Wabi-sabi

Wabi-sabi, the Japanese aesthetic where imperfection is embraced, and my fitting of mudguards sits. I like metal mudguards, the last two sets I fitted were by Velo Orange, and as excellent as they are, I fancied  something different this time - Honjo-Konko met my calling (their H79 Smooth Fluted 650 x 58 model). With no pre-drilled holes they require a bit more effort than Velo Orange ones but there's more scope for tailoring the fit.

We'll start with the rear. The Surly Midnight Special has tonnes of clearance, 650b x 50 with mudguards according to the website. I'm running 650b x 42 Rene Herse Babyshoe Pass tyres on a 25 mm rim, and they measure up a little narrower than 42 mm. Getting a sensible mudguard line (I know fender line sounds better but I'm sticking to British English) needed a little improvisation. A custom cork washer (wine the solution to so many of life's problems) for the chain stay bridge:

The sliding bracket that came with the mudguards didn't have enough reach - this is where it sits for the correct mudguard line:

SJS Cycles to the rescue again. This Aladdin's cave of a shop has all manner of bits and bobs, and it's independent too - shop there if you don't already! A Gilles Berthoud L-bracket was just the job:

Four more holes drilled at the back-end of the guard for the stay and attaching a Velo Orange rubber mudguard flap:

Now the front. Top-tip: don't be a lazy git and lean over a box upon which a mudguard rests but rather shift it out of the way.

Bugger

Conveniently, after leaving school, my dad apprenticed as a sheet metal worker. He would make bowls by placing a metal sheet on a leather sack of sand and tap away with a ball pein hammer, the sack taking the shape of the developing bowl. Advice sought, I had a go, improvising with a bag of sand I had and a chamois leather.

A bit of an improvement, but I  know what you’re thinking, don't give up the day job:

Luckily, the imperfection sits right below the fork crown out of sight, but hey, wabi-sabi - I should have it on full display! The guards came with a daruma to attach them to the fork crown but, yes you've guessed it, it's bolt is too short for the correct mudguard line. Sliding bracket from the rear guard to the rescue:

First, and only so far, ride out I heard a bit of chatter from around the fork crown. The guard directly touches the fork - is this the source? I've wedged a rubber washer (from the daruma) between them now - fingers crossed. The four hole thing for the stays and flap, as before, and in absence of a rack, a third point of connection to stop vibrations up front, a spare stay attached to the mid-fork eyelets.

Overall, they don't look too bad (from this distance at least):

Oh yeah, a new bag and dynamo lighting too (more about them another time).