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(More customer reviews)I've got a bicycle without any mounting holes for fenders. It also doesn't have enough clearance between the forks/brakes and tires to jerry-rig a fender. However, I hate not riding my bike because of light rain or a few puddles.
The Grunge Board was the best option that I could find at a reasonable price. It straps onto the downtube with a couple of rubber straps. I've got an 80s racing bike with tight geometry, and the dimensions of the board are small enough to clear the crankarms and the front wheel during turns. But just so (orientation makes a difference).
I've ridden through some big puddles and it seems to do a fairly good job of keeping my pant legs from getting soaked. I still put some scotch tape over the holes/slits around the bottom bracket to keep the gunk from getting in. The board is light enough that I leave it on all the time, even when it's not raining...just in case there is an unexpected puddle.
I have to take off a star because I think the mounting band should have been designed better. First, it hard to push the rubber bands through the narrow slots once they wrap around the downtube. The bands have slits in them that attach to nubs on the underside of the board. The nubs are not large enough to hold the bands in place perfectly securely. They seem to usually work, but the bands come off occasionally. If you have a small diameter downtube (as in most pre-90s, bikes), there are also a couple inches of extra rubber band that just flop around. It shouldn't be too hard for Planet Bike to redesign this retention mechanism, but it's also hard to complain for ~$10.
You can use a couple of cable ties instead of the rubber bands and they'd probably do a better job. You could also use a large soda bottle cut to size and get the same effect, though arguably a bit uglier.
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Planet Bike Grunge Board Bicycle Down Tube Splatter Guard FenderWhen the weather turns ugly, Planet Bike's fenders offer full protection from the rain, sleet, and snow. The Grunge Board splatter guard from Planet Bike fits on your bike's down tube, helping you stay (relatively) clean while riding on muddy trails. The mud flap is made of a durable, all-weather polymer material, helping it hold up to use and abuse through the years. It's also remarkably easy to mount and remove thanks to its two-point rubber strap attachment system. A must for serious trail riders, the Grunge Board is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
About Planet Bike In November of 1996, Planet Bike was founded in Madison, Wisconsin. In many ways, Planet Bike began as a social experiment that dedicated itself to doing business in a different way. Instead of being just another company that develops and sells products with profit as its end goal, Planet Bike wanted to help bring about positive change for people, their communities, and the environment.
Despite being a simple machine, the people at Planet Bike have always believed that the bicycle has great potential to help improve the world and the lives of the people in it. From the start, they have embraced an alternative corporate purpose which seeks to help get more people on bicycles by making communities friendlier places for the self-propelled. By donating 25% of company profits to causes that promote and facilitate bicycle usage, Planet Bike hopes to make an impact.
Social experiments aside, Planet Bike was born from the heart of a cyclist with a goal of making innovative, high quality, and practical bicycle accessories. Simply put, they strive to design and develop the best bicycle products in the world. In the company's short ten year history, they have made important product innovations within the bicycle industry. Advancements include the 4-line computer which is now a standard in the industry and the world's first self-contained HID light. Not bad for a company that ten years ago started as a one man operation. Today, while still a small company, Planet Bike continues to evolve and improve their product line with the goal of always striving to build accessories that make it easier for people to ride their bikes. Since 1996, Planet Bike's financial support of the grassroots bicycle movement has totaled $500,000. By 2010, they have made a goal to donate $1 million to organizations that are dedicated to making America a friendlier place for cyclists.
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