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With a second model here called Win Wing, following a first that created a new market, Ass Savers promises to increase rider protection in bad weather conditions while maintaining the qualities of minimalist design and quick assembly/disassembly. Is the gamble successful? This is a question that a test during a well-watered autumn tried to answer.
Text: Olivier Dulaurent – Photos: 3bikes.fr, Decathlon, Ass Savers
A little history
Ass Savers was born in 2011 from an idea by passionate cyclist Staffan Widell, who, returning from a rainy ride in Sweden, tore a piece of cardboard and taped it under his saddle in order to get home as dry as possible.
Surprised by the result, he then decided to develop a mudguard concept in collaboration with two other enthusiasts. True to the humorous tradition of Gothenburg, they called the project Ass Savers. Quite satisfied with the finished product, the friends uploaded a short video of the product.
The rest is mudguard history. The video went viral and within 24 hours, they created a simple online store and six months later, Staffan quit his day job to focus fully on his new company.
Today, Ass Savers offers other products such as the Fendor Bendor and the Mudder. The company is run from its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden. More than a million Ass Savers have been sold and the brand that started as a joke is now known almost everywhere and has been widely copied. It should also be noted that the Swedish brand provided the first mudguard used by pro cyclists in World Tour competition, because inevitably, the concept of getting home drier from a rainy ride or race, without adding weight or aerodynamic drag, would interest the professional world.
The mudguard “debate”
Among cyclists who regularly ride in difficult conditions in winter, two camps clash: those who tend to protect themselves from water splashes coming from the asphalt with a mudguard and those who ride without anything, as in summer.
In general, both camps agree that the mudguard protects better, but in the eyes of some, despite proven effectiveness, it sometimes looks too “touring” or even “dorky”.
To try to reconcile these two opposing positions, Ass Savers had therefore offered its best seller (now called Regular) whose surface area is rather minimalist and to be placed at the saddle rails. Its designers truly wanted it to be very light, very easy to mount while maintaining a sporty look, which suited all “racers”. However, its effectiveness was only partial: indeed, water and dirt from the road passed around this small mudguard and only a small part of the lower back was actually protected.
This time, the Ass Savers brand comes with a model (the Win Wing) with a different design: its placement is not in the same place (here, it is very close to the rear tire) and its concept is thus to block projections as early as possible from the wheel. In this regard, many users mount this accessory by placing it parallel to the ground, or even slightly rising on the rear part. I preferred to have the mudguard follow the wheel as closely as possible (see photo below) to “block” projections as early as possible and avoid sending them into the wheel and hub bearings. This process also limits splashing riding companions placed in the wake of the rear wheel.
During assembly, the process is still as simple as ever: one or two minutes the very first time to adjust the angle and height of the mudguard, and you’re done.
Stickers are provided to protect the frame and the user realizes: although this item does not involve much technicality, it has been judiciously thought out.
The indicated placement of the mudguard between 5 mm and 1 cm from the tire nevertheless suggests – before riding – that there will be some brief encounters between the Win Wing and the tire on pronounced speed bumps or potholes.
Once on the road
However, when riding, the contract is perfectly fulfilled and the level of protection is much higher than the old model – which is still in the catalog.
If the cyclist is not as protected (only in case of terrible weather conditions) as with very enveloping models, the essential (and even beyond) is ensured: the buttocks and back are spared from the rain and will come back dry, with the right raincoat obviously.
The speed of assembly/disassembly is not a hindrance to riding with this accessory or removing it depending on the day.
The fear of touching the tire on large road imperfections was unfounded: no contact was recorded, indicating a very rigid and durable assembly.
Cyclists who want their bike to maintain a racy look will be delighted, and long-distance riders who don’t want to bother with a bulkier model will also welcome the market launch of this accessory.
It is only in torrential rain that the Win Wing reveals a slight weakness compared to specifically dedicated mudguards. In these extreme conditions, water ends up “flooding”, not the back and buttocks, but the thighs.
The model here pays for its shape and especially its size, which does not encompass the upper perimeter of the wheel. However, for occasional use in the rain, the level of protection will generally be very sufficient… especially for those who usually do not use this type of accessory!
To conclude
With the Win Wing, Ass Savers shows a real contribution for bad weather rides where the first iteration had partially succeeded: designing a mudguard that is both very light, very quick to assemble or disassemble, sufficiently protective for the vast majority of rides in the rain or on simply wet roads, and above all, one that allows for a very sporty look. And if this last characteristic may seem futile to some for whom winter rhymes with training in the best possible comfort, some do not want the line of their bike to be distorted by this accessory. In this case, they will be served! Especially since the price of 26 €, which may seem high for a bit of plastic and rubber, is ultimately perfectly justified for the ingenious side of the product and its perfect adjustment.
The Ass Savers Win Wing mudguard in brief… Rating: ***** Pros: weight, ease of assembly, “preserved” bike aesthetics, adjustment and solidity, no interference with the rear wheel Protection of the rider’s back and the back of the leg – Reinforced triangle patent-pending technology – Attaches in seconds to any bike without tools – Frame protection stickers – Suitable for tire widths up to 60 mm – No vibration or rear wheel blockage – Weight: 72 g – Price: €26. Contact: Ass Savers |
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