29.10.2024 | Reading time - 5 min(s)

What Size Mudguards Do I Need?

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The humble mudguard, the forgotten hero of many a rainy or winter cycle. Important for a number of reasons - firstly, they keep the worst of the muddy road or trail spray off of your clothing and secondly, they keep a lot of the worst dirt off of your new bicycle 2025, meaning less maintenance and cleaning. Here, we will take a look at why mudguards are important for a number of different bicycle styles and the different options available.

We will take a look at road bikes, mountain bikes, gravel bikes and hybrid bikes and all the different mudguards such as; full length mudguards, clip on mudguards, mudguard sets, mountain bike mudguards and enduro guards. Each giving a different benefit depending on what you are looking for and your personal preferences. Firstly though we will have a look at what the correct size of mudguard you will need.

Contents and Quick Links

Mudguard Size Guide
Road Bike Mudguards
Mountain Bike Mudguards
Gravel Bike Mudguards
Hybrid Bike Mudguards
Mudguard Models
Mudguard FAQ's

Mudguard Size Guide

The correct size of mudguard will depend on a number of factors - the type of bicycle, the size of the wheels, the width of the tyres and the amount of clearance available, each of these we will explore in turn.

Type of Bicycle

Which mudguards you will fit will depend on the type of bicycle you ride. Hybrid, gravel and some road bikes will have frame mounts that can allow full length mudguards for maximum protection. Mountain bikes do not usually have mounts for guards so a different type of mudguard would be required.

Wheel Size

Wheel size is another factor to consider when deciding the best mudguards for you. When looking at bicycles, you will likely see numbers such as - 700 x 32, 27.5 x 2.2, 29 x 2.0. In each of these examples, the first number is the wheel size - 700mm, 27.5 inches (or 650b) and 29 inches respectively. Just make sure to match the correct number on your wheel to the number on the mudguard.

Tyre Width

Tyres widths vary between different bicycles - road bikes, gravel and hybrid bikes go from 25c on road bikes all the way up to 47c for gravel and hybrid bikes. As road, gravel and hybrid bikes are much more likely to have full wrap around mudguards, it is very important to make sure the mudguard is wider than your tyre to avoid any rubbing while ensuring that the guard fits in with any available clearance between the tyre and the frame.

Mountain bike tyres are measured in inches and go from approximately 1.9 inches up to 'fat' bikes at over 3.0 inches. As mountain bikes are more likely to have clip on fenders or enduroguards, the width is not as important as the wheel size or clearance.

Clearance

The clearance we are referring to is the distance available between the tyre and the bicycle frame. This will dictate whether you can fit a full length guard or for one of the many other options available.

Road Bike mudguards

Pure road bicycles are designed with efficiency in mind so it is not common for road racing bikes to have clearance or mudguard mounts for a set of full length mudguards. That being said, some endurance bikes are coming with extra clearance and mounting points to fit full length road bike mudguards.

Benefits to mudguards on a road bike

There are a number of reasons a set of mudguards are a benefit on a road bike. The best road bike mudguards keep the wheel spray off of your clothing, keep it out of your face and, if you ride in a group with other cyclists, it keeps the worst of the spray out of the face of the person behind you (which, if you've been on someones wheel on wet roads you'll know this is not pleasant).

Considerations to having mudguards on a road bike

A road bike is carefully designed to be as lightweight and efficient as possible and adding any unnecessary weight means you are less efficient uphill - it is up to you to decide if the benefits above outweigh this. Another argument is that road bike mudguards ruin the clean look of a sleek road bike (we have heard this argument more than once from the road cycling world). Also, as mentioned above, due to the lack of tyre clearance on many road bikes, the only mudguards you can fit are raceblade style (more about these later) which attach with thick rubber straps and because of this, they will never fit as securely as full length mudguards.

The introduction of disc brakes on many road bikes allows for more clearance over more traditional rim brake bikes.

Mountain Bike mudguards

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It is not uncommon to have some type of mudguards on MTBs and what and where you ride will dictate what style of mudguards you would opt for. For downhill or trail bikes, there are the minimalist enduro guard that fit on the fork under the stanchion and on the rear bridge of the seatstays for the rear fender. For something a bit more substantial, clip on mudguards offer more coverage when used as a rear mudguard and the front mudguard is a little longer to stop more of the spray.

Benefits to mudguards on mountain bikes

When descending off road on trails or cross country on wet rides, it can be very distracting to have the mud spraying in your face from the front wheel so an enduro guard or a clip on rear guard will stop the worst of this allowing you to concentrate on the terrain. For rear mudguards, these will either protect your bike frame from the mud (enduro guard) or protect your clothing (clip on mudguards). It is very uncommon for mountain bikers to fit full length mudguards unless the bike is only being used on roads and light gravel and has the necessary mudguard eyelets.

Considerations of mudguards on mountain bikes

When fitting an mtb mudguard to a mountain bike, you need to be careful that the guards do not interfere with the suspension mechanisms especially with full suspension MTBs. Another thing to watch would be that you still have plenty of mud clearance with the guard attached if you ride when it is very wet as mud clogging up your wheel is not a particularly good thing on the trails.

Gravel Bike mudguards

A gravel bike is very similar in shape to a road bike but one of the main differences is that a gravel bike will have more clearance for tyre width or to add mudguards with almost all of them having the mudguard eyelets required for full length guards. Of course, you also have the option for the raceblade style or clip on mudguards, all depending on personal preference. Apart from some pure cyclocross bikes, most gravel bicycles will take full mudguards as one of the main uses we see for a gravel bike is as an all-weather commuter bicycle so mudguards are vital in the unpredictable British weather.

Benefits to fitting mudguards to a gravel bicycle

The benefits of fitting full length mudguards to a gravel bike are that they greatly reduce the road spray and muck that gets on your clothing and your bike. Full length guards also keep spray, muck and salt off of your gears and components resulting in less maintenance and cleaning.

The fitting of clip on guards or race blades will have a similar benefit but will not give you the full coverage of full length guards. The plus of the clip-on style is that they are easy to remove if you are going out on a dry day.

Considerations to guards on a gravel bike

Depending on what you are using your gravel bike for will give rise to potential drawbacks to certain mudguards. Fitting a full mudguard to your gravel bike will reduce the potential maximum tyre width you can fit to the bike. If you are using your gravel bike off-road in muddy and wet conditions, you might have to allow for clearance to let the mud escape and not clog up as is common for full mudguards in muddy conditions.

If you are fitting raceblade or clip on guards to a gravel bike, it is best to do this when cycling on roads or light gravel as anything rougher and the guards will tend to bounce about a bit.

Hybrid bikes mudguard options

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With a hybrid bike, it is most common to fit full length mudguards for the protection of your clothing and bicycle but you absolutely can fit clip on guards if you are looking for a guard you can easily remove. We tend to see the vast majority of hybrid bikes leaving our stores with mudguards attached.

Benefits to fitting guards to a hybrid

Many of the above reasons apply here - the traditional full length mudguards will give the maximum protection to you and your bike's frame and componentry. If you were to fit clip on mudguards, the benefit of these would be some protection to you and your clothes and they are easy to fit and remove from your bike. Of course, even if you prefer to cycle in the nice weather, living in Britain means a rain shower is only around the corner.

Considerations of fitting mudguards to hybrid bikes

The only real considerations for most people is how mudguards affect the look of the bike - some prefer the clean look of a bicycle without mudguards. We suppose it is worth mentioning that you will be slightly less aerodynamic with mudguards fitted so you will be a little less efficient between A and B but the price of that is a nice line of dirt up your back.

Mudguard Styles

As you have probably gathered from the above, there are a wide range of mudguards available depending on the bike you are riding, the type of riding you are doing and personal preference. Some mudguards will not be compatible with some bike types which we will detail here in the individual mudguard and above, the "compatible mudguard" section will tell you which ones will work with which bike style.

Full length mudguards

Full length mudguards are designed to cover the majority of the bike wheel which results in the maximum coverage and the maximum protection for your clothing and your bike. Full length guards can be fitted to hybrid bikes, most gravel bikes and, now, some road bikes. Please note: there will still be a lot of road bikes that cannot accept full guards. Contact us if you are unsure.

Giant Speedshield RGX Fender

The SpeedShield RGX is a sturdy, lightweight fender series designed to fit virtually all Giant and Liv bike frames including Giant hybrid bikes UK, Featuring stable length-adjustable struts and two widths for maximum versatility. There are two versions of these mudguards available: the 38 version which fits wheel sizes up to 700*32c, and the 45 version that fits wheels between 700*32c and 700*42c.

SKS P-series Mudguards Wide Road

SKS chromoplastic mudguards formerly known as ESGE, are the best-made conventional mudguard set for hybrids and touring bikes. Quite simply, no other guards do a better job of keeping you dry. The tough chromoplastic construction is virtually indestructible, and the stainless stays and fittings are by far the best of their type in terms of weather protection and resistance to corrosion. Once these are fitted, they are a permanent fixture to your bike as some work is required to remove them. If you are looking for easily removable mudguards, check out the raceblades below.

There are a number of different size mudguards available in the p-series as below;

P35 - Suitable for bikes with 700x20-28 tyres

P45 - Suitable for bikes with 700x28-37 tyres

P55 - Mudguard for narrower ATB tyres up to 26 x 1.5

P65 - Suitable for bikes with 26x1.6-2.3 tyres

SKS Raceblade Pro Mudguards

SKS raceblade Pro are the perfect option for road bikes that do not accept the full traditional mudguard due to tight clearance or lack the proper mounts on the frame. The Raceblade Pro also make an excellent option for road and gravel bikes if you want a high degree of protection but would like to easily remove or fit the guards dependent on the weather. These easily fit with rubber fasteners on the fork legs for the front mudguard and attach by rubber attachment to the seat stays for the rear mudguard. The are fully adjustable so can adapt to almost every frame shape. Available in two sizes dependent on the width of tyre you are running with the Raceblade Pro fitting tyres up to 700c x 25mm and the Raceblade Pro XXL fitting tyres up to 700c x 35mm.

SKS Speedrocker Mudguard Set

The SKS SPEEDROCKER has been specifically developed for compatibility with gravel and adventure bikes, cyclocross bikes and road bikes with tyres exceeding 32mm and offers incredible stability over the roughest tracks while also providing optimum protection in all weathers

At the front, protection is enhanced with a new dual-height front spoiler, which deflects water and mud onto the wheel and downwards, away from the rider’s face. The rear mudguard utilises an innovative telescopic extension for greater coverage near the seat tube, and everything is held firmly in place with an all-new rubber fastening system to suit a multitude of frame designs, including integrated recesses for brake or gear cables as required.

The SPEEDROCKER also showcases an update to SKS’s stay design, the ESC Vario Safety System. The sturdy but lightweight black anodised aluminium stays have been designed wider than normal, to run over the top of the mudguard, and covered by a protective plate. This not only gives the SPEEDROCKER a sleek overall appearance but also maximises the available clearance between the tyre and mudguard.

Mountain bike mudguards

The available mudguards for MTB's are a little different to the full length mudguards above because of the design of MTB's, particularly the suspension fork and, when it's a full suspension MTB, the shock at the back. Depending on which mountain bike you are riding, will depend on which particular mudguard will suit your needs. Below are a few of the most popular MTB mudguards.

RRP Proguard Rear Standard Mudguard

The ProGuard Rear Standard is RRP's amazing new range of REAR mudguards for disc brake MTBs offering unmatched protection from mud and spray, it is perfect for Trail, Enduro or Downhill racers and essential for the weekend warrior looking for the very best protection. The ProGuard REAR is made from super high impact recyclable polypropylene, the finish is matte black with gloss highlights for the logo and centreline. Attaches to the seat stays with zip ties for a secure fit even when on the roughest downhills.

RRP Enduroguard Mudguard

One of the most underrated and innovative mudguards on this list. The RRP Enduroguard is the perfect minimalist mudguard for front fork MTB's or as either a front and/or rear mudguard for full suspension bikes. Simply attaches to the fork crown with zip ties and deflects the worst of the spray and mud away from the riders' face and on the rear, it will protect your linkages and backs of your legs from the worst of the dirt. A truly innovative wee mudguard.

It is worth noting that these guards are only also to be used on hardtail bikes or full sus MTB's due to the way they are designed. For that reason, these cannot be used on hybrid, gravel, road or touring bikes.

Crud Racepac Mudguard Set

Another option for mountain bikes, both hardtail and full sus are the Crud Racepac guards, also known as clip on mudguards. These easily attach to the down tube for the front mudguard and will protect your thighs and torso from the spray. Whyte hardtail mountain bikes come with handy bosses to screw the front mudguard on for extra stability when on technical trails. The rear mudguard attaches to the seat post to protect your clothing from the dirt and wet.

Quick Tip: particularly on children's bikes, you need to ensure that there is enough of the seat post showing for the rear mudguard to be attached to and that, when fitted, it does not rub on the rear wheel.

Other Mudguards

RRP Rearguard Road Mudguard

These are super minimalist rear mudguards favoured by road cyclists. RRP Rearguard fits in the rails of your saddle and protect your rear end from road spray. Simple and effective. These are excellent road bike mudguards but can actually be fitted to any bike saddle that has saddle rails.

Mudguard FAQ's

As always, we have checked on the web and found the most frequently asked questions regarding mudguards and our answers to these.

Are mudguards necessary?

For some people: yes, for some: no. For those that commute and ride in their work clothes then mudguards are definitely necessary. Some form of guards on mountain bikes are necessary also to keep the worst of the spray out of your face on descents. Finally, for road or gravel riders this purely comes down to personal preference and the type of riding.

Do mtb mudguards work?

Yes, and there are different styles available for different purposes. Minimalist enduroguard for xc and downhill riders keeps the worst of the spray off of your face when descending hard in wet conditions while more substantial clip-on guards keep more spray off you and your clothing.

Do mudguards slow you down?

This is a tricky one to answer. On one hand, there are studies that argue that mudguards make you more aerodynamic and some that argue the opposite. Mudguards do certainly add weight to your bike so on hills they count against you but we are probably goijng to have to sit on the fence with this one until more definitive studies are available.

We would say that the main considerations of guards are whether they keep you clean and dry rather that if they slow you down.

Do mudguards fit all types of bikes, like MTB and road bikes?

As we have discussed above, there are different types of mudguards available for different styles of bikes but there are no universal mudguards that we are aware of that fits all bikes.

How do I choose the right size mudguards for my bike's tyres?

This section here can help. The short version of this is to ensure that your guards are wider than your tyre (for road, gravel and hybrid bikes) with extra consideration to gravel bike mudguards if you are cycling in mud as you will need extra space to let the mud clear.

For mountain bike mudguards, clip on guards will be based on the wheel size and not tyre width. For enduro guard style mudguards, you just need to ensure that there is enough clearance between your tyre and the guard when it's fitted.

Can mudguards be easily removed and reattached?

Clip-on style and raceblade guards can easily be fitted and removed. Full-length guards are more of a permanent fixture due to being screwed into the bike frame so are not particularly quick to remove.

Final Thoughts

Well, there you have it. Our ultimate guide to everything you wanted to know about mudguards (and probably some that you didn't). Compatibility is sometimes a tricky area so, as always, if you are unsure, please get in touch with our stores in Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leeds or one of our three in Edinburgh (Bruntsfield, Canonmills or Hamilton Place, Stockbridge) or contact our friendly online department for advice or which mudguards would be best for your bicycle. As with all things cycling, personal preference comes in to is so please get in touch.

Author

Ross Howieson

Content Creator

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What Size Mudguards Do I Need?

Mudguard Size Guide

Type of Bicycle

Wheel Size

Tyre Width

Clearance

Road Bike mudguards

Benefits to mudguards on a road bike

Considerations to having mudguards on a road bike

Mountain Bike mudguards

Benefits to mudguards on mountain bikes

Considerations of mudguards on mountain bikes

Gravel Bike mudguards

Benefits to fitting mudguards to a gravel bicycle

Considerations to guards on a gravel bike

Hybrid bikes mudguard options

Benefits to fitting guards to a hybrid

Considerations of fitting mudguards to hybrid bikes

Mudguard Styles

Full length mudguards

Giant Speedshield RGX Fender

SKS P-series Mudguards Wide Road

SKS Raceblade Pro Mudguards

SKS Speedrocker Mudguard Set

Mountain bike mudguards

RRP Proguard Rear Standard Mudguard

RRP Enduroguard Mudguard

Crud Racepac Mudguard Set

Other Mudguards

RRP Rearguard Road Mudguard

Mudguard FAQ's

Are mudguards necessary?

Do mtb mudguards work?