Because I'm worth it......

[Gaz]

Been looking at mudguard extenders on eBay, and remembered someone on here (I think) saying they used old plastic bottles. Well folks, I give you..... the zero cost..... Unilever mudguard extender :

From a shampoo bottle:


To a mudguard extender:


This is a version 1 prototype. Nipped on with a cable tie (second hand one of course), but it's secure enough that I might just leave it for a bit, rather than put any holes in the mudguard for the moment.

Mounted up the M20 too:


And it stopped raining about 10 minutes ago, so no prizes for guessing where I'm going.....

Gaz

 

[LeighPing]

I love 'Ghetto mods' - Great job.

Here's a winter tip that I use to save scraping my car windscreen in the mornings. It really works too.

 

[Crockers]

Or just make sure the car your buying has an electric heated screen. Lol.

 

[Paul smith]

get copyright on that gaz sharpish...

 

[Gaz]

Hmmm, needs a re-think

Extender is doing it's job nicely.

Got about 6 miles out across Pevensey Marshes, riding with the wind and noticed the mudguard moving. On the way back it became apparent that the wider bottom of the extender, while protecting my tootsies (what it was intended to do), is also an air scoop, which wiggled a bit. Then, as I got to about 10mph, the wiggle became a wobble, and then started to oscillate like a demented grasshopper, hitting one side of the tyre and then the other, with a sound not unlike when you put cardboard in yer spokes as a kid. Useful for alerting pedestrians to your presence, or, in the case of my bike and the noise I was creating, letting in-bound flights to Gatwick know where I was. The volume was extraordinary and became like water torture after just a few seconds. Will try slimming it down, aero dynamics and co-efficient of drag stylee and see where we go from there.

On another learning curve, the M20 was in the wrong place on my handlebar - too far out from the stem - and was bouncing like a good 'un, so I swapped it with the Hope, and sat it right next to the stem, which has now stopped it shaking itself to death.

Back home and it's not windy. Out on the Marshes it was blowing up a hoolee. Not especially nice at all. Time for a cuppa

Gaz

 

[LeighPing]

I wonder if you could do the same type shape with an old piece of inner tube. A rubber flap would flex up in the wind, still block mud and throw water behind the bike, yet it shouldn't wiggle or air scoop too much. Keep us posted on mark 2.

 

[EddiePJ]

My ghetto front mudguard for inverted front forks.

Also a major design cock up, as I stupidly neglected to think about the suspension travel!!!

At least the home made sticker wasn't a design failure.

Gaz, what's with the saddle angle?

 

[Gaz]

A rubber flap would flex up in the wind. Keep us posted on mark 2.

Good idea - what's the betting that whoopee cushion sound on Pevensey Marshes is me on Mk2

Gaz

 

[Gaz]

Gaz, what's with the saddle angle?

It's accentuated by the camera angle, but being a Brooks, it gradually moulds to your (my) body shape. I have a fair bit of difference in muscle mass between my left and right sides - I'm a wonky donkey

Gaz

 

[topographer]

It's accentuated by the camera angle, but being a Brooks, it gradually moulds to your (my) body shape. I have a fair bit of difference in muscle mass between my left and right sides - I'm a wonky donkey

Gaz

Mine's like that as well but that's because I up-ended it and it came down on the saddle. Don't know if I can fix it without a strong vice.