Honestly, i couldn't disagree more about Ass Savers. they are super easy to fit (unlike most other mud guards) last indefinitely and do a great job of stopping that dreaded soggy bottom!! I use them on all my bikes that don't have proper mud guards.

Can’t help but think the Ass Saver was added at the end as comment bait 😅 In my experience they make a huge difference - from not filling your jersey pockets with mud riding off-road, to avoiding a damp, uncomfortable chamois. Full mudguards are the way to go, but Ass Savers are brilliant when you’re caught out

Disagree about Ass Savers. They’re better than nothing when caught in downpour for a short ride.

For me, the ass-saver does its job for little money, It avoid getting home with the lower part of your back wet when it has rained and there is water on the road,

A Titanium bolt is great for the top cap on the stem. Every bike I've ever owned rusted out the bolt in less than a year. I don't understand why they're not made with a stainless steel bolt. I now replace them with a titanium bolt. No more corrosion. No need to screw them on tightly.

I have a Lumos helmet that I use for commuting. I agree the turn signal feature isn’t worth anything, but the helmet provides not just front/rear lighting, but side lighting. Prior to getting the helmet, my biggest close calls were cars that didn’t see me when coming from the side (as opposed to in front or behind).

Also have to disagree about the ass saver. I bought it for damp/ wet roads after it rains and it gets the job done. Not completely dry but I'm still satisfied. If you're riding in the rain then yes get mudguards.

I disagree with more than half of these, and I think the video intends to. Ass savers are great to keep the very spot clean that makes riding wet conditions feel so obnoxious. I ride heavy mud in winter, where fenders will just clog up the wheels and won't save my front or my bike from getting dirty anyways. The ass saver keeps the lower back dry'ish and thus the ride fun. Same with touring during 9 rainy days in Norway, where it allowed me to ride without the rain-proof pants once the rain stopped and the road remained wet. Friends witnessed a crash where an airbag saved the womens head and even doubled as a "matress" until the ambulance arrived. Helmets are the better idea of course, but many people can't/won't wear a helmet on their commute depending on hairstyle. And speaking as a rider and driver, helmets with lights are incredibly easy to spot in night traffic compared to rear lights, just due to the height and movement alone. Opposing such features with the sole agument that it doesn't fit their primary purpose is just lazy. There are reasons cars got radios, trains got internet or dog collars got lights now. And regarding titanium bolts: Those who spend money on those definitely shouldn't cheap out on a torque wrench. And you'll usually strip aluminum cage bolts easier than titanium ones.

Ass-Savers are not for rain, they are to keep your bib and jersey (especially if they are white) clean on a morning ride with damp roads. Seconds to install/remove before you leave home.

Titanium bolts are great! Not just the weight but has already been mentioned for corrosion resistance. The headset top cap is a prime example. A lot of people buy them because they are also are available in pretty colours so a relatively cheap way of customising your bike. Stronger than alloy as well!

I must say that I disagree on the Ass-Savers. I use them all the time and while they aren't as effective as full-length mudguards, they do deflect the worst of the water/mud spray. Also, the Hövding inflatable helmet is super popular here in Sweden, especially among commuters and "regular" cyclists. The helmet is not made for road or mountain biking though, which the manufacturer also states clearly. It does deploy accidentally when hitting curbs hard etc, but everyone I know that has had this happen has been reimbursed by the manufacturer at no or very low cost. Also, the helmet has been around for a few years now, allowing the technology to mature and I don't think that these incidents are that common these days. Both products are Swedish, so of course, I'm biased here :)

I love my ass saver….I ride a gravel rail trail daily, and it works fine….but if you venture into more muddy areas, they are not as effective.

Unbelievable. I've had my arse saver for about two years now. When I ordered a custom frame last year they asked me if I wanted fixtures for mudguards. I said, hell no; I've got an arse saver!

The reason one can let lights on a helmet slide is lights as such are not "smart" (in the connected, IoT kind of way). They're just lights, and lights are great, safety first. It's when you pointlessly have to control stuff via a smartphone app that it becomes "smart" crap.

Ass saver is amazing! I use the wide version on my mtb on wet rides in the woods. I went on a very muddy night ride with this, and it definitely saved my ass from getting muddy. It works fantastically.

Great video, David. Whether one agrees or disagrees, I enjoy and appreciate your candor.

straight to the point and not alot of waffling like other channels! Kudos!

Thank you so very much indeed for doing a frank video about bs /unnecessary products, (vs yet another industry-sponsored bike review). Btw, helmet lights are absolutely much-needed /beneficial safety accessories. With the ubiquity of small, efficient, and lightweight rechargeable blinky lights, it is ridiculously easy to accessorize just about any helmet with such options. I use a Moon Lights "Ring" model as a potent rear blinky on top of my Kali helmet, (velcro works beautifully to secure it) and a Fenix EDC front micro-light, (clipped to visor). I also bring spares in my tool caddy for long night rides. The combined weight of these tiny, (yet highly effective), lights is under 45g - absolutely featherweight!

Thanks Arthur for these valuable information!! Can't wait for your review for Scott 22 Addict Gravel 20!

I think you should rethink about smart helmets, please. My partner has hearing issues and have smart helmets with an intercom has made cycling more enjoyable for both of us. Also improved and safety as well, as we can warn each other of traffic, hazards and directions.

I also have one of the small rear under-saddle mudguards. Works ok for me, glad I bought it.

Thanks a mil for spending a few minutes telling us what NOT to buy, when the whole industry is dedicated to the opposite. 👍

Good points. Shopping for mudguards is crazy difficult and you are right about the small plastic clip-ons. I found some that were appropriate for mountain biking and easy to to modify into quick release, plus they have soft rubber extensions that flex easily when your foot catches the lip during bike mounting. Now I can install them in one minute on those occasions that I really need the shields. RBRL Bike Front/Rear Fender Mudguards for $25

Titanium bolts can be very affordable if you buy them from Aliexpress, in various metric threads and head shapes. Just get the longest ones and cut them to size. If you can manage all this, then I suppose your are technical enough to know how to not strip them and use the proper grease/anti-sieze/thread-locker.

I agree with all of them, althoughI would have expected something a little braver by calling out many of the major bike manufacturers and try to steer us away from the quite frankly, ridiculously priced models out there today that simply aren’t worth the money. In other words a much more realistic suite of products to avoid, and ones that impact a greater range of people!

nice! thx David! also please have a review of the canyon grail on. thx! more power!

I have to disagree about the smart helmet, I have a couple of them and they have in fact saved me from accident on several occasions so far driving upstate NY roads. I have asked motorists if I am more visible with the helmet and the overall consensus has been yes.

I've got a Mudhugger FR on the front to protect the fork and stop some mud flicking forwards then up at me. Another FR on the back to protect the frame bearings and shock and an AssSaver style guard to stop too much mud getting right on my seat and rubbing it into my shorts and have them wet out beyond what the material can cope with. It's not about staying clean, it's about not getting mud in the eye or too much mud to hinder/harm the bike. Works a treat.

I use the Portland Design Works front Origami fender. Unless it's raining, it sits in my bike bag. If it is raining, this little piece of plastic clips on and works brilliantly at reducing spray and grit coming up from the front wheel and hitting my chin and face. This actually makes a huge difference and makes long rides in the rain viable. The Portland Design Works rear Origami fender seems to mount lower down than the Ass Saver. I can't comment on the efficacy of the rear Origami as I use a rear carrier with a central solid plate that fulfills the same function. Thanks for your thoughtful post. Marketers are always on us about what we "need." What we really need is to just ride.

I use clip on mudguards in the winter but in the summer and autumn you cant beat an ass saver for a quick solution to the occasional wet ride when the faff of attaching mudguards is too much for the odd ride. Also the best thing for clip on guards is to leave them on for the season rather than keep taking them on and off as that can damage the paint.

I ride with a 1st gen Lumos helmet which has worked very well. The turn signal buttons are a bit big and hard to mount on the bars. So I have left them off most of the time. I have stated before let's change to stainless steel bolts where possible. No more rusty bolts!!

I have Winglites indicators in the ends of my handlebars. They are excellent, especially at night. They are further apart than typical motorcycle direction indicators, so, when read alongside riding lights, do give a clear indication of an intended turn. I also have a brake light.

Neon yellow helmet adds visibility! Passive safety! I love my Lumos Ultra. The high mounted lights feel extra visible to drivers (and I dont use the indicator function, which kills the battery). And the bigger Ass Saver fender does the job - attaches to the seat tube and runs through the seat stays.

I love having full coverage fenders. Sure the bike doesn't look quite as slick with them, but they work awesome for not only keeping you clean, but the rest of the bike too. With the snow melting now, there's a lot of standing water and mud around. It's amazing how well they work. There's only a few mild splatter marks on the sides of the chainstay, after my last ride

Thanks for the even-keeled analysis and sound advice.

Couldn't agree more 👍 thanks for sharing 🙂

Valid points. But made by a guy who justified a painted titanium bottle cage on his bike, and suggested to the community that it's a worthwhile investment. Then says spend your money elsewhere than ceramic bearings, ti bolts and helmets with indicators. Hmmm🤔. Love the channel and content though... Keep em coming

Luv your work mate, awesome content, true anout the little mud guard irs detterr than notghing though 👍

I agree in all except on the ceramic bearings as I have had good experience with them in terms of longevity.

Ass Savers are not pointless or useless. They make a great extension for proper fenders (mudguards). Carefully drill 2 smaill holes near the bottom of a full fender and zip tie them in place. Not needed for proper fenders like the Portland Design Works Full Metal Fenders.

spot on with the mudguards. full fenders ftw!

Agree completely except the AssSaver - I've used one on occasions where it's not wet enough to warrant full length mudguards. For me they've worked well and stop me getting a wet behind, which in turn means not getting saddle sore. Personally I think they are a good investment for in between conditions.

6:00 Quite possibly, the most unintentional hilarious demonstration of the cycling airbag. Bless you, David, for bringing this to our attention!!

I agree with all on your list except the Ass Saver. It's great when you've waited for the rain to stop to head out on a ride and the roads are still wet. In that situation you would remain dry except for a wet line up your back.

Agree with most of these David. There are places to use Ti bolts,like top cap.Should always be used with Ti prep. Most places I prefer 316 grade SS. Anything with a thread should be greased.Biopace and other oval chainrings have been marketed every so many years,don't waste your money imho. I have not tried the ass saver. Crud catcher (mtb) and others were popular in the 90's,I made my own.For road full mudguards are best. Ceramic bearings ; see Hambini & Peak Torque. Best to use high quality steel with good seals from SKF/TNL One thing you did not mention was bikes like the new Cannondale Synapse that has built in tech (smart tech? marketing tech !). I for one like to choose accessories, on price and performance.

Great list and I agree with all of them. I will say that I do like some of those gimmicks shown in the smart helmets, sure they aren't for me but I do think some of them are cool. Now as someone who uses their bikes for everything, I'm all about things that just make sense like a rack for carrying stuff so you can make shopping runs, or a frame back to carry extra gear and such for those all day epic rides.

I agree with most of these except the indicators/turn signals (I'm in the U.S.) as well as a headlight and brake light. I ride a 26" folding E Bike to and from work daily 1.2 mile round trip. I have a set that actually look like something a motorcycle would use. They have saved me from being hit countless times. As far as mud guards are concerned, I need to upgrade from what my E Bike came with (They look similar to what a dirt bike uses) to full fenders front and rear. My bike has dual suspension though.

Ass savers work well for me on both on road and off. I still get wet as does everyone in rain but the difference being far less grit and mud between saddle and ass. Ti bolts usage in stems make for a smarter less rusty look over time which is more pleasing to my eye. Im my experience i find that giving advice on what to buy is best kept to when folk ask for advice. If city commuters chose to buy a blinking helmet then im sure they will be happy to find such products on the market. Each to ones own really.

I mean that was a bad point you made about the bang on the airbag being too loud vs. Concussion/TBI. Would you choose your hearing vs death or even permanent movement dysfunction?

Placebo effect of ceramic bearings work wonders for your perceived performance. Just use Hambini for bearings

Great video.

Aw come on, titanium screws rock! Same with the Ass Saver. The rest of your list I agree. You didn't mention oversized pulleys/cages.

I agree with you on everything you showed, everything. Including that little piece of crap hanging off the saddle. With that said and maybe this is where there may be confusion, the Ass Saver Full length is a gem. I have the FRR or FENDOR BENDOR. Awesome product. Attaches to the seat tube and is close to the wheel, giving full protection. It is inexpensive and pretty cool besides working. It folds to where you need it and is nothing to to put on. I just rode home from work, I live in Chicago and no worries. I was in the bike retail business for over thirty years and have used and sold many a fender. I was a messenger and this is the best and easiest fender. Now, if the comments are from the ones training and all they need is to keep their "bum hole" dry or a weight weenie so be it. I have lived cycling and have seen just about everything. From racing to commuting(I do not drive) and there is a ton of crap nowadays. My Canyon Grail with the Ass Saver(FRR) in the rear and the MuckyNutz up front can get me to and from work with pleasure in all conditions.

Considering all the tips for titanium bolts against corrosion here; I got some pretty bad corrosion on the bolts fastening the disc caliper for the front wheel. Is it fine to replace it with titanium, or is it steel for a reason?

The relative hardness of material affects wear and tear, so unless the bearing races are also ceramic (and then you'd have a brittle bearing posing new problems), ceramic ball bearings will more quickly wear the races they are in, especially when the pressure is uneven (bottom bracket because torque isn't uniform for the entire 360 degrees). As for ass savers, worked well until it killed the Di2 battery in my seat post. When I removed the battery, there was a lot of sand and mud above it near the seat clamp, and some further investigation show when riding in rain and mud the ass saver was great at catching the spray and channelling along under the seat and spraying the clamp from all different directions, so there was a lot more opportunity for crap to get in there than normally in bad weather and when riding through muddy puddles.

I do use indicators on the bike. Mine are a series of arrows similar to road works. There are three times that they are useful a) at night when my hands are not easily visible. b) at close range when I am needing my hands to control the bike or I am just sitting waiting at traffic lights and c) when riding with LOTS of riders. I can get a tail of riders following me. I can easily signal to them that I am pulling out around slower riders, or a pothole, or am about to pull back after passing. This leaves my hands free for riding, increasing our average speed and decreasing the speed up/ slow down effects.

Ti bolts on the stem and WB cages are a must on all my bikes for corrosion resistance not weight. I have super corrosive sweat and normal bolts dont last long at all, headsets dont last that long for me either.

I feel you may have shortchanged the titanium bolt weight saving advantage. While the bolts themselves weigh only slightly less just think how much weight will be saved by emptying out your wallet to buy the bolts! If time is money is true it"s also true that money is weight!

I’m a gram weenie but instead of titanium I look for carbon fiber parts IF they are lighter than alloy or titanium which they often aren’t. I don’t have any titanium bolts on any of my bikes but I have other titanium parts. As far as mud guards go, I have the full Monty like you showed on my Kona Sutra touring bike. However, the smaller but wider mud guards for mountain bikes 🚲 are rather useful. They do protect your bum and keep a lot of gunk off the pedals and chainrings unless you’re in major mud. Then nothing works. I often ride my mountain bikes on the roads and paved trails so I get benefits from the mud guards but I wouldn’t put them on my racing road bikes. Nice video. Good cover of the pointless turning and brake lights. Drivers can’t see them. 👍☮️🌞🌟🚵‍♀️🚴

I agree with all of them except the ass saver. You're correct that they are not as effective as full mud guards but I've found they do offer a little protection when the road is a little damp or you have to ride through some puddles on the road caused by runoff. Thanks for an informative vid.

I trust you, David!

I had full mudguards on a commuter bike ages ago; and when I say full, I really mean full: :-) The front one went down to about 4-inches off the ground and was flared at the bottom, and the rear was below the bottom bracket at the front and covered the back. They worked great until I got up to about 35 km/h, at which point the road spray would hit the guards so hard that plenty would spray onto me. LOL

Cycling is the perfect application for Ti bolts. Not for weight saving (although there is a tiny amount), but for corrosion resistance. Also, if you buy quality bolts they have a rolled thread and are uber strong. I swap them from part to part and bike to bike as the bikes evolve, and probably offer a good ROI in that respect.

Ceramic loose balls on an old 1970’s Cup and cone hub 7 speed freewheel massive movement increase. So yes they do make a difference even on loose ball bearing hubs.

Do you ride a bike? Ass-savers are fantastic. I have full fenders on a winter bike and on a summer bike, but always keep the AS handy for the other rigs. If you want to spend significant time on your bike you have to be comfortable (ish).

I use the fender bender ass saver, mounts on the seat tube and sits way closer to the rear wheel, it works pretty damn well

If you want proper mudguards get Mudhugger or SKS Germany. I have a enduro bike, Geometron G1 use Mudhugger rear large and front race on the fork. It works well, proper coverage. Dropper post is almost clean, same with back and butt, saddle.

If you happen to buy a bike that has ceramic bearings, especially second hand, there's not a lot to worry about. Although I'd never recommend anyone purchase them to add to their current bike.

Ass saver is excellent particularly if you have a saddle with a central cut out!

I agree with most of these. The added expense of a smart helmet or even one with integrated lights seems ridiculous when helmet manufacturers say you should replace your helmet every 5 years! That recommendation may be in place to help drive helmet sales, but I still consider a helmet to be a consumable item. It is possible to mount lights to any helmet. Titanium bolts, yeah, skip that second sandwich at lunch and you've saved more weight! I disagree about ass saver type fenders. Sure, in a torrential downpour, you are getting wet, no matter, but in most other wet road situations, they can really keep you from getting that "full diaper" experience of a wet chamois pad when it is not even actively raining. Anyway, nice video, it's fun to find products that solve problems and call out the ones that cause your wallet to run dry!

I dunno, I have a Tunebug attached to my helmet for music and notifications. I can hear what's going on around me and still enjoy tunes as I bike. I do have indicators on my touring bicycle. They do help when at intersections during the night. I have had drivers pull up next to me after a turn and comment on the turn indicator. It may depend on environment or the style of indicator. I'm not a roadbike cyclist so these gadgets may not be what you guys are looking for, but as a tourer and a snow cyclist, these things work well.

Biopace rings - I remember them! Some of those indicators are just dangerous like the bar-end ones where they won't be seen from too many angles. Who wants to wear a helmet smarter than they are? Not me! I have succumbed to Ti bolts for their looks - the best way to save weight on a bike is to both stop drinking alcohol & diet! The jury is out on mud guards - I do use bolt-on under saddle ones that are quite a bit longer so do work to a reasonable degree. Full mud guards don't need to be the same width as the tyres though - maybe more with knobblies but not slicker ones where spray flies off centrally.

The early models of Hövding airbags could go off unintended while "armed" if you put them down a bit too heavy handed, but afaik that's mostly been fixed with later models. They're very common amongst commuters in Copenhagen, and have definitely saved more than a few lives.

Excellent 👍🏽

I do titanium bolts for the cool factor not the weight savings and they don't rust is a plus as well.

Disagree with you about tech in helmet. I and my riding partner used Sena R1 helmets on a ride across the U.S. Being able to listen to music (without interfering with my ability to hear traffic) made the miles go much easier. The intercom came in handy dozens of times when we became separated. The ability to get turn-by-turn directions from my navigation was fantastic especially when going through cities.

I found Asssaver mudgurds quite handy for UK wheather which changeable. If I definitly know that its a rainy day I use my clip on SKS mudgurds. Otherwise asssaver is always there as it weigh nothing.

Im a commuter. A Lumos helmut with embedded flashing lights was the best kit I've ever bought.

I agree with some, but I definitely see the point in fall detection in helmets. Unlike fall detection in a Garmin or whatever, a helmet does feel when something really is wrong.

Disagree with the Ass saver. I agree you mentioned that product so people like me comment on your video. Anything to help the algorithm 😆

I haven't used it but on paper Garmin radar looks like it would be a candidate for room 101? Is it that hard to hear or even see (with a glance over your shoulder) cars approaching from behind? And what do you do with that info? Unless turning where you need to know and in that case would you just rely on radar?

Ceramic bearings are the pinnacle of marginal gains, HOWEVER, good quality bearings do offer close to ceramic performance for much lower price. Definitely recommended higher end bearings when possible. Not only for reductions in friction, but also for serviceability.

I have a Lumos Ultra and i love it

when riding a 'real' bike (recumbent trike) those two mudguards up front are really handy. With a tadpole trike, whenever one is turning; there's no bike frame along the axis of the tyres to absorb/deflect all that flung road mud from hitting you in the face...

I changed almost every bolt to TI on my BMC alpinechallenge commuter. Not to save few grams rather due to corrosion. Rusted bolts annoys me. Spending few $$ and ride happy totally worth it. Didn't bother doing same thing on my 5K road bike coz it never stays outside in cold under rain or snow for long.

In you opinion what would be the ideal bike that is light enough funny enough cheap enough to use every single day.

Seriously great point about ceramic bearings - with grease what is the point of fooling yourself? Regarding TI screws, I just bought some for my Moots, because they don't RUST. Nothing is worse than looking down on your stem at four rusty screws holding the carbon handlebar on your beautiful TI bike. But weight savings? Please. Just pour a little water out of your bottle and save the money. Would love to Dave talk about proprietary cranks, integrated stems, and the like. I've read so little about how these components from manufacturers compare to what is on most bikes from SRAM, ENVE, etc.

Just checking, is the new synapse the bike version of the smart helmet ?

I found here in Australia that a front light on the helmet attracts all the bugs to your face! Leave it on the bars

Lights on helmet are great IMO. What you fail to consider is that basically ALL frame/handlebar mounted lights are below the cars' "rooftop line" for cars approaching perpendicularly. The light on the helmet on the other hand can be rotated, with your head, so if you see a car approaching, and have the feeling they might not spot you right away, you can just point the helmet at them.

I like the Ass Saver. It may not provide as much protection as a full mudguard but it's a simple solution. It's way easier to just pop it on when you need to and it does the trick of keeping me dry enough. Might not help the rider behind me but it does it's job in a pinch.

I think the smart helmets are great! its safer than wearing ear buds when listening to music because it doesn't block out all other noise like ear buds do and i don't have a bike computer so its great for telling me directions

Was that hill you were cycling up from Kingston Blount to Stockenchurch?

the ass savers do help minimize spray on the lower back, but you will still get some soiling up higher. what i'v done is took thin wire and clear box tape to extend the protection. its kept my back dry and its a bit more aero if youre into that kind of thing

funny to say all this in a rapha shirt lol. boutaa WATCH VIDEO bet i will love of u already calling out biopace i know ppl hated but tbh was meh on it but def always felt tired when riding it lol.

Hahahahahahah I agree with everything! Except for those Useless Mudguards. I put them regardless on so I don’t spray my mates who are sucking my wheel 🤪

Personally I think ceramic bearings and titanium bolts are good products. Titanium have really good corrosion resistance and that's why I bought some on aliexpress after my bottle cage bolt got really rusty. Ceramic pulley wheels are dumb, but in where I live a set of Fulcrum Racing Zero , which is equipped with ceramic bearings, have a fair price and can be easily found in 2nd hand market. Your points in this video is valid but these product should not be 100% avoided, maybe just avoid 90% of it.

I'm thinking about putting my oval chainring back on as i got my best times using the oval big ring. The biggest joke is the vadar. Who the hell around a city needs to be constantly reminded that a vehicle is behind and it doesn't change anything.

Great view on Assavers.....Complete crap.

I tuned in because of the picture of the ass saver. I’ve made my own, velcroed to the bottom of my under-saddle bag.