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review

Flinger Race Pro Clip Mudguards

9
£54.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Clip-on mudguards that offer excellent performance and stability in an easy-to-fit package
Easy and quick to fit
Adjustable stays
Good coverage
Would benefit from extra length at the back and storm flaps
32mm tyre coverage looks tight
Weight: 
256g

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The Flinger Race Pro Clip mudguards provide excellent coverage for temporary fixtures, turning any bike into a 'winter' bike. They are simple and quick to fit and remove, so there is even the option to take them on and off depending on the weather. They are robustly built and there is is very little noise when riding.

Mudguards are an absolute essential for cycling on British roads, and while nothing can beat a set of full-length bolt-on guards with storm flaps for coverage, many bikes these days – particularly those built for performance – don't come with the necessary eyelets to attach traditional guards. This is where the market for clip-on guards has grown, and while they will always be a compromise they can reduce the need for an extra bike – and in the case of the Flinger Race Pro Clip perform exceptionally well.

> Find your nearest dealer here

I approach the fitting of any mudguard with a degree of trepidation (memories of days spent hacksaw in hand 'micro-adjusting' my old SKS Chromoplastics), but my skepticism was unwarranted when it came to the Flingers. Loosen the brake bolt, slide on the metal clips and retighten and all the 'hard' work's over. Slide the guards onto each end of the clips and attach the stays using the supplied rubber bands and you're done.

2020 Flinger Race Pro Clip Mudguards - stay attachment.jpg

You can adjust the length of the stays using the simple thumb-crew barrel adjuster, between 394 and 514mm, meaning the polycarbonate guard can be adjusted to suit almost any road bike.

2020 Flinger Race Pro Clip Mudguards - rear wheel side-on.jpg

My Look has been my bike of choice for a good many years now, and although the introduction of 25mm tyres is planned for next summer, this year it has still been wearing suitable old-school 23mm Continentals. As such there is bags of clearance everywhere, except at the front edge of the front guard, which got me wondering exactly how this would fare with 32mm rubber, which is the claimed upper limit.

2020 Flinger Race Pro Clip Mudguards - front wheel side-on.jpg

On my wife's Felt they accommodated a set of 28mm Michelins, but still left me unsure about that upper limit, especially on a tight frame. They are so easy to fit, however, that it wouldn't cost you much in time to find out... just check the returns policy before you buy.

Out on the road I was impressed by how well the Race Pro Clip guards work. Convinced before setting off for the first time that there would be some rattling over rough ground, particularly behind the seat tube, I am delighted to report that this was not the case, and that the guards are still very quiet several weeks later.

2020 Flinger Race Pro Clip Mudguards - full Bike.jpg

Coverage for you as the rider is excellent, though the lack of a storm flap on the front guard does see some muck find its way through to your feet and bottom bracket. At the back you're in no danger of getting wet, though anyone riding in your wheel won't be able to say the same. They are a lot better than following someone with no mudguards, though, or someone with any other clip-on guard I can think of.

2020 Flinger Race Pro Clip Mudguards - rear wheel.jpg

There are gaps in the protection for your bike around the brake bridges, of course, but even here the metal clips offer some coverage and none of the spray makes its way through to you.

2020 Flinger Race Pro Clip Mudguards - rear brake.jpg

At £54.99 these mudguards are priced towards the top end for clip-ons, but if you can run to it they easily deliver on that upper market positioning. The coverage truly is very good, and just as crucially, fitting and removal really is very easy, despite the extra security of being attached at the brake bridge.

> 9 top survival tips for cycling in the rain

Given the SKS Raceblade Pro Stealths come in at the same price, and the SKS Raceblade Pros just a fiver less, but offer less coverage and less stability, the Flinger Pro Race Clips offer excellent performance and fine value for money.

Verdict

Clip-on mudguards that offer excellent performance and stability in an easy-to-fit package

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Flinger Race Pro Clip Mudguards

Size tested: For 700C x 18-32

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Quick-fit mudguards for race bikes without eyelets for standard guards.

Flinger says, 'Quick-fit, quick release performance mudguards for all season use. Fitted or removed in only a few minutes, no mudguard eyelets are required to fit these guards, so they are perfect for all road bikes, including those with close clearance frames."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Flinger lists:

SUITABLE FOR: 700 x 18-32c

MATERIAL: Lightweight polycarbonate construction

STAYS: Thumb-lock, quick adjust alloy stays, 5mm to 8mm

PROFILE: Compatible with modern frames and brake calipers

IN THE BOX: Guards are partially assembled for speedy fitting, plus full fitting kit included

FRAME COMPATIBILITY: No mudguard eyelets required

STAY EXTENSION: 394-514mm

FRONT GUARD LENGTH: 780mm

REAR GUARD LENGTH: 930mm

WARRANTY: 5 YEARS

WEIGHT: 420g (pair)

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Much sturdier and more stable than expected.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

They are straightforward to fit and do a good job of keeping the worst of the wet at bay, but extensions would be needed front and back for total coverage.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

They're the same price as the SKS Raceblade Pro Stealths, if a fiver more than the non-Stealths, but extend both sides of the brake bridge and so offer better coverage.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

As well as you could hope for clip-on guards.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The easily adjustable stays, quick fitting and removal, and the surprisingly sturdy construction.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

They won't stop anyone riding behind you from copping a soaking, and a storm flap on the front guard would be nice for your feet and bottom bracket.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

The Flingers are the same price as SKS's range-topping Raceblade Pro Stealths, while Crud's Roadracer Mk3s (£39.99) come in cheaper. Neither of those options offers the same amount of coverage as the Flingers, though.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? No, I prefer full guards on the winter bike and only using the nice bike in good weather!

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

They're excellent: easy to fit, surprisingly robust and offer a good deal of protection. Only fully fitted mudguards on a bike with compatible eyelets would get you better coverage, so if your frame requires clip-ons you won't find better.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 46  Height: 177cm  Weight: 70kg

I usually ride: Genesis Equilibrium  My best bike is: Look 585

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, The nursery run!

Add new comment

12 comments

Avatar
KoenM | 3 years ago
1 like

Weird this review is a couple of years old, I know because I bought these because of this review in 2018!

Avatar
Sniffer replied to KoenM | 3 years ago
0 likes

Me too.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
0 likes

How short can you cut those rubber straps, that are sticking out in such an ugly way in the review?  Or is there another way to tidy them?

Avatar
NZ Vegan Rider replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
0 likes

Agreed - they look ugly. 

Cable tie them  3

Avatar
SuperCommuter | 3 years ago
0 likes

I recently got these to replace SKS Raceblade Pro due to the better coverage.  Thanks to those thicker struts they're very solid.  I was disappointed to find that they rattled a lot though, especially over cobbles.  On inspection I discovered that the end of the rear mudguard was rattling against the seat tube.  As far as I know (the shop fitted them) they don't come with a fitting to secure this end to the seat tube so there is quite a bit of movement.  There is a slot there where you could use a cable tie but I have instead used a piece of sticky felt from one of those furniture leg felting kits. Stuck to the guard it dampens any rattling.  Thankfully; rattles do my head in.

Avatar
Mathemagician replied to SuperCommuter | 3 years ago
0 likes
SuperCommuter wrote:

As far as I know (the shop fitted them) they don't come with a fitting to secure this end to the seat tube so there is quite a bit of movement.  There is a slot there where you could use a cable tie but I have instead used a piece of sticky felt from one of those furniture leg felting kits.

Good to know, thanks for that. One of those details that you'd hope a review would pick out and tell you...

Avatar
El Camino | 3 years ago
0 likes

I fitted these to my ageing Rose Pro2000 last winter. I'm very pleased with them.
With 25mm Vittoria Corsa Control's, there was plenty of clearance.
They're very secure and rattle-free. Only when viewing footage from my rearward-facing GoPro did I notice that they wobble/flex slightly when going over washboard-like surfaces. But is really more like absorption of vibration and imperceptible from the rider's point of view.
To my mind, these are the best clip-on mudguards on the market for bikes with no eyelets and limited clearance. And that's from someone who used to run PDW Full Metal Fenders.

Avatar
Grahamd | 3 years ago
0 likes

Nice review. Question, you say they are suitable for any bike, so what is the fixing option for disc brake bikes without the brake bolt?

Avatar
Kendalred replied to Grahamd | 3 years ago
0 likes

I was wondering the same. After looking at them off the bike (on Chicken Cycles website), I would assume they are not suitable for disc-braked bikes. 

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dogenzenji replied to Grahamd | 3 years ago
0 likes

I have these on my old, rim-braked bike and love them, but could not use them on my new disc-braked bike as it does not have rim-brake bolts. Had to get the SKS RaceBlade Pro XL instead which are also great, but missing some coverage these mudguards provide due to the extra pieces behind the seat tube and in front of the fork.

Avatar
Grahamd replied to dogenzenji | 3 years ago
0 likes

Thanks for the reply, was as I thought.

Avatar
NZ Vegan Rider replied to Grahamd | 3 years ago
0 likes

I have this problem with my Cannondale Synapse Winter bike. I've used another (lesser) model of 'clip' in guards and cable tied them to each side of the fork legs. Not sexy but it works. 

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