Ass Savers Does It Again With The New Win Wing Fender System
Today my favorite Swedish cycling accessory brand launches the all new Win Wing, a big evolution in their innovative fender product line. I was a big fan of the original Ass Savers and we had a fun time designing a custom Gravelstoke Ass Saver Big in 2021. The new Ass Saver takes the polypropylene mudguard to a level that offers so many wins, I can understand why they named it the Win Wing. Today we’ll cover the why, what, and how of the new Win Wing and offer first impressions after testing a prototype that Ass Savers provided me.
Do I even need a Fender?
Living in Southern California there aren’t many days in the year that mud or road spray is real problem that I need to solve. But when we do get rain, or when I’m traveling to a different climate, the struggle with the elements can definitely annoy me enough to want something quick and easy to install for a little protection. This is what Ass Savers has done so well in the past with in creating a lightweight, flatpack fender that easily mounts to existing bike parts with no fussy bolting. And in this new version, the protection only gets better.
Don’t Stop Winging
Unlike other fenders on the market, the Win Wing utilizes “tangential coverage” by placing the fender at the exact spot where water leaves the wheel. The result is provides even better coverage than the original by stoping road and groad spray from its point of origin, in a similarly lightweight package. The Win Wing also offers even more compatibility than the original Ass Saver as you won’t have to worry about various saddle and seatpost designs that might interfere with installation. The Win Wing comprises of two main components, a plastic mudguard that comes in two sizes, and the wishbone shaped frame with Voile-like custom straps. Combined, the Road version weights 64g and the Gravel version weighs 72g, overall an ultra-lightweight fender design compared with traditional frame mounted systems.
INSTALL WITH EASE
It may be hard to believe, but installing the Win Wing is even easier than the original mudguard from Ass Savers. Although there are a few more steps involved, the install process is a pretty satisfying experience and the fit does have a good degree of customization for the rider’s preferences. 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. 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. The last step is attaching the blade, which easily pops into two buttons on either side of the frame, and then sits at an angle that is adjustable depending on which of the three top holes are used. According to Ass Savers, the angle of the blade should rise slightly from tip to tail. Below are some photos on the Win Wing installed on an Open WI.DE. gravel bike with 27.5 x 2.1 Light & Supple Teravail Sparwood tires (still dirty from Mammoth Tuff).
On one wet day in September I first tried the Win Wing and was thoroughly impressed by how it performed. Despite the width of my tires, the Win Wing did an excellent job eliminating water and mud from spraying up on my bike or backside. I look forward to running the Win Wing all winter long as a fun accessory that looks good and will definitely come in handy on everything from river crossings to rainy commutes. If you’re looking for an affordable, lightweight, beautifully designed, no-jam fender for your road or gravel bike than I definitely recommend checking out the new Win Wing from Ass Savers. I expect Ass Savers to have several cool fender designs available at launch, including this Spektrum design shown here. The Win Wing is available in Road and Gravel Versions for MSRP $25 via their website and dealers worldwide.
Learn more at Ass Savers
Words and photos by Dave Malwitz
