Bikes are better with fenders

Function over form. That should be the ONLY consideration while choosing a bike on which you commute. Unfortunately, it is not. Because you care how much it weighs, or what it looks like, you will never build one of these...

   (The first fixie I ever built for someone)

Simple and elegant, this is all you need to get from where you are, to where you are going.
Sure, you may HAVE one of these...

...but How the hell can you ride it in all conditions whilst keeping the trousers clean? Tell me... How?!!

Well first, you need to let go of your ego. If you commute by bike (to work or whatnot), your road bike might be fine on nice days, sure. If you live where I do, and you are commuting on this bike, 

then you are fucked. 

So, before you complain about how they look, listen to me like this dude did... 

He did not want fenders because they are "ugly." 

(Yeah, sorry, your bike is now way cooler)

He had shifting issues in the front derailleur saying it "shifted fine for the first ride, but then..." So I cleaned up the front derailleur, got it shifting perfectly, then said, "stop getting it all dirty!" 

He asked how. 

I told him this:

Velo Orange Hammered Alloy Fenders 

"Really? Will that fix it?" 

Of course it will. It keeps road debris from interfering with the derailleur's limit screws.

Plus, it bumps up the sexy factor tenfold.

He has not been back for the same issue since. 

Remember this NEW bike? 

(From an earlier blog...) Same dude, But yeah, fenders were HIS choice this time ;)
Probably the most humorous thing is that this beautiful bike gets more compliments on the fenders than the ridiculously ornate stainless steel lugs. 

So here's a look at two bikes made better by fenders. 

(All original Raleigh Seneca MTB with 26" VO polished stainless fenders)

(One fender is better than none)

To further the point, I give you some examples of bikes before and after fender sexification...

(1963 Bianchi Gran Sport)

(80's Peugeot Mixte)

(80's Fuji Berkley with a few more upgrades than just fenders)

(My personal commuter. 90's Specialized Hard Rock - Left hand drive fixie)

Clearly I have a hard-on for Velo Orange Fenders. It does not stop there however, as they make many components that are beautiful AND affordable.

Check out everything they have and see if it's for you. I have a feeling, if you are like me, you will like them.

Build yourself a real commuting bike, or get you ass wet. It's your choice.
At the end of the day, you will do what you want because it is what YOU want and not what some douche bag bike blogger wants for you.

Regardless, I don't care what you ride, as long as you RIDE.
If you don't want to listen to me, then listen to "The Cannibal."

I hope to be back to regular bitch sessions soon, 

until then, stay safe, stay DRY, and stay classy San Diego

Queso