Mudguards In The Snow

[Mr Evil]

This is not a problem I have had very often, but with the recent weather I found myself with a choice of either getting snow packed betwixt tyre and mudguard, or being plastered in grey slush. How does everyone else approach this? Maybe fit narrower tyres for more clearance, or switch to MTB-style clip-on mudguards?

[Vorpal]

It somewhat depends on the conditions. Mostly, I just carry on. I have had to stop from time to time to clear some snow out, but mostly, it clears itself. If it were a frequent problem, I'd likely take my mountain bike, instead of something with full mudguards.

[mig]

speed up!

[mercalia]

need more clearance under the mudguards so it cant happen?

[GideonReade]

Set the mudguards so that the entry clearance is small, and clearance gets bigger, continuously, towards the front?

Just a suggestion, it's how I have my current guards set, but I've not ridden them in snow. They were not-as-bad-as-they-could-be in mud. That's setting the entry pretty tight - less than 5mm clearance.

And no "mudflaps" - they look like snow scoops to me.

[landsurfer]

Mudguards ..... why ....have you not read the "Rules" ...

[Redvee]

I ditched the mudguards in the snow cause the 38c studded tyres wouldn't fit under them, forty miles with no guards wasn't ideal and my jacket and bum were a little dirty.

[TrevA]

I've never had the problem with snow but sometimes get an accumulation of mud under the guard. I've got decent clearance (about 1cm) under the guard but still get a build up. This is due to farmers dragging mud out of field entrances onto the road. I think this has been one of the wettest winters I've known, so mud is more of a problem than in previous years.

[peetee]

Dynohubs wired to a long, thin electric 'blanket' inside each tyre?

Just a thought.

Who's got my coat?

[nigelnightmare]

^^^^^^^^^^^
It's on the hook inside the front door.

Don't let it hit you on the way out.

[RickH]

With my old 1986 Muddy Fox, fitted with full mudguards, the only snow build up I found was around the brakes (originally cantis, latterly Vs). That was running 47mm Marathon Winters v 47mm Land Cruisers.

Limited riding of a disc braked bike with full mudguatds in the snow this winter didn't give any noticeable build up anywhere (but there was also probably a bit more clearance as the 38mm Snow Studs I was running are smaller than the 38mm Voyager Hypers & 40mm WTB Nanos that the mudguards are set up for).