Mudguard against splash water: With these tips, installation is always a success

1. the correct width of the mudguard

As a rule of thumb for the appropriate width of a mudguard, we recommend half a centimetre overhang at both edges. For 28-millimetre tyres, the mudguard should therefore be around 38 millimetres wide. At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that the mudguards still fit through the struts or fork.

2. check fastening points

Before buying mudguards, you should take a close look at your road bike with regard to possible mounting points. Gravel bikes in particular now have the appropriate mounting eyelets, but they are not always in the right place.

3. keep your distance

The mudguards should be at least one centimetre away from the tyre, especially if the tread pattern is chunky, so that stones or sticks thrown up or stuck in the tread cannot get stuck.

4. use protective film

A protective film is included with many mudguards for quick mounting. This should be placed between the mudguard and the frame to protect the paintwork.

5. suitable tools for mounting the mudguard

With fixed mudguards, the struts may need to be shortened using bolt cutters, pliers or a hacksaw. Caution: To avoid unpleasant surprises, however, the struts should only be shortened after the mudguards have been permanently fitted and the tyre clearance has been checked. Otherwise they may no longer be able to be attached to the frame. Special plastic caps protect against sharp edges.

6. extend the splash guard from the mudguard

A mud flap helps to increase the moisture protection on the front wheel. This can be cut from an old tyre of the appropriate width, for example, and attached with cable ties through overlapping holes in the tyre and mudguard. The closer the home-made mud flap is to the ground - without dragging - the drier your feet will stay.