Belgian toothpaste anyone?

[simo1733]

While watching the ENECO tour on Eurosport, the subject of Belgian toothpaste came up.Harmon mentioned that most clubs he road with demanded full mudgards for winter club rides, but that this was a purely British phenomenon.
Can it be true! Does the rest of the world spend all winter riding around covered in merde?
My old club in UK demanded full mudgards + Flap otherwise ____ off

 

[Michielveedeebee]

While watching the ENECO tour on Eurosport, the subject of Belgian toothpaste came up.Harmon mentioned that most clubs he road with demanded full mudgards for winter club rides, but that this was a purely British phenomenon.
Can it be true! Does the rest of the world spend all winter riding around covered in merde?
My old club in UK demanded full mudgards + Flap otherwise ____ off

Covered in mud indeed although some people use mudgards, but that's a minority

 

[Benotti69]

No mudguards in Italy, but then they dont go riding if it is going to rain or raining

 

[Martin318is]

Its funny really. It has NEVER been an issue anywhere I have ridden in Australia. even in my club in southern victoria riding on dirt roads in dairy country.

As soon as I got to London I found everyone demanding that I put guards on my bike for training rides. Personally I thought that there were VERY few ocassions where the rides were any worse than a winter rain ride that I was used to back home.

 

[britinbe]

As someone who has lived in NL and BE, I can say that very few riders use mudguards, a few use clip on ones. I have a bike that I use for commuting and for the winter that has full guards fitted that usually gets a few comments. So the clubs don't really insist on them.

All that being said, I was out today on my best bike and spent a good 40 minutes cleaning off all the Belgian toothpaste!!

 

[the student]

getting covered in mud is one of the fun parts of riding in rain... as long as u dont get it into your eyes its all ok. Its just a little mud and it shows a bit of toughness to the rest of the "sunny weather only cyclists". If u dont want to get wet or dirty get on an indoor trainer...

 

[Michielveedeebee]

getting covered in mud is one of the fun parts of riding in rain... as long as u dont get it into your eyes its all ok. Its just a little mud and it shows a bit of toughness to the rest of the "sunny weather only cyclists". If u dont want to get wet or dirty get on an indoor trainer...

True that! But it's always such a fuss to clean your bike afterwards

 

[simo1733]

getting covered in mud is one of the fun parts of riding in rain... as long as u dont get it into your eyes its all ok. Its just a little mud and it shows a bit of toughness to the rest of the "sunny weather only cyclists". If u dont want to get wet or dirty get on an indoor trainer...

Or get mudgards.

 

[kiwirider]

Can it be true! Does the rest of the world spend all winter riding around covered in merde?

Can't speak for the rest of the world, but in New Zealand that is definitely the case. Jeez, I'm not even sure if you can buy those clip on mudgards down there - I definitely don't remember seeing them either on bikes or in shops. I also remember my first "10 speed bike" when I was at school had mudguards on it. I got so much grief from the other kids that I took them off first chance I got!

Basically in NZ it rains often enough (statistically every second day) that people just get used to it all and don't care.

Actually, if the OP hadn't mentioned a "former club in the UK", I was going to say that if you're worried about Belgian toothpaste, then you are actually in a dry enough climate that you really have no cause for concern!

I know up here in eastern Canada that people use them in the winter - although that's mainly to keep as much crud and salt crap off the bike as possible as there generally aren't enough of us crazies out riding in snow and serious sub-zero temps to make a paceline!

Oh, and an open question to all of those who advocate mudguards/fenders in wet weather - do any of you mountain bike? And if so, how do you get on when you are riding in the dirt?

 

[Chuffy]

Oh, and an open question to all of those who advocate mudguards/fenders in wet weather - do any of you mountain bike? And if so, how do you get on when you are riding in the dirt?

After a 100 mile ride in foul weather with no mudguards and a saddle that had holes in I finished with a chafed and scabby perineum. Mudguards rock...

Er, when you ride off-road are you riding in close enough formation to have spray from the chap up front getting in your eyes? And do you ride long enough to worry about scabby taints? I don't ride MTB, so these are genuine questions...

 

[bc_hills]

Oh, and an open question to all of those who advocate mudguards/fenders in wet weather - do any of you mountain bike? And if so, how do you get on when you are riding in the dirt?

When I'm riding in the dirt I get dirty. It's part of the fun. There are mud guards and such for mtb'ing. It's not unusual to see mud gaurds on the downtube during wet periods. I think the real hazard and deterrent to fenders on a mtb is the possibility of getting something big wedged in between fender and tire which might bring the rider to an untimely and abrupt wheel lock up.

Breaky stuff on mountain bikes is generally a bad idea.

Getting wet and grimy on the road has never been much fun to me, so I ride with fenders on the road or running errands or whatever. I still remember the first time I road with fenders after a heavy downpour. I was so dry and comfortable after the ride that I kicked myself for resisting the dork factor for so long!

 

[Master50]

Fenders and flaps here in Victoria or ride by your self. In winter I put fenders on my MTB but only the kind that keeps mud off me and does nada for the guy behind me.
Aside from protecting you bike somewhat it increases your range when it rains and it helps you to stay warmer too. It also helps to reduce some gastric ailments.
A lot more neighbourly to the guy behind you but I hate them only because of the need for them in the first place