Fender for Gus Boots Willsen

[Ed Fausto]

After a long wait, I finally received my GBW with 27.5 x 2.6" Bontrager XR2 tires.

Ever since I became a fan of Rivendell, I have been a fender convert mostly using SKS fenders.

Looking at the tire clearances of my GBW, it seems I do not have enough space to install fenders.

Anyone who has installed fenders with these hilly bikes?

[Joe Bernard]

I have a Susie/Wolbis with 27.5 x 2.25 Thunder Burts. I have SKS P65 fenders which I have test-fitted but not mounted and it looks like it'll work but it's close. The max tire for these frames is 2.8 and unfortunately I think you're going to have to drop down closer to what I'm using to get full fenders in that space, too. Another option is to get those half-fender things that mountain bikers use, PDW has some options there. 

Joe Bernard

[Ed Fausto]

Hi Joe,

Looks like its a choice between a 27.5 plus tire versus fender with smaller tires.

I will first try the half-fender you suggested.

Thanks.

[iamkeith]

Ed,  I have 2.8 tires on wide (34i) rims on my 56/700c Susie and am trying to figure out fenders too.   I just tried a set of SKS Bluemel 75s in case this experience helps:

There is plenty of frame clearance, even with a good gap to the tire.  As seems to be the case with many Rivendells, the tightest spot was at the bottom of the fork crown - not at the seat tube or chainstays or braces, as you'd expect with other bikes.   I don't think I would have even needed to notch the rear for chain clearance, but that's a function of bottom bracket spindle length so YMMV.  However, I did have interference at the cantilever straddle wire.   (I used cantis instead of v brakes specifically because I wanted to run big tires and fenders, which wouldn't fit under V-brakes.)  

I could solve this and make these fenders work by raising the straddle wire a tiny bit, but I'm reluctant to becasue I think I have them adjusted pretty well for power.  Or I could notch the edge of the fender to allow the cable to cut through, but that seems dangerous.   A different canti arm profile might help too.  (I'm using the Dia Compe 980.) I was going to try an extra-wide straddle-wire hanger - which would proably solve it - but I kind of decided that the black fenders don't look so good on the bike.   If you have a different color scheme than me though and don't mind black, this may be a pretty good solution.  They're nice looking and nicely-made fenders - just not like the silver SKS that I'm accustomed to.

My next step is going to be to try the Simworks/Honjo Flat 80 fender, but they're super expensive so I need to make as many measurements as possible first.  The advantage of using aluminum will be that I can deform them to fit the fork crown better than plastic ones, where the critical clearance point would otherwise be as noted above.

Last option will be to use some Planet Bike 60mm fenders, even though those wouldn't provide full coverage.

Boils down to a lot of trial and error unfortunately, but I can at least confirm that it will be possible in one way or another.   I'm going to put the Bluemel 75 fenders on another bike soon but haven't yet, in case you'd like me to take some photos of it mocked up.

[Ed Fausto]

Hi iamkeith!

Please do take some photos and keep us updated on your fender experiments.

Yes, you are correct.  The fork crown has the tightest clearance.  When I had my Gus built by Rivendell I did not anticipated the potential fender issue and had V brakes installed with its straddle wire close to the tires.

With the Dia Compe 980, do you have to deflate your tires a lot to remove the wheel set?

[iamkeith]

Here are some snapshots with the bleumel 75 fenders.  In the overall shot, they're just sitting on the tires.  In the others, I'm holding approximately where they'd be if installed.  I do NOT need to deflate the tires to remove the wheels past the brake pads.  

[iamkeith]

[iamkeith]

On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 5:51:48 PM UTC-7 iamkeith wrote:

[iamkeith]

[Joe Bernard]

Interesting. Based on what I see on my Susie this shouldn't work, but my tires are knobbier so that will make a difference. Nice job!

[Ed Fausto]

Dear iamkeith,

Thanks for providing those pictures :-)

Looks like your Susie fork has better tire clearance than my 51 GUS.  :-(

I will try to get some measurement when I get home tonight but based on my visual estimate, the fork of my 51 GUS has only around 5-8mm clearance from the top of the tire.

Looks like the Susie forks has more clearance than Gus forks unless my 27.5 x 2.6 tires are unusually taller compared to other 27.5 plus tires.

Regards,

Ed Fausto

[Mark Roland]

The Dia Compe 980 is a wide profile cantilever, so raising the straddle cable should not degrade the brake performance.

Last week Rivendell had Origin8 X-tra Pro V-brakes for sale. These have 110mm arms, like the Tektro 849a, which are no longer available (you can get them in a couple of places overseas). This should give you enough clearance for fenders. Unfortunately, Riv is sold out. You can get them from other vendors.

For my Clem L, I originally was running Thunder Burts in 2.2 and wanted extra clearance, so I got the biggest 700c fenders from Velo Orange (63mm fluted) and re-radiused them for 650B. This should give you some additional clearance for your 27.5 Gus. VO has instructions on its blog on how to do this, fairly straightforward.

My Susie with Teravail Honcho 2.6" tires, like your Gus, has tons of room in the rear but it is getting close under the fork crown. Still doable, but if I were running fenders I would switch to the file tread of Rene Herse Antelope Hill ( 700 x 55/2.2"). Also, fenders would run afoul of the current v-brakes. Luckily, I have my Clem L if I need to ride in bad weather.

[Ed Fausto]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for recommending the Origin8 X-tra Pro V-brakes.  I have overlooked this brake set from Riv.

Will try to check other suppliers.

Ed

[Ed Fausto]

Hi iamkeith,

Two questions...

1. What brand/make and where did you get those rear brake cable hanger?

2. What specific model and size are your tires?

TIA

On Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 8:51:48 AM UTC+8 iamkeith wrote:

[iamkeith]

Ed, 

Cable hanger is an old Dia Compe for mixtes.  Readily available on ebay.  I had to add the barrel adjuster and spread it out a bit wider to fit.  I also drilled out the rivet and replaced the chrome pulley with a brass one, just because I had it.  All in all, about 1/2 hour's effort, but SO much more attractive than the unwieldy loop of cable you'd get with a normal canti hanger ( in my opinion).

While I'm at it, here's another piece I fabricated  to keep the rear derailleur cable from rubbing on the kickstand plate and gain a little tire and fender clearance.  I don't know that this was actually necessary, but it was a fun way to appease my ocd.

Tires are V Tire (V Rubber) Speedster 29x2.8.  I'm not sure they make them in a 650bx2.8 that isn't a heavy eBike version, but the tire you want is the Schwalbe SuperMoto 2.8.  Better AND cheaper!  I had the 29x2.5 on my Clem and loved them.  Other than a couple of rim strikes, they were adequate for any trail conditions required of them.  (For dedicated mountain rides, I usually use a different bike.)

[iamkeith]

[iamkeith]

On Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 11:43:06 AM UTC-7 iamkeith wrote:

[Jared Wilson]

Keith,

Who makes the blue RD cable guide that's on your kickstand plate?

-Jared

[iamkeith]

Jared,  it's just a scrap of HDPE board, like they make modern playground equipment out of.  As noted, I made it myself, with a few minutes effort with a chopsaw, hand drill and sandpaper.  (I found some joker selling scraps on ebay for cheap, calling them "cutting boards."  I did NOT sneak into a playground late at night with a hand saw.)  If you open the photo on your cell phone, hold the phone flat, and sight down the cable, you can see how it kicks out with a slight angled routing, to improve tire and (eventually) fender clearance.

[Jared Wilson]

Very slick Keith, I'll post when I get around to making a similar piece.

[Weston Hein]

Beautiful build Keith! That rear cable hanger is so good with the brass pulley :)

What rims are you running on the Susie? 

On Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 10:45:03 AM UTC-8 iamkeith wrote:

[Mark Roland]

Ed--I don't think you overlooked them. I think Riv got in a bunch, advertised it in the newsletter, and sold out. I got a pair to eventually put on my Hubbuhubbuh, because the fenders on that one should come up closer to the frame, but can't clear the v-brake cable. However, while I do not hate black parts per se, I definitely do not like them on a bright orange frame.

[iamkeith]

Speaking of orange/black, this showed up on Blue Lug's instagram today!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKquVcajH9G/?igshid=r3iwfj240rur

[Ed Fausto]

Yup, definitely very slick build.

Now I understand why I cannot find that same brass pulley with the barrel adjuster :-)

[Mark Roland]

Yeah I saw that. It is an attractive build, but, you know, Blue Lug. They can do the black bling. But also,  the Susie orange is deeper and richer than the Hubbuh orange, and that makes a big difference. I can certainly admire bikes built with orange and black, just not my thing!

[Mark Roland]

Speaking of instagram, my favorite bike related poster right now is niigata0252. Lots of pics from vintage Japanese mags. Recent post shows a guy riding a drop bar Cunningham, apparently #7.

On Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 9:47:17 PM UTC-5 iamkeith wrote:

[Jason Fuller]

Simworks/Honjo Flat 80's would definitely be my choice.  With a little stay bending, you can easily fit 2.8 or 3.0's under them and they'll look the part!  

[iamkeith]

On Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 4:53:07 PM UTC-7 Weston Hein wrote:

What rims are you running on the Susie? 

Weston,  good question.

I used Nimbus Dominator II rims.  They're unicycle rims.  On paper they sound heavy at 900g but, in hand, they feel remarkably light for something so stout.  42mm wide, eyeletted,  beefy thick brake track but not the machined version.  I decided to try Tubolito tubes which are really light and thus offset any extra rim weight anyway.  In theory, you're not supposed to use these tubes on rim-brake wheels because they could melt during something like a prolonged brake-riding descent.  I was willing to take a chance because I can't see myself using the bike in such a manner, regularly if ever, and because I figured the larger tire volume and aluminum rim mass would dissipate heat better than a typical too-narrow rim.  And becasue I clearly don't like to do things the way they're meant to be done.  I haven't put them to the test yet, but will open it up and see if the tube is sticking to the rim after some riding next summer.  In the meantime, I'll say that they are holding air way better than any light-weight butyl tube or, especially, tubless setup ever has for me.

[Weston Hein]

Thanks for the info- I never knew those existed. The lack of wider rim brake rims is really what kept me from jumping on a Gus/Susie. But these look like a good option, nice work finding them!

So many great little details on this build!

[Mark Roland]

If the unicycle angle doesn't work out, there is also bmx. I built my Susie wheels using 700c  Rhyno Lite XL rims in white. Not sure of the width but plenty wide for 2.6" knobbies.  Albes is sold out of all except the colors red, blue, or gold. Or chrome for $$$. Black ones available for $35 on ebay, good deal for a good rim. I've purchased from this seller:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sun-Ringle-Rhyno-Lite-29-700c-rim-32-Hole-black-/402633453883?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

Mine:

[Mark Roland]

Oops, I just noticed the ebay links to Rhyno Lites, not Rhyno Lite XL, which is slightly wider. Apologies! I still think they would be fine. You can probably hunt down the specs at the manufacturer's site or on a good vendor site.

[Timur Mukhodinov]

Hello. Came across this group looking for pics of Gus or Susie's with 2.8 tires. Anyway - here is my Gus from last year with Honjo flat 65 fenders and 2.35 G-One tires. These fenders have fit up to 2.6 Teravail Honcho's on both a Clem and Gus.

iamkeith, the orange n' black on the Susie is sharp!