Everything you need to know about gravel bike mudguards: how to stay clean and dry through winter

By Katherine Moore

Published: Monday, 23 January 2023 at 12:00 am

Could there be any greater delight than getting to the end of a wintery gravel ride with a dry derrière? Or taking a sip of your mid-ride coffee without mud crumbling off your face into your flat white?

For the yet-to-be-converted, mudguards – or fenders – can be a real game-changer for winter gravel riding, or any wet-weather conditions for that matter.

But aren’t dirt, gravel and grit all part of off-road riding? And what are the mudguard/fender options out there for gravel bikes?

Here, we look into why you should consider fitting mudguards to your gravel bike, as well as the different options for all types of bike (and budget) and the practical considerations you need to take into account before plunging into foul-weather bliss.

Why should you fit mudguards to a gravel bike?

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Mudguards can make all the difference when it comes to enjoying winter gravel rides.
Canyon / Clement Hodgkinson

The pros…

We’ve touched on the plus-sides already: just like road bike mudguards, gravel ‘guards essentially limit the amount of water, mud and debris that flicks up off your gravel tyres and onto you or your bike.

How effective that protection is will depend on how much coverage your mudguards offer.

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Full-coverage mudguards will go a long way to keeping you dry and comfortable on the bike.

Options range from minimal strap-on mudguards that offer light relief for your face or backside, to full-length mudguards that give much more protection, helping to keep you dry from head-to-toe, while also maintaining your bike frame and components in better condition.

Keeping water and muck off your body will help you feel comfortable on the bike. If it’s cold and you’re wet, you’re more likely to catch a chill, and no one enjoys sitting on a soggy chamois.

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Minimalist gravel mudguards are also available.
Ass Savers

Riding off-road is also inherently tougher on bike components, including your drivetrain, where grit, stones and sand can quickly combine to become a component-eating paste. So besides keeping you warm and dry, fitting mudguards can help prolong the lifespan of your bike parts. This surely makes them one of the best gravel bike accessories going.

The cons…

Well, as with anything, there can be downsides to fitting mudguards on your gravel bike.

Firstly, there’s the matter of clearance. Adding an extra layer of metal or plastic around your tyres needs space, especially where potential trail debris is factored into the equation, and not all off-road bikes have the clearance to add mudguards, particularly if you still want to run a chunky tyre.

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Mud clearance can be an issue.
GripGrab

You may find that you need to run a smaller-volume tyre in order to run mudguards on your gravel bike, or even opt for a smaller wheel size by switching from 700c wheels for 650b to give extra space, if your bike offers compatibility.

Adding mudguards to your bike will also add weight, though exactly how much depends on what type you opt for. Unless you’re racking up serious climbing, the extra protection on offer will likely offset any weight gain.

Finally, fitting mudguards can sometimes be a bit trickier than you’d expect. It’s worth taking your time to get the fit just right, or asking a local mechanic to help out.

Front mudguard, rear mudguard or both?

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Front and rear mudguards are integrated into the frame and fork of the YT Szepter.
YT Industries

While road riders will typically mount a set of mudguards at both the front and rear of the bike, gravel riders or mountain bikers may opt to run a ‘guard at only one end.

Why? Well, the front and rear mudguards serve slightly different purposes, and how much you value front or rear protection will depend on your personal preferences.

While the front mudguard acts mostly to stop mud flicking up off your front tyre into your face, the rear mudguard functions mostly to stop spray hitting your rear end.

Full-length mudguards with flaps also help to keep this filth off your feet and bike, which can be largely attributed to the front mudguard.

Most riders tend to opt for both front and rear mudguards for greater protection, though there’s no reason why you couldn’t run just one or the other.

Three types of gravel mudguard

Generally speaking, there are three types of gravel mudguard: short-coverage clip-on mudguards (available for either the front or, more commonly, the rear), full-coverage clip-on mudguards and full-coverage mudguards that require eyelets.

Choosing the most suitable option will depend on exactly what you want from your mudguard(s) and what you can fit to your bike.

Short-coverage clip-on mudguards

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The rear Mudhugger Gravel Hugger mudguard on a Lauf True Grit gravel bike.
Russell Burton / Our Media

Let’s start off with the most minimal mudguards on the market.

Short-coverage, clip-on mudguards are pretty much as you’d expect; they offer relatively limited coverage, compared to full-length guards, but can be fitted to any bike, because you can strap, clip or cable-tie them onto your frame without the need for mudguard eyelets.

You might not get the same full-body protection as a longer set of mudguards, but if you value rear-end protection above all else, and you want tool-free fitment, you’ll be covered here.

Generally, the minimalist design means frame and mud clearance is less of an issue, too.

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The Gravel Hugger is also available as a front mudguard.
Tom Marvin / Immediate Media

The Mudhugger Gravel Hugger is one such example of a short-coverage clip-on mudguard.

The Gravel Hugger is a gravel-specific set of the brand’s popular mountain bike mudguards, mounting onto the fork and seatstays using cable ties or rubber O-rings.