The Duck Flap Fender from Miles Wide.
Adding a layer of defense against mud is a no brainer this time of year. There are quite a few to choose from, but our favorite fenders have been fork mounted mud guards. For the last few months I’ve been running the Duck Flap from Miles Wide Industries.
Designed to “keep the Quap off”, the Duck Flap fender has done the job. It’s also light enough to run it year-round, and at only $13 bucks they’re inexpensive enough to put one on each bike.
Duckflap mounted on a Pike fork with 27.5″ tires.
Weighing in at 25 grams, it can be mounted on the fork, seat stay or chain stay for full mud coverage and according to Miles Wide, will fit all wheel sizes. We can attest to it fitting well on a Pike fork with 650b wheels, and an X-fusion fork with 29″ wheels with plenty of clearance.
Splashing through a stream on the Sandy River Trail in Portland, Oregon. Thanks to the Duck Flap I didn’t get any crap on my goggles…
On the Trail
There are more full coverage options when it comes to fenders, but the bigger they are, the heavier they get. They also can flop around and make noise. The Duck Flap is a more minimal solution and mostly serves to keep mud off your face. It’s not really noticeable in fair weather, so it’ll likely live on my fork all year.
Most importantly, if you’re not a fan of the printed duck graphic, you can simply mount it upside down, so it doesn’t impose on the looks of your ride while adding a bit of moto flair.
Installing the Duck Flap requires 6-7 zip ties, not included.
The plastic used for the Duck Flap is resilient, and although our car rack squishes it a bit when my bike is mounted up, I’m pleased to report that it doesn’t appear to have any memory and consistently returns to its initial shape without being deformed.
The Duck Flap sells for $12.99 and is available in a variety of colors. Check it out at Miles-Wide.com
