In wet weather, mudguards are a great addition to your road bike. They stop you spraying water up your own back, and they also protect anyone riding behind you from getting a face full of mucky road water.

There are several things to bear in mind when looking for mudguards. Firstly, get mudguards that are designed for road bikes – this should be clearly stated in the name or description. They’ll be thin enough to fit closely around the narrow tyres.

Secondly, a lot of mudguards require the bike to have certain bolts and bolt holes already incorporated into the frame. A lot of road bikes don’t have these, so check first. Read our article on buying mudguards for more info on what to look for here.

If you are opting for this type of mudguard, make sure your bike can fit them.

Thirdly, the clearance between the wheel and the frame on road bikes is very tight, so make sure the mudguard can fit in the gap without rubbing or catching.

There are also a selection of mudguards that are designed to be used with bikes that don’t have the bolts and holes, and instead strap on to the forks and stay with strong rubber straps. These perform well, and are also quicker to remove if you want to take them off in good weather.