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news
Alberto Contador’s homemade water bottle mudguard
When Alberto Contador visited London earlier this week for a meet and greet at Herne Hill velodrome, he remembered one vital thing: his mudguard. However this isn’t any normal mudguard, look closely and you can clearly see it’s a repurposed water bottle, a Tinkoff-Saxo branded one at that.
We can’t say we’ve ever seen a water bottle mudguard like this before. Correct us if you have. It’s similar in purpose to the Ass Saver mudguards, which fit to the saddle in the same fashion, and have been spotted in some of the wetter professional road races, such as Milan-San Remo last year.
We’re not sure why Contador hasn’t used a purpose built mudguard like an Ass Saver, and instead opted for the homemade approach? We’d speculate it’s the handiwork of one his team mechanics too, and it does look very neatly made, with the team branding central on the mudflap.
You don’t see this sort of homemade tinkering in professional cycling as much as you used to in the old days, but spot a pro cyclist out winter training and you’re quite likely to spot something non-standard like this.
So got some old water bottles going spare? I have and I’m heading out to the shed now to fashion my own mudguard - I’ll let you know how I get on.
If you want to know more about conventional mudguards then be sure to check out our buyer's guide to mudguards, and here are some tips for winterising your bike.
Thanks to Frazer Clifford for letting us use the photo.
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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23 comments
'He'd have to sit at the back of our winter clubrun equipped liked that'
Or find a club which weren't so anal...
Yeah that ass saver thing really just saves his own.
On a club run (or even just riding with mates) you need full guards and a flap on wet or dirty rides.
If everyone has them - then your jersey will be spotless.
If they don't then it gets covered in crud. Its only manners.
If you CBA fitting mudguards - then don't ride with people who do !
Yeah that ass saver thing really just saves his own.
On a club run (or even just riding with mates) you need full guards and a flap on wet or dirty rides.
If everyone has them - then your jersey will be spotless.
If they don't then it gets covered in crud. Its only manners.
If you CBA fitting mudguards - then don't ride with people who do !
Sooo... Alberto is relying on Oleg's support to save his ass is he?
Never mind the mudguard, the dude behind Alberto hasn't got any socks on!!!!!
seen the sky riders on winter training with front crudcatchers lashed to their saddles to get the same effect as an ass-saver. Also with massive old skool frame pumps under the top tube. made their swanky pinarellos look a right mess but i guess it works.
I am a member of 2 clubs, each of which has just had an actual row on their respective forums about whether mudguards should be made compulsory through the winter. I was astounded that anyone thought the answer should be "no", but plenty did; this is depressing, and shows a lack of manners and consideration for others.
Chromoplastics tend to come without the rear flap but Google "SKS Spoiler XXL Mud Flap 35mm" and you'll find there all over. They're very easy to fit.
Alberto Contador recently returned from Kenya, training at Herne Hill. Spending more time in the UK than Chris Froome. Get him in a GB kit now.
If you're bothered about a face of spray when you're sat behind someone and essentially getting a free tow, then you should get on the front and put some work in!?
Think this through: therefore to avoid getting sprayed, *everyone* needs to be at the front, all the time. Either your roads are a lot wider than round these parts, or there's some law of quantum physics / space-time relation that applies to your club runs, not mine.
At least he didn't say "Ugh. Rule 5, dude", ie everyone else has to HTFU because I can't be arsed fitting mudguards.
clever idea, ass saver for free.
I don't understand no mudguard, no club ride policy of some. When I rider behind someone using mudguards I still get a road facial, it doesn't make a lot of difference.
Simmo: Full-length mudguards definitely make a huge difference to the spray you get from a rider ahead, in my experience.
Totally agree.
Full SKS CHromoplastics with a mud flap front and rear is best. Without the optional rear mudflap they're still very good.
Crud RoadRacer guards aren't bad.
SKS Raceblade XLs are borderline.
SKS Raceblades are a waste of time, unless you come from the "I'm alright Jack" school of wet weather cycling.
Yes, and mudflaps certainly help. I have them front (to keep my feet dry) and rear (to keep everyone else dry).
And I make them out of 2L milk bottles
Flappage is the answer! Take said water bottle/milk bottle/ bleach bottle piece and attach to bottom of rear mudguard. No cow poo in face, jobs a goodun...
was the 2nd photo taken on a 1999 digital camera (joking)?
Actually, it was taken on a Potato Camera™, a former Kickstarter project
That photo was just me cropping the original photo at the top of the article to get a closer look at it, hence the poor quality. I wasn't actually at the event so didn't get my own photos, sorry
Love this - the cool stuff pro team mechanics do is always interesting to read about.
Love this - the cool stuff pro team mechanics do is always interesting to read about.
He'd have to sit at the back of our winter clubrun equipped liked that
....or be out front on his own, which is more likely.