Newbie Question

[clunkerider]

Okay I have been riding many years as a commuter but new to bikepacking...so please don't get frustrated with my question.

When commuting I have always liked bike fenders to keep mud and road slop off me. So why is it that with mountain bikes people rarely use them? I have seen motocross style fenders for full suspension mountain bikes, why don't people use them? Are they a bad design? Do fenders get in the way when bikepacking? On my current old school Norco I have planet bike polycarbonate fenders that weigh nothing, so weight can't be that much of a factor. I am thinking perhaps twigs and other items can get caught in the fenders?

[Outsider]

I've sometimes wondered that myself. For my pure singletrack bikes I have fenders that can be mounted in one minute and I always use them when the terrain is wet or it is raining. The weight is not significant, but I still take them off when they are not needed. On the Salsa Fargo, which I use for mixed rides on both gravel and singletrack, I have the Cascadia 29er fenders which take about 10 minutes to mount. I use them mainly during spring and fall, when they really are needed. However, this fender type seems weaker and would probably break sooner or later on technical singletrack, hence I use it only when necessary.

Most bike pictures seem to be taken in dry and warm South Californian style weather (yes, I'm envious) and in that case fenders are not necessary. Now try that in Norther Europe in November when it is raining and barely above freezing!

[clunkerider]

You know I did some research, looked at a few mountain bikes and to tell you the truth...It actually is difficult to find fenders that will fit in all applications. My planet bike fenders fit my old Norco bike but won't fit my new Raleigh bike with front suspension and not even the back wheel because the break levers get in the way. So, I guess I'll hope the back-rack keeps the mud off me. I'll keep looking around and find something...one day.

[HOser]

Interesting question.  I also have removable fenders that I occasionally slap on the mountain bike when it's really wet out, which here in Colorado is just winter/spring.  Fenders make sense for commuting because you tend to move fast which kicks up lots of water.  Just a theory here, but you don't move as fast in MTB so there's less spray.  Also, in MTB people are more weight conscious, it's more preferable to get a little wet or muddy than lug the weight of fenders up all your climbs.

[Done]

I generally don't ride on wet trails. Doing so messes up the trail and my bike. I used to work on a professional trail crew, so I'm probably more sensitive to this issue than a lot of riders. That said, I've certainly ridden wet trails--although usually only after being caught out in the rain by accident. If (when!) it rains this summer while I'm riding the CTR, I'll swallow my guilt and try to ride gently. And I've already sent the CT Foundation a few penance dollars...

My commuter doesn't have fenders, but I've thought about adding them. The rack on the back keep some of the water off my back, but the front tire does throw a bit at my face at certain speeds.

If you like fenders, then use them. I don't think that there's any compelling reason not to, other than personal preference.

[clunkerider]

I asked a few riders who do much more single track, mud etc than I do...they all said pretty much the same thing...Fenders when traveling on rough terrain can become a problem because mud, snow etc...can get caught up underneath and jam things up them and one rider even said he heard of a case where so much mud built up underneath it caused the fender stay to fail and the fender went into the front wheel, which caused the rider to pull a header. A couple of dudes I know are are more "hard core" riders than me and they both like the back rack with a "grunge board" to stop mud. I think its the best way to go for a cross country type rider. Probably the safest way.