Review on 🚴 SKS Velo 65 Trekking Front and Rear Snap-On Fender Set: Ideal for 26-Inch Bikes by David Lesperance

Access to the machine hall is the right tool in this case. But first, let me be clear that I'm not going to berate these wings for the complicated installation process. They are very well made (in Germany, unlike many bike accessories these days) and SKS deserves credit for trying to take a one-size-fits-all approach when the wide range of uses makes that almost impossible. One thing is for sure though, I was optimistic that these modern fenders would work on a 35 year old rigid frame tandem and braced myself for disappointment. SKS clearly intended the Velo 65 Mountain for later bikes with a lot of space between the fork crown and the front wheel, where our old tandem obviously fell short. The included steel brackets are too big for our old fork so I cut one off as shown in the first photo. I then went to the shop and made a spacer/mounting plate (photo #2) to match the fork and move the fender back a half inch to allow more clearance between the tire and fender. I also modified the fender itself with a turning tool to narrow it where it runs between the fork legs, which can also be seen in photo 2. Again, this would probably be unnecessary with a more modern fork. At this point, I highly recommend purchasing an optional U-Stay kit if your frame and fork have the necessary mounting lugs. The struts provide significant extra rigidity and prevent your fenders from dangling in rough terrain. Since the SKS fenders are shaped to fit 26" to 29" wheels, I shortened the front struts by an inch to allow the fender to better follow the profile of our 26" wheel. Compared to the front fender, the rear setup was relatively easy and the fender didn't interfere at all with our previously installed C-pillar. The only catch is that the SKS hardware design assumes your seatstay bridge is pre-drilled for a rack or fender mount. We don't, so we went back to the machine shop to make the bracket shown in photo #3, which like the fork seal was made out of Delrin plastic. With so many different frame and fork designs, it would be unreasonable to expect an aftermarket fender to easily fit any bike. Where SKS fails is with wordless, inadequate instructions that are even more incomprehensible than the typical Ikea instructions - as if that were even possible. Otherwise, a reasonably competent mechanic will be able to find a working setup on most bikes.