How to Choose Your Bike Mudguard

Generally speaking, anyone who cycles in less-than-ideal conditions, specifically wet conditions, can benefit from a mudguard.

Whether you need a mudguard on your bike depends on where and when you’ll be cycling, specifically the terrain and environmental conditions. If you are cycling on wet roads, a mudguard will do a great job of keeping your bike dry and protected from muddy sprays from your tyres. A mudguard ensures you don’t get splashed from the bottom, keeping you clean and dry on your bike (from the bottom, at least).

Consider purchasing a mudguard if you cycle in wet conditions, especially if you’re out and about in muddy terrain and soft grounds. So if you want to avoid changing your entire outfit after every commute, time to get browsing!

Mudguards don’t fit all bikes, as different bikes and frames offer different features for attachment. 

There are a range of different mudguards available, depending on the type of bike, frame and riding you do, all with different levels of protection, ease of installation and practicality.

These are considered classic; long, v-shaped and made of stainless steel, you can attach full mudguards to the frame via eyelets. To use the full mudguard, you’ll need to have existing eyelets fitted to the rear dropouts and the bottom of the forks to be screwed in directly.

These allow you full coverage, with some options offering an additional rubber flap at the tail that will also protect your fellow riders.

Full mudguards are easy to fit without any need for fettling, but make sure of the following:

• Their width is compatible with your tyres
• You have mudguard eyelets on your frame and forks

This is the go-to option for cyclists with frames not fitted with mudguard eyelets. It’s the second-best option for excellent coverage, offering a long guard with a clip-on system.

Clip-on mudguards are attached via toughened rubber bands or P-clips on the back and fork blades. These will be thinner than full mudguards but still provide great protection from unwanted splashes. You’ll be able to fit these on any frame while staying lightweight and easy to replace.

Seatpost-mounted mudguards offer protection only for your rear to keep your back nice and dry. These are attached via your Seatpost, provide essential protection and will fit any bike with a seat post.

Note that this means your feet will get wet but are easy to install and remove.

No installation or tools are needed; ass savers slot into your saddle rails and stick out of the back to keep your rear dry. These mudguards are popular among racers as they add minimal weight and are easy to remove. They are also considered the most economical option if you only want to protect your back.

As a general rule of thumb, if your frame and fork are fitted with eyelets, it’s best to go for the traditional full mudguards. Otherwise, opt for the alternative clip-on mudguards. For casual riders, you can go for the seatpost mudguard.

You’ll also need to consider the type of bike you have and the terrain you’ll be riding on. Then think about where your mudguards sit or what you’d like them to protect. For example, your front wheels can spray your feet and might be the main focus to protect, and there are different mudguards for different parts of the bike.

Mudguards protect cyclists in different ways depending on whether they are fixed to the front or back of the bike.

Rear mudguards are generally fixed behind the saddle, above your back wheel. If you have a mountain bike, go for a model that fixes onto the seat post. This kind of mudguard is less effective against mud, but the advantage is in its increased sturdiness so that it won't touch the wheel at all.

Front mudguards are fixed to the fork or underneath your bike's frame to offer maximum protection from dirt and splashes. They can ensure any splashes don't impede your vision.

Other than practical considerations of whether you have eyelets on your frame and fork, you can also consider the bike type and usage to determine what mudguard is best for you.

Which Mudguard for Road Bike
Road Bikes - lightweight and thin, road bikes' mudguards help keep the bike in good condition during the winter and can be easily removed during summer. Club riders need to use mudguards that cover the rear wheel's length to avoid enemies with fellow riders during wet group rides.

The Best Mudguards for Hybrid Bikes
Hybrid bikes - the best Mudguards for Hybrid Bikes with disc brakes are long and thin, covering the entire back wheel and front wheel.

The Best Mudguards for Mountain Bikes
Mountain bike - mudguards are wider and shorter than those designed for the city. They are also stiffer and more stable, which makes them better suited to riding on rugged terrain as they won't touch the wheel.

The size of the mudguard that will suit your bike depends on the following measurements:

• Wheel size
• Tyre size
• Type of bike

How do I Measure my Bike for Mudguards?
Bike tyres will usually offer a serial code on the sidewall, showing off the measurements in inches or millimetres.

For example, if your tyre holds the following metrics; 28 x 3, the first number usually indicates the wheel size while the second represents the tyre's width.

What Size Mudguards do I Need?
To figure out what size mudguards you need, you need to find a mudguard that is slightly wider than your tyre so it's can cover the entire width without making contact with the tyre. This is also the case for full mudguards, where you'll also need to upsize; if you have a 32mm wide tyre, a mudguard that adds 3mm is perfect - look for mudguards of 35mm for a 32mm tyre.