Mucky Nutz's original Bender Fender was a good looking and cost effective alternative to the classic 'inner tube round the fork crowns' trick used by downhill racers to stop their front wheels flicking mud up into their faces.
Version 2.0 is still featherlight (16g) but provides slightly more coverage, fits more easily and securely, and is available in eight colours.
Fitting takes a few minutes, and you'll need a knife to cut the hook-and-loop straps to the right length for your fork. But once in place it does a sterling job.
It survived a week of chairlift uplifts, jet washing and general abuse in the French Alps unscathed and kept our goggles noticeably cleaner, as well as drawing plenty of inquiring glances.
The Bender Fender is one of those products that, once fitted, you forget is even there because it just gets on with its job with minimal fuss. What more can you ask for? Okay, so it won't keep your clothes or bike clean, but that's what down tube mounted mudguards are for.
