:

I'm looking at entry level road-bikes for general purpose roadie type
things (not TT - way too old, fat and slow for that!) and audax. The
latter events usually require mudguards - and many of the bikes I've
been looking at don't have sufficient clearances for conventional mudguards.

SKS Race Blades seem to be a reasonable compromise - anyone here have
experience with them? Any good?

Yes. Very good indeed. Well worth the money. I might at some point get
round to taking them off the bike. They are very secure and seem to
work well.

...d

Chris said:

I'm looking at entry level road-bikes for general purpose roadie type
things (not TT - way too old, fat and slow for that!) and audax. The
latter events usually require mudguards - and many of the bikes I've
been looking at don't have sufficient clearances for conventional
mudguards.
SKS Race Blades seem to be a reasonable compromise - anyone here have
experience with them? Any good?

Very good. Warning: if you do use them, make sure you put something under
the fittings to protect your paintwork.

Chris said:

I'm looking at entry level road-bikes for general purpose roadie type
things (not TT - way too old, fat and slow for that!) and audax. The
latter events usually require mudguards - and many of the bikes I've
been looking at don't have sufficient clearances for conventional
mudguards.
SKS Race Blades seem to be a reasonable compromise - anyone here have
experience with them? Any good?

Hmm, I don't like them. I have some, but don't use them as I have a
fully mudguarded bike as well as a racing one, and will use that if
it's raining, or just accept I will need to clean the bike afterwards.
SKS blades are a pain to take on and off, and you can't lean your bike
against anything without them moving around and ending up rubbing on
the tyre. They don't protect the frame very well and don't stop you or
any cyclists behind you from being sprayed at all. In order to get
better protection from spray I tried to get the blades as close to the
brake calipers as possible but this resulted in scratches to the
calipers, caused by the blades vibrating on uneven road surfaces. Your
style of riding suggests that a purpose built audax or a light tourer
may be a better choice than a racing bike, especially if you're not
intending to race or do TTs. These will have enough clearance for full
mudguards.

Chris said:

I'm looking at entry level road-bikes for general purpose roadie
type things (not TT - way too old, fat and slow for that!) and
audax. The latter events usually require mudguards -

Some still do. Most actually don't now.

--
Dave...

dkahn400 said:

Chris said:

I'm looking at entry level road-bikes for general purpose roadie
type things (not TT - way too old, fat and slow for that!) and
audax. The latter events usually require mudguards -

Some still do. Most actually don't now.

And even those which do, don't insist. IME.

Blonde said:

Chris said:

I'm looking at entry level road-bikes for general purpose roadie type
things (not TT - way too old, fat and slow for that!) and audax. The
latter events usually require mudguards - and many of the bikes I've
been looking at don't have sufficient clearances for conventional
mudguards.
SKS Race Blades seem to be a reasonable compromise - anyone here have
experience with them? Any good?

Hmm, I don't like them. I have some, but don't use them as I have a
fully mudguarded bike as well as a racing one, and will use that if
it's raining, or just accept I will need to clean the bike afterwards.
SKS blades are a pain to take on and off, and you can't lean your bike
against anything without them moving around and ending up rubbing on
the tyre.

I have absolutely never had this problem with them. Are you sure you
have the real thing and not som eknock off copy?

Quoted message said:

They don't protect the frame very well and don't stop you or

I found them reasonably effective, much better than not having them. I
haven't checked the frame though.

Quoted message said:

any cyclists behind you from being sprayed at all. In order to get
better protection from spray I tried to get the blades as close to the
brake calipers as possible but this resulted in scratches to the
calipers, caused by the blades vibrating on uneven road surfaces.

Not seen this problem either.

Quoted message said:

Your
style of riding suggests that a purpose built audax or a light tourer
may be a better choice than a racing bike, especially if you're not
intending to race or do TTs. These will have enough clearance for full
mudguards.

Indeed. And as TT's arte essentially a race against oneself, the
equipment doesn't matter too much. I'm still riding essentially the
same stuff as ten years ago (same frame/wheels, slower tyres).
Still get back before the timekeepers knock off to go to the pub
though.

...d

5. David Martin Jul 21, 8:37 am show options

Newsgroups: uk.rec.cycling
From: "David Martin" <[email hidden]> - Find messages
by this author
Date: 21 Jul 2005 05:37:24 -0700
Local: Thurs,Jul 21 2005 8:37 am
Subject: Re: SKS Race Blades
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Blonde said:

Chris said:

I'm looking at entry level road-bikes for general purpose roadie type
things (not TT - way too old, fat and slow for that!) and audax. The
latter events usually require mudguards - and many of the bikes I've
been looking at don't have sufficient clearances for conventional
mudguards.
SKS Race Blades seem to be a reasonable compromise - anyone here have
experience with them? Any good?

Quoted message said:

Hmm, I don't like them. I have some, but don't use them as I have a
fully mudguarded bike as well as a racing one, and will use that if
it's raining, or just accept I will need to clean the bike afterwards.
SKS blades are a pain to take on and off, and you can't lean your bike
against anything without them moving around and ending up rubbing on
the tyre.

I have absolutely never had this problem with them. Are you sure you
have the real thing and not som eknock off copy?

Yep they are, they were from Wiggle about two years ago. At least, I
hope they are the genuine article, cos they cost me about £30! They
just aren't anything like as good as the 'real thing'. It takes a good
ten minutes faffing with them to get them in the right position so they
dont rub the tyres and dont vibrate against the brake capilers but then
this leaves a small gap where water from the road still sprays up. Also
the bike was just not meant to have mudguards so the normally small
toe-overlap is made a lot worse by having mudguards as well. It's just
not worth all the bother for me as I have another bike that has full
mudguards that I can use through the winter and in wet weather.

I'm looking at entry level road-bikes for general purpose roadie type
things (not TT - way too old, fat and slow for that!) and audax. The
latter events usually require mudguards - and many of the bikes I've
been looking at don't have sufficient clearances for conventional
mudguards.

SKS Race Blades seem to be a reasonable compromise - anyone here have
experience with them? Any good?

Cheers
Chris

It takes about half and hour to get them positioned correctly at the
first fitting. You have to screw the guard to the the bracket once you
are happy with the position.

Once this is done correctly though it takes about five seconds to get
each one off and about nine point eight seconds to get them back on.

If you want to prevent water streaking up your backside from the back
wheel in the wet they will do the job. They are worth the money just
for this.
Sean.

in message <[email hidden]>, Chris

(') said:

I'm looking at entry level road-bikes for general purpose roadie type
things (not TT - way too old, fat and slow for that!) and audax.

No-one is too old, fat and slow for time trialling. I'm having huge fun
time trialling, although I am pretty reliably last or next to last.
After all, you aren't racing against the other people. You're racing
against the clock, and your own previous best times. And one of the
things I'm most pleased about is the fact that each time this year I've
ridden a time trial on the same course, my time has come down a bit:

<URL:http://www.stewartry-wheelers.org/wheelers/resultsearch?Team=1&Start=Craignair%20Bridge>

OK, so I still haven't broken thirty minutes, and these time aren't going
to impress anyone, but _I_'m getting _better_.

Quoted message said:

The
latter events usually require mudguards - and many of the bikes I've
been looking at don't have sufficient clearances for conventional
mudguards.

No audax I've been on has required mudguards - although, as you say, some
allegedly do.

Quoted message said:

SKS Race Blades seem to be a reasonable compromise - anyone here have
experience with them? Any good?

Yes, wonderful. I use them on my winter bike. The rubber straps which
attach them can mark paintwork, so it's worth putting insulating tape
round your forks and seatstays where the rubber straps will go first.
But overall the most hassle-free mudguards I've ever used, and best of
all they're easy to take off.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

I shall continue to be an impossible person so long as those
who are now possible remain possible -- Michael Bakunin

in message <[email hidden]>, sean

(') said:

It takes about half and hour to get them positioned correctly at the
first fitting. You have to screw the guard to the the bracket once you
are happy with the position.

Not with race blades - you're thinking of something else entirely. Race
blades have nothing whatever to screw anything to, and just strap onto
your frame with natty little rubber straps. First time you fit them
takes about five minutes, including time to cut the nifty straps neatly
to length; subsequently, very quick indeed.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Age equals angst multiplied by the speed of fright squared.
;; the Worlock