[Old_Dude]

I want to accomplish two things:

(1) to protect my drivetrain at the chainring area - where mud flies up from the front tire

(2) to help minimize the "skunk stripe" off my back.

Does anyone have any ideas? I found this photo and it looks to me (to the ignorant, stupid, poser that I am) like some sort of mud guard - I'm sure it's probably a bash guard, but then, I'd just like to know for sure, wouldn't something like this help keep mud out off my drivetrain?

So, what are the best methods of protecting my front chainrings/chain area from getting so muddy as well as helping minimize the "skunk stripe" (best rear fender for XC)?

Thanks

 

[pnj]

arent' you supposed to be building some jumps in your backyard?

yes, that thing is a bash/grind/sprocket protecter guard.

to protect yourself from the mud on your rear tire you can buy or make a fender.

I have made fenders from old milk jugs and laundry soap containers. then attach them w/ zip ties.

there is no protection from mud, as far as i know, for your drive chain.
just clean it when your done riding......

 

[SageBrush]

CRUD is the best for XC I find. Not sure if it's distributed in your neck of the woods though.

 

[Surly]

Pricepoint had a bunch of fenders around $10. You could get one that attaches to the seatpost to avoid the skunk effect. There are also fenders that attach to the downtube that would help keep stuff from coming off the front wheel into the drivetrain. I don't know of anything that attaches near your rings, tho. Good luck!

 

[D_D]

when there is a lot of mud on the rear tyre the chain will scrape it off resulting in a very muddy drive train, This problem is worse if you use discs as the brake arms don't remove any of the mud.

The only solution is to chean the chain every ride or use some sort of brush that would remove the mud from the tyre before it got to the chain.

 

[CTR]

this idea is a bit out of the square but, take an extra water bottle and when your drive train gets really gummed up give it a quick rinse. probably get crap in it again in 10 seconds but it might help.