02 February, 2011
Bicycle Times Review of VO Fenders
Karl from Bicycle Times Magazine was kind enough to forward the following review of VO fenders. It's from issue #9 which should be in stores and mailboxes by now. The review is pretty positive, but the part I found most interesting is that they installed the fenders on a bike with disc brakes, something we have not done. (Click on the image to enlarge)
Just debuted a new bike this week sporting a pair and have received numerous compliments. Good work ya'll!
ReplyDeleteI bought some 700C fluted fenders to put on a bike with discs. I'll send you pics when I finally get the bike put together.
ReplyDeleteOn a disc-brake bike with fenders should you use small leather washers underneath the rotor or the caliper mounting bolts ? I put these leather washers under everything - my waterbottle cages, my rear reflector, my spoke nipples, and I'm wondering about this new possibility.
ReplyDeleteI have a question about the use of leather washers. It seems like the leather washer would hold moisture and possibly cause a small rust spot to form. Is that a legitimate concern? Wouldn't a rubber washer be better in some applications? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJust yesterday I saw a bike with VO fenders on the street and they looked great, shockingly better in person verses pictures! I bought honjo fenders and now I kind of regret it.
ReplyDeleteI think disc brake users are a larger part of your customer base than you may realize. This comments section frequently has posters recommending compatibility with disc brakes. Your stuff looks great on classic styled bikes, and also works well enough to be a choice based on function alone. Disc brake equipped bikes are not in the classic styled arena that often, but the function based bikes are rarely without discs.
ReplyDeleteMy Traitor Ruben with discs and 48mm fluted fenders (over 35mm Panaracers).
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmythefly/3574666140/in/set-72157613526548722/
A buddy has some hammereds on a Salsa Vaya, they look aces.
I'd give this a read before you consider locations for future expansion:
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/6596mqu
Potential benefits for an individual aside, what are the paleo diet's larger ramifications and ethics?
I've had VO fenders on my disk-equipped '09 Raleigh Superbe for about a year now. But it was designed for fenders in the first place....
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/646e7ob
while not exactly paleo, John Greer's comments about food and gardens--see "twilight of the chicken tenders" iis worth your time as is his book "the long descent-a users guide to the end of the industrial age" As for bikes ii have been pleased with parts from VO and Rivendell....and customer service from both. in VO'S case saddle, retro chainguard etc--Mark in salt lake
ReplyDeletehttp://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2010/12/twilight-of-chicken-tenders.html
I've got a set of 45mm Hammered fenders on my "nice" bike with a front disc. I got lazy and just routed the stays up to the lowrider mounts on the fork. Haven't encountered any problems.
ReplyDelete"Wouldn't a rubber washer be better in some applications?"
ReplyDeleteI suppose you want to ride a bike made of carbon too? ;)
the fenders are not really 'hammered' ( as in a hammer was used by a skilled craftsman) are they ?
ReplyDeleteTraditionally washers have been leather because the constructeurs found that rubber washers crumbled after a few year. If you live in a rainy climate it may be wise to put some oil or saddle racer on them so they don't hold water.
ReplyDeleteThe fenders are hammered by machine rollers. But there are still plenty of craftsmen who make hand hammered metal-ware, usually pots and trays. Maybe a set of hand hammered fenders could be commissioned.
Oooh. Steel-drum fenders! Imagine the wonderful noise on a gravel road!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how viable they will be with a Rohloff (external gear box) and disc brake combination. Not so much the eyelets - I am worried about routing the struts.
ReplyDeleteI mounted a pair of "hammered" VO fenders some time ago, and here are my thoughts if you're interested:
ReplyDeleteThe fenders are not hammered per se, instead it's a geometrical pattern pressed into the metal. The grooves/lines that make up the pattern are made with a sharp tool, and the lines are effectively creases that weakens the metal. When I tried to slightly reshape the end of one fender using very light force and soft hands, the fender cracked right along one of the creases. I could see it would be easy to tear the fender in pieces using only my hands if I wanted to, following the creases. A traditional hammered pattern, with soft bulges, actually strengthen and stiffen the fender slightly, while this pressed pattern unfortunately weakens it, which worries me a bit.
Other than this, the length of the fenders were good, and they were easy to mount. Personally I would have preferred drilling the holes for the stays and fork mount myself as I wanted to tweak the position of the fenders and stays a little, but I can see it would cause problems for some. Up close, this pressed pattern also looks very different from a hammered one, but it doesn't look bad.