Full-length fender
Also called · mudguard (en-GB) — the standard British and European name for the same part · full-coverage fender · guard
A fixed guard that follows the curve of the wheel for most of its circumference, bolted to the frame and fork, catching the water and grit the tire throws up before it reaches you or the bike. The standard fitting on European city bikes.
How to spot itIt wraps a long way around the wheel — well past the top — and it is bolted on with slim metal stays running down to the axle, not clipped on.
Best forAnyone who rides in the wet in ordinary clothes. This is the single fitting that most changes what riding in rain is like, and the reason a city bike arrives at work dry.
Watch outThe frame has to have the mounting points and the clearance to take them, which many sport-styled bikes do not. Fitted loose or bent, a fender can rub or rattle — and in the worst case a stay can foul the wheel, so check the bolts stay tight.
You might say“the curved cover over the wheel”“the thing that stops the wheel spraying water up your back”“the long guard that goes most of the way around the tire”“what Dutch bikes have over both wheels”
Source · SKS and Portland Design Works fender fitting documentation; Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary (fender / mudguard) · 2026-07
Clip-on fender
Also called · quick-release fender · clip-on mudguard (en-GB) · seatpost fender — the rear kind that clamps to the seatpost
A short guard that straps or clamps on without frame mounts — typically one clipped to the seatpost behind the saddle, or a small one under the down tube. It catches some of the spray, not all of it.
How to spot itShorter than a full fender and held on by a clamp, strap, or quick-release rather than bolted stays — and it can be pulled off in seconds without tools.
Best forA bike that has no fender mounts, or a rider who wants coverage only on the wet days and a clean-looking bike the rest of the time.
Watch outIt is a partial fix: a short rear clip-on keeps the worst stripe off your back but leaves your feet, your drivetrain, and the rider behind you in the spray. If your frame will take full fenders, fit those instead.
You might say“the little fender you can take off”“the short guard clipped to the seatpost”“a mudguard for a bike with no mounting holes”“the plastic flap strapped to the frame”
Source · SKS and Portland Design Works fender fitting documentation; Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary (fender / mudguard) · 2026-07
Mudflap
Also called · mud flap · fender flap · flap
A flexible extension hanging from the trailing end of a fender, carrying the coverage lower — down the front fender it keeps road spray off your feet and drivetrain; on the rear it keeps it off whoever is riding behind you.
How to spot itA soft flap of rubber or plastic that dangles below the rigid fender, close to the ground, and moves when you touch it.
Best forMaking a good fender better. On a front fender it is the difference between wet shoes and dry ones, and on the rear it is a courtesy to everyone riding behind you.
Watch outHung too low it will catch on curbs and driveways. Trim it so it clears the ground with the bike loaded, not just empty.
You might say“the flap hanging off the bottom of the fender”“the extra bit that stops spray hitting my feet”“the rubber tongue at the back of the mudguard”“the flap that keeps grit off the person behind me”
Source · SKS and Portland Design Works fender and mudflap product documentation; Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary (fender / mudguard) · 2026-07
Chaincase
Also called · chain case · gear case · chainguard — strictly the partial cover over the top run of chain; a chaincase encloses the chain completely
A full enclosure around the chain, sealing it away from rain, road grit, and your clothing. A chainguard is its smaller cousin — a partial cover over the top of the chain — and both exist to let you ride in what you are already wearing.
How to spot itThe chain is simply not visible: instead of a black loop of links there is a smooth casing running from the pedals to the rear hub. If you can see part of the chain underneath, it is a chainguard rather than a full case.
Best forRiding in ordinary clothes, in any weather, without a second thought — the enclosure keeps the oil off you and the grit off the chain, so the chain lasts longer too.
Watch outGetting at the chain for maintenance or a rear wheel removal is slower, and a full case is usually paired with a hub gear rather than a derailleur. A rattling case is a loose case — worth chasing rather than living with.
You might say“the cover that hides the whole chain”“the thing that keeps chain oil off my trousers”“the black box around the chain on a Dutch bike”“why city bikes don't need a trouser clip”
Source · Hesling and Gazelle chaincase and chainguard product documentation; Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary (chainguard, chaincase) · 2026-07
This page names things; it doesn't sell them. Picks and prices live in the buying guides, where they're disclosed.