As the gravel segment expands, cyclists face new challenges. The issue of having dirt thrown in your face is a well known problem among mountain bikers. With huge clearances for wide tires in the front fork, gravel riders are now facing a similar issue. The simple attachment system also means that it’s super easy to swap between bikes and it is also compatible with a wide range of tyres. This has been a godsend as I have accumulated more and more test bikes to ride and fitting anything more complicated (or permanent) on each would be too much of an effort. The Win Wing takes about half a minute to take off from one bike and attach to another - and while swapping it around I’ve noticed it’s also not scratched my seat stays (I would still recommend attaching a piece of frame protection tape as a precaution). And if you’re worried about theft, Ass Savers has designed it with a little zip-tie hole so you can zip-tie it to your seat stays semi-permanently. Plus, while many conventional fenders rattle over rough surfaces or any off-road, the Win Wing stays quiet and doesn’t shake loose no matter where you ride it. Even though it seems to sit perilously close to the rear tire, we haven’t had any issue with it jamming even on especially muddy rides.

FOLD. The biggest mistake I see people make when installing an Ass Saver is not folder the creases enough before install. You must fold hard on the fender’s creases to meet its designed rigidity, as not doing so will result in a floppy and underperforming mudguard. While the two-part Win Wing install takes a few seconds longer, I was already more confident in the rigid strut-like mount design before I even had it on the bike. I found the install to be straightforward; whereas soft, saddle-mounted fenders just feel like a token-but-ineffective solution to wet rides, the Win Wing feels confidently made and well thought out. And, even for plastic, its profile is sleek on the bike. While it might not be the ideal, full-coverage fender solution for daily die-hard commuters, if you plan on pedaling your gravel bike or ATB in wet and muddy conditions, the Win Wing is a no-brainer. It has a negligible weight, it’s inexpensive, it’s made using mostly recycled materials with replaceable parts, it’s durable, and it does what it’s supposed to do.The bike is a Christmas present and so will not see any use for about 5 weeks as we are in November now. There’s also a slot on one-side to secure a zip-tie around it, not to keep it from falling off, but as a mini anti-theft feature for when you leave your bike unattended. Ass Savers Win Wing – Pricing, options & availability The fender blade is made from 80% recycled polypropylene and has five holes that are used to connect it to the Wishbone. There are three in the front-center of the blade that are used to insert the peg at the top of the arc. Each of these options changes the angle of the wing and enables bikes of varying sizes to achieve the correct angle. Ass Savers recommends a horizontal to “tail-up” position to maximize performance. I mounted it using the middle hole, which tilted the blade slightly upward on a size large drop-bar 29er. There are two additional holes that match with the two outer Wishbone pegs—one on each “wing.” Once they’re all attached, it’s remarkably solid, given its scant 71 gram weight. PLACE. The next step to install the Win Wing is to attach the wishbone frame as close as possible to the rear tire. I found that loosely fitting the frame around the seat stays, adjusting its position about 5mm above the tread, then tightening the straps, was a foolproof method for a proper fit.

Have a look at this BMC URS gravel bike and you can see the seatpost stayed totally clean (or at least as clean as it was before I mounted the fender). But everything below that still gets wet & muddy. Thanks to it's sophisticated simplicity and careful choice of materials, the Win-Wing is virtually indestructible. With only four components (competitors use as much as 40 components) it's not that much that can go wrong. The glassfiber reinforced wishbone holder is both flexible and tough and the rubber straps are virtually indestructible. If you are just looking for a lightweight, simple solution to keep your butt clean & dry ( or a bit drier if you ride in constant rain) on road, gravel, or cross-country rides… then, the Win Wing is a good option to consider. And if you want to keep mud off your dropper post, that might just be a very welcome added bonus, too.And who would have suspected that this road & gravel fender is perfect for protecting your dropper seatpost? This might be my favorite surprise in mounting the Win Wing. The more dropper posts expand beyond mountain bikes, the more riders will have to deal with maintaining droppers. Stopping mud and spray before it hits your dropper post’s slider and main seal is sure to keep the post running smoother, longer. The Win Wing is made up of four easy to assemble components (Image credit: James Watkins) Design and Aesthetics While the product actually consists of four parts—the Wishbone Mount, the Blade, and two straps—the straps are already attached to the mount upon delivery, so in practice it only feels like two parts upon first install. The Wishbone Mount is designed to be attached to the seat stays at an upward sweep in relation to the wheel. The ends of the Wishbone legs are slightly curved, to seat better against the seat stays and directly above each is a slot that the strap intuitively feeds through. It is then fastened tight by securing via one of the holes to the nub on the arm. The Blade then snaps onto the “U” of the Wishbone through mated holes punched in the Blade and small knobs on the Wishbone.

It may be minimalist, but coverage is impressive if you prioritise a dry rear-end. Russell Burton / Our Media During the R&D phase, Ass Savers found that water does not spin off the wheel through the full radial cycle but rather comes off at a tangent that, of course, is aimed right at the saddle. As a result, it’s only the rear half of a full fender that guards against moisture and dirt. With this in mind, the Win Wing is intended to be mounted very close to the tire and angled up (there are three center holes on each blade to aid in achieving this angle). The Wishbone mount comes in two sizes, a Gravel size and a Road size, with each model corresponding to category Blade widths. And, there simply are few fender options with big enough coverage for mountain bikes. Modern knobby 2.4″ trail tires (61mm) push this fender a bit beyond its limits, but essentially anything smaller than that fits fine, offering plenty of room for most XC bike tires. Extra benefits, too…The straps seem amply strong though, so it’s probably safe to pull it one hole (or even two) tighter than you initially thought was enough. I go until the hole is visibly elongated when hooked. The key to understanding how the Win Wing works lies in physics: water and mud leave the wheel in a straight line from the tangential point of release,” says Ass Savers. The most obvious question when deciding whether to add a minimalist fender to your bike is probably just, why don’t you get a proper set of full-coverage fenders and be done with it?

The Win Wing Road fits practically any skinny tire bike, protecting the rider in even the worst conditions. Ideal for winter training or if you want to add some comfort to your puristic urban ride. The Win Wing won't rattle or jam, and at less than 75g , you won't even notice it's there.Compare those as 3x as heavy as the two sizes of regular Ass Savers 19/26g, which offer less protection. An added benefit of the simple strap-on seatstay mount is also full-suspension & softail compatibility. Whether talking about gravel bikes like this URS with a tiny bit of rear wheel travel or the proper travel of the Lux Trail XC/light trail mountain bike – it’s easy to set the fender up so that it maintains tight clearance over the tire throughout the bike’s rear-wheel travel.