I believe the pioneering product in the category of simple rear fenders inserted from the back into the saddle rail was the
Mud Flap from Single Track Solutions (the manufacturer's name)
They're a maker whose founding business was plastic bar ends,
and their logo is based on the side profile of that product.
I'm still using a simple rear fender called Beaver Tail
that was manufactured under the direction of a Japanese distributor,
but I've modified it by cutting the part that inserts into the saddle
and adding notches, then roughly tying it down with zip ties to round it out.
The shape of this before cutting is, frankly, a remarkably blatant knockoff of Single Track Solutions.
If you're interested, I'd recommend researching both products.
I once asked the distributor about reissuing Beaver Tail,
but they said it was impossible due to yield and profitability concerns (→see here).
Currently, the most well-known maker of simple rear fenders like this
is Ass Savers (a Swedish brand).
Rather than being made in Taiwan or elsewhere, they're actually manufactured in Sweden.
In the past, there was an "Original" model at 340mm in length that could be rolled up and stored under the saddle,
and an "Extended" model about 30mm longer that couldn't be folded,
but the current lineup has replaced those with the "Ass Saver Regular" (abbreviated ASR) at 380mm,
which is even longer than the old Extended,
and the "Ass Saver Big" (abbreviated ASB) at roughly the same 383mm in length but with a wider shape.
The ASR and ASB use a proprietary Ass Savers system called FLIP-TIP
to secure the part that inserts into the saddle,
which provides better stability than the older Ass Savers models
and works with more saddle types.
Only solid-colored models like white, black, and red have been circulating domestically in Japan,
but the other day a customer asked me to "stock the special color models of ASR
that are being sold directly on the manufacturer's website."
So I ordered not just what they requested, but quite a variety of other models as well.
The ASR solid-color model is 9 euros at local pricing,
while the ASR special color model is 10 euros.
↑There are also special color models for the ASB,
but this time I only stocked the ASR.
By the way, the image above shows all the backs of the products.
Even though the tag is meant to be removed before use,
their packing is so careless that some tags are partially torn off
or already completely torn. Please understand.
This is the ASR Feather model.
It comes in two colors: White and Tropical.
This is the ASR Spectrum model.
This is the ASR × Team Sunweb model, where the × (times symbol) is also part of the model name.
Team Sunweb is a German professional cycling team,
and the image above shows the 2018 version with black and red lettering,
and the 2019 version with red/black and white lettering.
Sunweb currently uses Cervélo frames
and used GIANT not long before that,
but the Sunweb-colored mudguard works with both.
↑Seriously though, these guys really need to get their act together.
That covers all the ASR models available for purchase directly from the manufacturer's site.
Separately, I bought two packs of something called "ASR Custom Surprise Pack,"
where the pattern can't be specified but three units cost 18 euros.
But the contents turned out to be more than just a surprise—they were extremely sketchy.
I was thinking I might overlap designs with the 10-euro ASR special color models I'd bought
and dilute the per-unit cost... but that's not even the issue.
Ass Savers accepts custom orders from brands and shops
for original models with a minimum quantity of 50 units
and a lead time of 4-6 weeks, according to their website,
but with the Custom Surprise Pack, they're probably
selling off their internal inventory of these custom orders.
This kind of stock should only be sold by the OEM customers—
the bike brands, parts brands, or shops—not by Ass Savers themselves.
(Though I suppose someone might argue that this is acceptable under Swedish business customs.)
For example, if our shop created a custom "Nomu Lab Original ASR Cancer Beam" design,
that design could (without authorization) end up in the Custom Surprise Pack lineup,
and Americans or French customers who buy those packs
might randomly receive one.
So here's what came from the Custom Surprise Pack:
↑ASR Cinelli Mike Giant.
Many of you have probably seen bar tape with this same design.
In fact, I believe this same design was also released through Cinelli's sales channels,
so as I mentioned earlier, acquiring this through the Custom Surprise Pack,
even if random, seems problematic...
And it's probably sketchy posting this here too, but while I'm being sketchy,
I'll mention that the ASR Cinelli was supposedly being sold
for around 2,300–3,000 yen.
ASR Cannondale 2018.
I had to search to figure out the model name.
I have no idea whether it was ever available domestically in Japan.
↑This might have ended up in the Custom Surprise Pack
after someone requested it be sent.
↑ASR ZIPP.
What is this? It's awesome.
I'd love to keep this for myself, but I'll resist.
Even if it sells out immediately,
please don't suspect that I sneaked it for myself. I didn't.
↑ASR Shimano.
In the middle of the mudguard, there's a small #RIDESHIMANO pointing left and right,
but there's apparently also a version with a large #RIDESHIMANO
written next to and below SHIMANO.
ASR Morning Glory Cycling Club.
After researching, it turns out to be a large club team from Canada.
I rarely link to other people's sites,
but I'll make an exception this time (→here).
...I wonder if this is how a Canadian person would feel
if they got a "Cancer Beam" design in the Custom Surprise Pack...
ASR FYRI (I have no idea how to pronounce this).
Whether you search it as Fýri or Fyri, it comes up as
a luxury hotel in Hemsedal, a Norwegian resort town
(particularly a ski resort in winter).
I'll link to that as well (→here).
↑I assume this was made as a commemorative item for some kind of event.
※There's something called "Fulcrum Tire Levers," but
those were special-ordered by a Japanese Fulcrum distributor
to hand out at a particular hillclimb event,
and for that reason, the OEM manufacturer Fulcrum (Campagnolo)
has never sold them—not as wheel accessories, not as standalone items—
in any form whatsoever.
Addendum: I received two comments saying that Fulcrum tire levers came included
with Fulcrum wheels purchased from a certain online retailer.
One was a Racing Quattro Carbon DB purchased in 2018,
and the other was a Wind 40C purchased in 2020,
and the lever on the latter one had no part number, according to the commenter.
Thank you for the comments.
In the case of the Fulcrum tire lever, the thing is that the manufacturing initiative
wasn't from the maker themselves—it was externally driven—and
since they're not branded with other companies' names,
it's perhaps barely acceptable...? is how I'd characterize it.
↑Maximum possible defense.
In contrast, the Custom Surprise Pack is indefensible.
I'm not trying to hype these up,
but since the Custom Surprise Pack items are rare and can't be specifically ordered,
if there's anything you want, I'd recommend grabbing one soon.
For this stock, I'm going to price everything the same
by diluting the per-unit cost of the ASR Special Color model
with the ASR Custom Surprise Pack pricing.
I was planning to make it around 1,200 yen before tax.
I've settled on 1,300 yen including tax.
Mud Flap from Single Track Solutions (the manufacturer's name)
They're a maker whose founding business was plastic bar ends,
and their logo is based on the side profile of that product.
I'm still using a simple rear fender called Beaver Tail
that was manufactured under the direction of a Japanese distributor,
but I've modified it by cutting the part that inserts into the saddle
and adding notches, then roughly tying it down with zip ties to round it out.
The shape of this before cutting is, frankly, a remarkably blatant knockoff of Single Track Solutions.
If you're interested, I'd recommend researching both products.
I once asked the distributor about reissuing Beaver Tail,
but they said it was impossible due to yield and profitability concerns (→see here).
Currently, the most well-known maker of simple rear fenders like this
is Ass Savers (a Swedish brand).
Rather than being made in Taiwan or elsewhere, they're actually manufactured in Sweden.
In the past, there was an "Original" model at 340mm in length that could be rolled up and stored under the saddle,
and an "Extended" model about 30mm longer that couldn't be folded,
but the current lineup has replaced those with the "Ass Saver Regular" (abbreviated ASR) at 380mm,
which is even longer than the old Extended,
and the "Ass Saver Big" (abbreviated ASB) at roughly the same 383mm in length but with a wider shape.
The ASR and ASB use a proprietary Ass Savers system called FLIP-TIP
to secure the part that inserts into the saddle,
which provides better stability than the older Ass Savers models
and works with more saddle types.
Only solid-colored models like white, black, and red have been circulating domestically in Japan,
but the other day a customer asked me to "stock the special color models of ASR
that are being sold directly on the manufacturer's website."
So I ordered not just what they requested, but quite a variety of other models as well.
The ASR solid-color model is 9 euros at local pricing,
while the ASR special color model is 10 euros.
↑There are also special color models for the ASB,
but this time I only stocked the ASR.
By the way, the image above shows all the backs of the products.
Even though the tag is meant to be removed before use,
their packing is so careless that some tags are partially torn off
or already completely torn. Please understand.
This is the ASR Feather model.
It comes in two colors: White and Tropical.
This is the ASR Spectrum model.
This is the ASR × Team Sunweb model, where the × (times symbol) is also part of the model name.
Team Sunweb is a German professional cycling team,
and the image above shows the 2018 version with black and red lettering,
and the 2019 version with red/black and white lettering.
Sunweb currently uses Cervélo frames
and used GIANT not long before that,
but the Sunweb-colored mudguard works with both.
↑Seriously though, these guys really need to get their act together.
That covers all the ASR models available for purchase directly from the manufacturer's site.
Separately, I bought two packs of something called "ASR Custom Surprise Pack,"
where the pattern can't be specified but three units cost 18 euros.
But the contents turned out to be more than just a surprise—they were extremely sketchy.
I was thinking I might overlap designs with the 10-euro ASR special color models I'd bought
and dilute the per-unit cost... but that's not even the issue.
Ass Savers accepts custom orders from brands and shops
for original models with a minimum quantity of 50 units
and a lead time of 4-6 weeks, according to their website,
but with the Custom Surprise Pack, they're probably
selling off their internal inventory of these custom orders.
This kind of stock should only be sold by the OEM customers—
the bike brands, parts brands, or shops—not by Ass Savers themselves.
(Though I suppose someone might argue that this is acceptable under Swedish business customs.)
For example, if our shop created a custom "Nomu Lab Original ASR Cancer Beam" design,
that design could (without authorization) end up in the Custom Surprise Pack lineup,
and Americans or French customers who buy those packs
might randomly receive one.
So here's what came from the Custom Surprise Pack:
↑ASR Cinelli Mike Giant.
Many of you have probably seen bar tape with this same design.
In fact, I believe this same design was also released through Cinelli's sales channels,
so as I mentioned earlier, acquiring this through the Custom Surprise Pack,
even if random, seems problematic...
I'll mention that the ASR Cinelli was supposedly being sold
for around 2,300–3,000 yen.
ASR Cannondale 2018.
I had to search to figure out the model name.
I have no idea whether it was ever available domestically in Japan.
↑This might have ended up in the Custom Surprise Pack
after someone requested it be sent.
↑ASR ZIPP.
What is this? It's awesome.
I'd love to keep this for myself, but I'll resist.
Even if it sells out immediately,
please don't suspect that I sneaked it for myself. I didn't.
↑ASR Shimano.
In the middle of the mudguard, there's a small #RIDESHIMANO pointing left and right,
but there's apparently also a version with a large #RIDESHIMANO
written next to and below SHIMANO.
ASR Morning Glory Cycling Club.
After researching, it turns out to be a large club team from Canada.
I rarely link to other people's sites,
but I'll make an exception this time (→here).
...I wonder if this is how a Canadian person would feel
if they got a "Cancer Beam" design in the Custom Surprise Pack...
ASR FYRI (I have no idea how to pronounce this).
Whether you search it as Fýri or Fyri, it comes up as
a luxury hotel in Hemsedal, a Norwegian resort town
(particularly a ski resort in winter).
I'll link to that as well (→here).
↑I assume this was made as a commemorative item for some kind of event.
※There's something called "Fulcrum Tire Levers," but
those were special-ordered by a Japanese Fulcrum distributor
to hand out at a particular hillclimb event,
and for that reason, the OEM manufacturer Fulcrum (Campagnolo)
has never sold them—not as wheel accessories, not as standalone items—
in any form whatsoever.
Addendum: I received two comments saying that Fulcrum tire levers came included
with Fulcrum wheels purchased from a certain online retailer.
One was a Racing Quattro Carbon DB purchased in 2018,
and the other was a Wind 40C purchased in 2020,
and the lever on the latter one had no part number, according to the commenter.
Thank you for the comments.
In the case of the Fulcrum tire lever, the thing is that the manufacturing initiative
wasn't from the maker themselves—it was externally driven—and
since they're not branded with other companies' names,
it's perhaps barely acceptable...? is how I'd characterize it.
↑Maximum possible defense.
In contrast, the Custom Surprise Pack is indefensible.
I'm not trying to hype these up,
but since the Custom Surprise Pack items are rare and can't be specifically ordered,
if there's anything you want, I'd recommend grabbing one soon.
For this stock, I'm going to price everything the same
by diluting the per-unit cost of the ASR Special Color model
with the ASR Custom Surprise Pack pricing.
I've settled on 1,300 yen including tax.