4 of 4 customers found this review helpful.
I bought a pair of the Portland Design Works Poncho Road Fenders about a year ago for road-turned-rando bike and overall have been happy with them. They do a really great job of keeping spray off my back and minimal exposure to feet and drivetrain. There are a couple quirks about them that kept me from giving them 5 stars, but overall I like them and feel like they are the best option for a lightweight low profile fender that doesn't look too bad on a road bike.
Pros
-Fender stays can be adjusted trimmed to provide a clean, protrusion free fit that sits close to tire
-Front fender stay has quick releases that disengage the stay from the fork if the fender is bumped (I'm actually not sure this is a pro, since I have several times tripped the release when my foot hit the fender while starting pedaling from a stop, but I guess there is a safety aspect here that might be beneficial).
- On the lighter end of the weight range for fenders. Fender stays are pretty robust but extremely light.
- For those that like it there is an accessory tail light that can be integrated into the fender.
- The road version is the smallest width fender I could find and has a nice clean, aerodynamic look for 23mm tires.
-Full-length front fender reduces road spray onto the drive train and your feet and legs.
Cons
- Both fenders require removing the brake calipers for installation. I found that adding the fender hanger bracket resulted in the caliper fastening bolt to come loose unless a locking washer was added between the fender hanger and the bike frame. This installation prevents easy removal of the fender, but I knew this would be the case so it isn't a big deal to me.
- The rear fender hanger requires you to bend metal tabs around the fender. The metal is quite stiff and the bent portions ended up at different lengths, which made the whole bracket sit off center slightly. This didn't affect functionality but seemed like a hokey solution. Also, if you don't bend the hanger to really 'grab' the fender it will will slip and mess up the fender spacing with the tire.
- BEWARE of placing the fenders too close to the tire. I intentionally did this to have a clean, 'tucked' look, which was great until I flatted the first time and the deflated tire caught the mounting nut plate for one of the rear stays, rolled the fender up into itself, and caused the rear wheel to lock up and grind a 2 inch hole in my tire. Also, having the fender this close prevents rocks picked up by the tire from having an escape route other than to grind their way along inside the fender until they are ejected out the front. This sound is unnerving and would probably result in a flat for thin or worn tires. I now have them about 38 off the tire and I think this has helped.
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