>In a message dated 1/2/05 4:49:56 PM, f.knox@att.net writes:
>
>>I have Honjos on my new touring bike. I really like the way they look
>>but have some noise from them on rough roads that I haven't been able to get
>>rid of yet.
>>
>They can be noisy but just a little fiddling with the bolt tightness and
>tension on the stays can work wonders. Sorry I can't explain it any better.
>Phil Brown
>Esge, not Honjos today in San Rafael, Calif.
One thing that helps is to bend the stays so that they aren't under any strain, but "fall" in place where they are supposed to go. They usually are a bit too "open." Also make sure the fender itself isn't being "pulled in shape" by the stays. It should rest within an inch of where you want it without stays attached. You can change the diameter of these fenders rather easily, but carefully, by holding onto the ends and pulling it open or pushing it closed. Just take your time and don't buckle it!
This not only reduces noises, but also makes them last longer. Well-mounted alloy fenders should be silent on all but the most bumpy, bone-jarring pavement. But mounting them well is a bit more involved than using plastic fenders, and ideally, the bike should be designed with them in mind. Like so many things in cycling, the result is worth the effort.
Finally, don't forget to attach the stays to the fender itself by two
eyebolts, not one. One often is suggested, but leads to flex of the
fender, and premature breakage. This usually occurs at the rear brake
bridge.
--
Jan Heine, Seattle
Editor/Publisher
Vintage Bicycle Quarterly
c/o Il Vecchio Bicycles
140 Lakeside Ave, Ste. C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.mindspring.com/