Crud RoadRacer Mk2 Mudguards Review – As Light and Lovely as Laura Trott

The instructions that come with the Crud RoadRacer Mk2 mudguards are not for the faint-hearted.  And the video tutorial at Crud’s website is even scarier.

If, like me, you have the mechanical aptitude of a tree, you might want to consider smiling sweetly at your local bike shop owner and offering to leave him your entire collection of CyclingPlus magazines in your will.  But he’ll probably still end up charging you for at least an hour’s labour.

But it will be worth it in the end, I promise.  These “superlight” mudguards –  specially designed for road bikes with minimal clearance – do their job really well and don’t look half as ungainly or bulky as the “cow-catchers” of a bygone age.

At barely 180 grams the pair, they are designed to “float” between your tyre and fork/brake bridge yet be rigid enough to withstand the best the British winter can throw at them.

In response to rider feedback – isn’t it nice when someone actually listens to us? – the Mk2 design includes an extended rear mudguard to provide full coverage to the chainset area.  At the opposite end, it flares and curves subtly to favour the chainset side of the bike and protect your front derailleur.

And it works a treat.  After 150 miles and seven  hours of riding through mud-splattered country lanes – which this week have also featured a fair few puddles of melted ice water – I can happily report that by the time I’ve returned home there hasn’t been that much gunk to clean off my components.

The mudguards are very close-fitting and in places do actually make contact with the tyre, but they are so light – as insubstantial as a strand of Laura Trott’s hair – that the rubbing is inconsequential and not affected ride quality at all.

As to whether they’ll fit your road bike or not, Crud’s official advice is: if you can fit a 4mm Allen key between your tyre and fork/brake bridge, you can fit these mudguards.

Not only have they reduced my time spent scrubbing my chainset with a toothbrush, they also added a certain class to the overall look of my bike.  They same to be saying I’m no longer an irresponsible boy racer, but a seasoned veteran who can act sensibly and still look good.

Value for money: 4/5

• The Crud RoadRacer Mk2 mudguards are available at the reduced price of £22.95(RRP £29.99) from:  www.highonbikes.com

If you have the stomach for it, you can watch the “fixing” video tutorial at www.crudproducts.com

Or you can ask your local bike shop to fit them.  Thanks to Steve Smith at Angus Bike Chain, Commerce Street,  Arbroath, for helping me out.