I think Berthoud fenders from boulder bike are quite reasonable in cost.
I installed a set on one of those Raleigh 27.5 starter hardtails for a friend’s son, they’re the right size and shape to clear a 52mm microknobby
They’re really stiff and heavy for aluminum, thick and flat in the middle, like they’re an extrusion instead of the traditional rolled sheetmetal. You wouldn’t be able to retrofit Berthoud stays to them.
There was the slightest rattle in them that might’ve been in the seatstay bracket, but you won’t use that on an NFE
No worries! Those fenders are some VO things, I think the 700x52 model? The biggest black ones. Spread open to about a 55ish inner width, for fitment over Babbyshoes originally. They have real nice clearance over those but cut it pretty close over SBHes… They work for most everything other than deep clingy mud though. Could probably make the clearance a bit better, too, but spreading the fender does have the negative effect of decreasing side-to-side clearance. I’ll get you some better shots tomorrow.
Stays mounted on the rack bosses because I’m fucking stupid and always cut fender stays too short, so there they sit until I get some of those PDW safety tabs for the front. It works for now.
Well, I pulled the trigger on the Planet Bike jawns, so we will see how that pans out.
Is there any reason why I would want to retrofit Berthoud stays? I’ve install those fenders many times before, and I don’t remember any particular reason why I’d take those over the stock ones on any other fender.
I’m gonna install a set of those black VOs tonight.
I think I might mount em to the mid fork bosses just to keep the clutter to a minimum at the fork ends.
Any reason not to?
nah- no reason not to, I would just advise something like a nylock nut on the inside to prevent rattling loose. you also might have to bend the stays from the attachment points to the fender, because the VO stay attachment hardware really prefers that the stays exit the fender as straight as possible
I think that’s what we’re going to be going with. VO got back to us and confirmed that they will no longer be selling/making smooth 650b fenders. Only the zeppelins and the hammered jawns.
The Zeppelin shape has really grown on me. I actually prefer it to smooth or hammered these days.
Bonus: the shape makes it really easy to find the tangent for drilling centered mounting holes.
If they could manufacture it with an open gutter along the edge I would be in love.
[quote=Rusty Piton]I’m gonna install a set of those black VOs tonight.
I think I might mount em to the mid fork bosses just to keep the clutter to a minimum at the fork ends.
Any reason not to?[/quote]
You want to run lowrider racks now or in the future?
versus the Honjo-style stays they put little M4 nuts inside the fender instead of big honking M6, are flush to the fender, and don’t need heavy eyebolts
versus SKS style steel V stays they’re much stiffer, much lighter, and don’t have brackets that divert water out of the fender
[quote=Andrew_Squirrel]The Zeppelin shape has really grown on me. I actually prefer it to smooth or hammered these days.
Bonus: the shape makes it really easy to find the tangent for drilling centered mounting holes.
If they could manufacture it with an open gutter along the edge I would be in love.[/quote]
Ladybiek gets what ladybiek wants, even if it causes me a massive headache…
All of this.[/quote]
I’ve broken 3 plastic fenders all in the frigid depths of winter. Extreme cold makes plastic very brittle.
Also, I installed my black VO zepps last night and holy shit what a treat those things are to work with!
All the mounting hardware is excellent and I actually liked the metal R clips more than the plastic things that the Bertholds come with.
The hardware bag even included a daruma bolt and washers! I didn’t need em this time, but it’s pretty nice that they included that bit. Berthold sells em separately:colbert:.
well that’s fuckin disappointing, definitely going to need one when we fender up the soma. can I have yours?
I’ve been pleased with my VO fenders’ performance, but I did need to add another set of stays to the front fender to prevent excessive wobbling.
well that’s fuckin disappointing, definitely going to need one when we fender up the soma. can I have yours?[/quote]
Boulder Bike will hook you up. Send an email.
Yeah boulder will hook you up for sure. Mike is a super duper nice guy.
[quote=Reasonable Facsimile]I’ve been pleased with my VO fenders’ performance, but I did need to add another set of stays to the front fender to prevent excessive wobbling.
[/quote]Definitely need a front rack or stay to tame the wobble with the v-o fenders. They’re long.
Well, now I just ordered some spare stays and other fender hardware from VO.