Metal or Plastic Fenders for Touring/Commuting?

I have been fender shopping and going crazy. One day I want hammered Velo Orange metal fenders and the next day I want SKS Plastic Longboards. I have read many of the blogs. Some say metal keeps you drier, but others say metal dents and bends and is a mess when you are locking your bike or banging it around in a storage box for transportation etc.

So Plastic or metal that is the question?

Dave

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Permalink Reply by Dave D on January 28, 2013 at 7:31pm

Thanks for all the discussions. I decided on 45mm SKS Longboards in black for the Salsa Vaya.

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Permalink Reply by notoriousDUG on January 28, 2013 at 7:59pm

Longboards are some of the best fenders ever.

Tricolor said:

I've been using SKS Longboards and they've been great. More than the crud that's thrown up on your rear and back a big front fender will stop your feet from getting sprayed, which when it's cold and wet make all the difference in the world. Even in light rain my feet stay pretty dry when without fenders they'd the soaked.

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Permalink Reply by 1zt7hr8qm0y90 on January 28, 2013 at 8:57pm

I was going to bring up the subject of fenders but I thought I'd be laughed off the forum. Get yourself (hold on to your hat) a department store 7 speed (are you ready for this) Huffy cruiser, especially one thats 10 years old and looks new. Nobody will steal it and you will ride faster than I will but I will get there. As far as busses are concerened my fenders are so conforming that I broke a spoke and the clearance was so close that a portion of the tire rubbed against the tire and scored it so it won't have enough room with or without a fender support bracket.
Bicycles forever.

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Permalink Reply by Amanda on January 28, 2013 at 9:16pm

http://ass-savers.com. Might be a good compromise. Cheap, lightweight, and easily remove able for the bus etc....

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Permalink Reply by 1zt7hr8qm0y90 on January 28, 2013 at 9:40pm

What's all this talk about bike rack, Metra, CTA abuse, ie damage. Be careful, bring rags, lock your bike so it tilts away from instead of towards the bike rack. People were impressed when my boom box is 30 years old and the antenna wasn't broken. They break theirs almost overnight. When I got my first bike, a 26 inch Sears J.C. Higgins at age 7 my father told me that this is the only bike he would ever buy me and to never let anyone else ride it. That was in 1958. I scrapped it in 2011, still ridable but I wanted a bike that has multiple gears and factory accomodations for water bottle cradle and frame pump. Take care of your bike fanatically.

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Permalink Reply by djm on January 28, 2013 at 9:55pm

The problem isnt how I take care of my bike but how others do. Last time I had my road bike on Metra, someone slid their brake lever along my top tube when they stored their bike. :-(

Douglas Iverson said:

What's all this talk about bike rack, Metra, CTA abuse, ie damage. Be careful, bring rags, lock your bike so it tilts away from instead of towards the bike rack. People were impressed when my boom box is 30 years old and the antenna wasn't broken. They break theirs almost overnight. When I got my first bike, a 26 inch Sears J.C. Higgins at age 7 my father told me that this is the only bike he would ever buy me and to never let anyone else ride it. That was in 1958. I scrapped it in 2011, still ridable but I wanted a bike that has multiple gears and factory accomodations for water bottle cradle and frame pump. Take care of your bike fanatically.

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Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on January 28, 2013 at 10:24pm

Those are Velo Orange, of the smooth variety. And they're now on my NEW 1973 Schwinn World Voyageur. Just as slick, I promise :D

Duppie 13.5185km said:

Jim, I remember that the ones on your green Schwinn look great. What brand are they?

Jim S said:

These are very nice, albeit pricey. The thing about the Berthoud fenders that scared me off was that I would have to drill my own hardware. Though, I have heard that they are coming pre-drilled now.

william said:

berthouds.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams 7 mi (dirtbag hipstr) on January 29, 2013 at 8:52am

Pics!

Jim S said:

Those are Velo Orange, of the smooth variety. And they're now on my NEW 1973 Schwinn World Voyageur. Just as slick, I promise :D

Duppie 13.5185km said:

Jim, I remember that the ones on your green Schwinn look great. What brand are they?

Jim S said:

These are very nice, albeit pricey. The thing about the Berthoud fenders that scared me off was that I would have to drill my own hardware. Though, I have heard that they are coming pre-drilled now.

william said:

berthouds.