ALL-WEATHER RIDES
Sure, you can have a ‘summer bike’ and a ‘winter bike’ but how about one bike for all seasons?
Mudguards are oddly named, because they’re rarely used to fend off mud. For road riders, they’re more accurately described as liquid filth guards, as the mixture of whatever dirt is on the road and rainwater is what ends up getting sprayed over your legs, back and face during a ride. Your bike bears the brunt of the assault though, with a steady stream of wet muck coating the drivetrain and almost everything else, which can seriously curtail its lifespan.
If you commute by bike in the UK, you’ll definitely feel the benefit of a machine augmented with mudguards, and if you enjoy racking up winter miles, then having a bike that’s ready, willing and able to handle the worst weather makes it easier to get out of the door. Your riding mates will thank you for not producing wet plumes of spray too.
So why wouldn’t you ride with mudguards? Cost is obviously a factor, particularly if you’re looking for a dedicated ‘all-weather’ bike rather than making do by temporarily squeezing the slimmest, lightest mudguards – known as ‘race blades’ – between your frame and wheels. (The bikes we’re testing here begin at £1400, although you can find cheaper options if you shop around.). Then there’s the question of aesthetics. There’s no denying mudguards take the racy edge of a bike’s looks, but bikes that have been designed to be used with mudguards can still look stunning – and in performance terms, they make next to no difference.
So if you don’t want to spend hours riding around with a soggy skunk stripe up your back every winter, we’d suggest considering an all-weather bike. And we’ve spent the last couple of months riding a selection of them to give you a taste of what’s available.