Home > Reviews > Component Reviews

Dirt Flap Develops FIRST Dropper Mud Guard Plus Rock Guardz new Non-Carbon Front Fender to Keep the Muck Out

19 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

Flap 2

One of cycling’s greatest enemies is the stuff we love to hate. MUD. It can take a brand new chain and trash it in one super nasty race, grind brake pads down till sparks are flying, crush all but the best riders into submission, and just about ruin anything with moving parts. Aside from the frame, suspension forks and  dropper posts are the some of the most expensive accessories on our rigs.

Because of the rear tire’s tendency to sling anything it grabs and send it flying up and forward, the dropper post and suspension fork are in the path of a constant mud shower and despite having even the best seals, those little particles slip past the barrier and slowly “wet sand” anything that moves against it.

What’s the answer? Mark from Bentley Components came up with as a solution with his Dirt Flap for our droppers and Rock Guardz first NON-Carbon Evo2stealth Mudguardz front fender to keep our stanchions clean at a tidy price…

 

IMG_2867 IMG_2865

The Dirt Flap, Born and bred in Yorkshire, is the world’s first dropper seat post guard. The Dirt Flap is CNC machined from engineering grade materials in small batches, and designed to last. It clamps to most standard seat rails and at the bottom of the stationary portion of the dropper post. It’s made so when you drop the post, it collapses without interfering. We’ll be getting our hands on some of these to put through the paces so look for a review in the future.

Premium Flap 1

The Premium Dirt Flap on the left comes with stainless hardware and a universal post clamp he designed where as the Standard Dirt Flap uses plastic hardware and a Velcro strap.

Flap ColorsPimps

If you are too cool for school, Bentley Components even have “Pimp my Dirt Flap” kits for you to show up your friends at the trail head. The Standard Dirt Flap with plastic mounting hardware retails for £14 ($22 USD approx) and £24 ($34 USD approx) for the Premium version with stainless.

DirtFlap.co.uk

Fibre Glass Guide 3

The RockGuardz Evo2stealth is made in the same molds as their premium carbon pieces, and comes with rubber vibration pads and also features their waxy flow coat underside treatment to keep any mud buildup to a minimum. Priced at just £25, the folks at Mud Guards told us this budget guard is a super effective small guard, just right for those customers who want big mud stopping capability at a low price.
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
9 years ago

i think you mean “hate to love”

JBikes
JBikes
9 years ago

It’s strange, because to me, the real solution is the accordion boot protector (ala Gravity Dropper). That can use static seals and keep stuff out much better than this, and with less issues.

craigsj
craigsj
9 years ago

“It’s strange, because to me, the real solution is the accordion boot protector (ala Gravity Dropper). That can use static seals and keep stuff out much better than this, and with less issues.”

And this tells us two things, first that it’s not a problem that enough riders feel needs to be solved, and second that the “inventors” here are unaware of the existing solution and produced one inferior to it.

First dropper mud guard indeed.

bikeduder
bikeduder
9 years ago

25£ = ~38$ . But, I agree w/ @jbikes… Gravity dropper will sell you a rubber boot for 6$ and find some zip ties and you are good to go.

Glenn
Glenn
9 years ago

The thing about a boot is that it ends up trapping stuff. I’m not going to use this goofy looking thing, but I’d rather have something just deflecting the worst, and I can wipe off the dust and whatnot later.

I like Muckynutz fenders, and their ilk, for just that reason..they keep the worst off my stanchions, and I can rinse/wipe the light stuff later.

Mr. P
9 years ago

I like your thinking JBikes.

P

Will
Will
9 years ago

I’ve been using a piece of inner tube for years with no dramas..

The Boss
The Boss
9 years ago

I’ve never thought of using a piece of inner tube, might try that, it would look tidier than this flap.

Grateful
Grateful
9 years ago

I have to agree with those who have posted, so far – those look pretty lame. So are Muckynutz. They still allow the rider (and most of the bike) to get splattered. There’s bound to be a better solution to KEEPING mud off the bike AND the rider.

Looks like an opportunity for a designer/inventor.

I like big ol’ fat full fenders. Granted, they are also full “Fred” – but who cares. :- )

The Boss
The Boss
9 years ago

Glory days…

LemondRider
LemondRider
9 years ago

Let me just reach into my seat back for a ….OOPS.My seat bag/mud guard is missing???????

stuff
stuff
9 years ago

(deleted)

a
a
9 years ago

isnt it easier to put a real, long rear-tire fenders than a “dropper protector” then probably also a “rear shock protector” oh and a separate “butt saver” ?

Like, seriously, the single fender even looks better than 3 of these things… and yes their work on FS. I mean come on… bonus, rider stays clean too..

Gillis
9 years ago

Besides all the other comments here knocking it, I could also make one very similar in about 15 minutes (depending on how nice I want it) with scrap around the garage. Definitely wouldn’t pay $22 for this.

FreeBeer
FreeBeer
9 years ago

Looks like a banana hammock.

No, that’s offensive to banana hammocks.

Bazingi
Bazingi
9 years ago

I think this is for roadies who go on their yearly mountain bike ride and complain about “all that mud on the trails. Yeeeck! Oh my god, it was sooooo dirty. Yuckity yuck yuck, oh my dear!”

Roy
Roy
9 years ago

I’ve seen a similar item before, looking better, lighter and lower priced.
PRO dropper seatpost protector

http://www.pro-bikegear.com/en-gb/catalogue/accessories/97/chainstay-protectors/prac0079_main/dropper-seatpost-protector

DaveT
DaveT
9 years ago

I tried a bit of inner tube as well, does absolutely nothing to protect the dropper. mud still gets around it, grit still gets in the seal head as it flings up under the saddle and drops down….
…so now you have a nice flap that hold the lumps of mud against the seatpost rather than letting them fall off…

took mine off and haven’t ever had an issue, the modern seals are more than up to the job.

Andy
Andy
9 years ago

+1 on the shimano mud guard. Unbelievable that these guys didn’t consider easy removal as a priority and instead went for the flimsy plastic clips route.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.