Why no mudguards in these ultra events?

Large seat packs and tailfins are pretty effective rear guards anyway, front bar bags also prevent a lot of spray that would normally come up through the fork crown and blow back in your face.

Plus they are probably all tough as nails!

Tailfin is an excellent rear mud stopper, at least to the vital bits like bum cracks or dropper posts

Mudguards also go a long way in keeping your bike clean. I think a lot of it comes down to doing what everyone else does and it's rare in ultras. Do an audax and you'll be the odd one out without them.

Of course the argument for them in audax (where in some events they're compulsory) is the group riding aspect, which isn't a thing in ultras. I still think it's because they're not cool and it makes you look like you're touring rather than racing.

There’s a documentary on GCN+ where Jenny Graham rides down an unsurfaced lane on a touring bikes with mud guards. She eventually grinds to a a stop with mud packed tightly round the tyres. She looks at the camera and says something like that’s why we didn’t use mud guards.

She looks at the camera and says something like that’s why we didn’t use mud guards.

And it's extra weight. At my level it doesn't matter but at this level it's marginal gains.

41 year age range!

Twentyfour12 had right claggy mud, mudguards just collected it.

There’s a documentary on GCN+ where Jenny Graham rides down an unsurfaced lane on a touring bikes with mud guards. She eventually grinds to a a stop with mud packed tightly round the tyres. She looks at the camera and says something like that’s why we didn’t use mud guards.

Pfft.  PLENTY of options that don't clog up with mud. And as for the mud that sticks to the inside - if it weren't on the guards it'd be on you or your bike. Possibly more of it too.

Do an audax and you’ll be the odd one out without them.

In the UK. There weren't many other nationalities using them at PBP.

Le look, innit

Jenny Graham vs molgrips.

Sorry buddy but there's only one opinion that matters here 😂

Weight. Aero. Faff/breakage potential. Plus (as has been pointed out) the bags keep most of the mud off you.

Tail fin racks- £££
Normal racks-££

Why no normal racks bolted at the dropouts and the seat stays?

I notice the aerodynamic drag from mudguards on my bikes. There's no way I'd want to take them on something like the Pan Celtic Race when I could wear waterproof shorts etc. in bad weather instead.

I thought Audax mudguards were a courtesy to the village halls and cafes acting as controls and not ruining their seats with muddy arses.

I wondered if it’s the potential for blockages, rattles, if it rains and your out all day…do you get wet regardless.

Although they look pants I wonder if the seat tube clip on (mtb style) would be a decent solution  (on the back at least)

would a Ridley xnight be a decent bike for these events  sharp race like handling, the scope for around 35mm tyres  but no guard mounts

I thought Audax mudguards were a courtesy to the village halls and cafes acting as controls and not ruining their seats with muddy arses.

Needed the guards today 😆

Do mudguards have much aero effect? I think the difference they make compared to body position for me personally is tiny. Perhaps I'm not going fast enough.

There’s a documentary on GCN+ where Jenny Graham rides down an unsurfaced lane on a touring bikes with mud guards. She eventually grinds to a a stop with mud packed tightly round the tyres.

Such a variable point. Claggy clay in the winter as per south of England downs. Definitely. Many bits of Wales or Scotland. No worries. Ridden my 90s MTB tourer with full guards in sodden conditions and never had an issue in some parts but wouldn't use them off road on clay clag in the winter. Too much of a blanket statement.

Jenny Graham vs molgrips.

Sorry buddy but there’s only one opinion that matters here

I'm not offering an opinion on ultra endurance riding, I'm offering an opinion on mudguards. And I do have some views on that subject. Please don't be a ****. Happy to debate the ins and outs of mudguards, I dont really want a dick waving contest by proxy.

The aero thing is a good point as I think it makes a difference on my road bike. Also it clearly depends where and when you're riding and what you're wearing.

BUT

I'm right in that there are options that don't clog. I haven't seen the vid, but traditional touring bike mudguards are clearly going to clog in many conditions.

Do mudguards have much aero effect? I think the difference they make compared to body position for me personally is tiny. Perhaps I’m not going fast enough

I can't see a rear one having a negative effect but the front I could but only an issue for marginal gains

Studies have been done where they were found to be more aero than without.

I wonder if the seat tube clip on (mtb style) would be a decent solution (on the back at least)

The Crud one is decent enough but doesn't keep your bike clear. That would have about the same effect as a long seat pack.

Studies have been done where they were found to be more aero than without

I did wonder about a positive effect for the rear but the front couldn't call on on the scoop Vs the reduced turbulence

I'd personally be quite concerned about face spray on an ultra event, or indeed any ride, because I wear contact lenses and grit in my eyes can be a big issue.

I fitted some mudguards on my gravel bike today. 200km audax tomorrow. Guards and Carradice at the ready.

Most probably makes the square root of ****all difference. If you're worried about aero drag you'd defo not put a big handlebar bag on the bike ! They're as aero as a breeze block.

Rear one may even improve aero by shrouding the leading part of the tyre etc.  But I say SqRt-****ll

For an event like Japanese Odyssey or Transatlantic Way where it seems to rain more than not I'd personally gain more from having guards than any loss from the weight or potential aero drag. I won't do long solo road trips w/o them, a day or more of road spray is just grim and it can make or break long Alpine descents in the wet.

There sure are some fugly bike setups there! I love a fast overnight bickpacking setup and I'm partial to a proper tourer setup too. But this middle ground of too much stuff for some simple minimalist bikepackig but trying to be more aero than a dawes super galaxy really does generate a few mingers. Tailfins - I can see the practicalities, but they are real eye bleach material.

A lot more titanium there than you usually see these days.

The PCR appears to be a primarily road event judging by the tyres, so I’m not sure the arguments on mud really apply. Although I could see that on gravel events.

I reckon all the bars bags and tailbacks etc are simply because that’s current fashion. If you found similar events 20-30 years ago, it’d be traditional front and rear panniers.

Did think the bike running single speed was really just making life hard for themselves though.

I think mudguards are fab, but the rear one can be a pain in hotels i.e maneuvering a bike in a lift.

After 200km carrying a loaded bike upstairs in cycling shoes when your knackered is memorable!

Rear bags get filthy another pain when on the b and b option too!

Drop the bag on the bed!   , or even rinsing it first in the sink is a pain!!

I suppose one less thing for these riders to faff with if it comes loose.  I would have thought comfort and drivetrain protection would overcome aero/ weight  losses., esp in damp .colder climates.

Tail fin racks- £££

Normal racks-££

Why no normal racks bolted at the dropouts and the seat stays?

Tailfins are expensive, but not a heap more than a decent lightweight rack and full waterproof panniers.  Other advantages are they fit bikes without rack mounts, they fit aero shaped and carbon seatposts, they have a very clever through axle that converts to fit just about every rear axle out there, and a QR variant, the whole thing is quick release, they work on soft-tails and full sussers, and there is genuinely no rattle no matter how rough it gets.

Back to the mudguards, I have full metal guards for my gravel bike, and I have to try quite hard to get them clagged up, generally mud with long grass or straw mixed in.  However, another reason you might not see them on these events is that they can make the bike much harder to break down and fit in a car/train/plane if they are not clip on style.