Fenderfest 2024: An Innaugural Gathering of Fine Machines

Photos by Stefan Haehnel

When I first heard the idea of a fender festival, I thought, “Surely people don’t actually gather somewhere to celebrate the metal accessories that protect their bikes from dirt, do they?!” Then came the weekend of the gathering earlier this month, when I found myself somewhere between Berlin and Hamburg surrounded by around 120 folks who, indeed, believe that a mudguard isn’t just an accessory that goes over a tire; it’s an enduring symbol of century-old craftsmanship and philosophy.

• 
• 

This first edition of Fenderfest was conceived by Thomas Becker, the brain and hands behind Meerglas Frameworks, a small but beloved operation that builds classic randonneur bikes in the village of Gross Lüben in the sleepy state of Brandenburg, Germany. Thomas credits the inspiration for Fenderfest to a popular annual tradition on the other side of the Atlantic, French Fender Day, a gathering of like-minded riders and bikes organized by legendary American framebuilder Peter Weigle.

• 
• 
• 

“My dream was to go there with my bikes one day,” he said. “But it costs a lot to get there, so I thought I should do something similar over here. And after Bespoked in Dresden last year, I had tons of ideas about how to organize it.” Of course, the young framebuilder asked for Weigle’s blessing in naming it. “Peter replied that I could name it as I wanted, so I went for Fenderfest,” he said, and Fenderfest was born.

But let’s back up. What’s with all the fuss about fenders, and why should they have their own festival? “Fenders are just fenders,” Thomas told me with a laugh. “But bikes from France in the 1960s and ‘70s are the most beautiful ever made, and they all have fenders! So, for me, Fenderfest is a way to celebrate the fenders from the old makers and also the modern ones. Because whatever the era, there’s a common spirit behind all randonneur bikes.”

• 
• 
• 

For this special weekend, Meerglas’s garden was turned into an exhibition field with about 40 bikes on display—all decked out in fenders, as you may have guessed. Thomas even organized a contest, with prizes for the best classic and the best modern bike. It was kind of small Concours de Machines but without any formal presentation, jury, or marks. Attendees simply looked, enjoyed, and voted on paper. Naturally, the winners took home a pair of fenders.

• 
• 

All these bikes didn’t arrive in Groβ Lübben by magic, though. They came with their owners from the four corners of Germany and beyond, including from the United States, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and France. Bikes of all ages were ridden to the festival, proving their lasting utility (and carrying riders with unmistakable style and enjoyment). Some of the owners were collectors, others were framebuilders, and others still were simply everyday cyclists.

Everyone who attended the two-day event was united by a shared passion, and you could hear nerdy bike talk from breakfast (together on big wooden tables) to sunset (standing around the warm glow of a campfire). There were also plenty of opportunities for riding bikes through the picturesque surroundings. “It’s great to have all these incredible bicycles and people gathered together,” said Thomas before thanking everybody for attending and acknowledging those who helped with organizing, including friend of the site Kristin Heil of Gramm Tourpacking in Berlin, whose contributions included preparing a whopping 12 cakes for attendees to enjoy.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Before leaving, I couldn’t resist taking part in the geekery and asking Thomas about what he thinks makes a good fender. He was ready with an answer, saying, “When you see the fenderline, it should fit the tire’s shape with good clearance and the same distance to any point of the wheel. For me, it also has to be made of metal or carbon. And it should be long enough to cover the tire well.”

From the sounds of it, the inaugural Fenderfest is only beginning of a new tradition. As Thomas put it, “I would like Fenderfest to be a yearly event from now on, though preparing for it was stressful, especially the few days before. So, maybe we will create a club to organize it even better and wider next time. But we have to do it again!” All that preparation clearly paid off, because the event was not only a blast but a great success in the eyes of attendees, including me.

About Meerglas Frameworks

Founder Thomas Becker went to school to study mechanical engineering but ultimately decided it wasn’t for him. Unsure of what path to pursue next, he began an apprenticeship as a bicycle mechanic. One day, he found a piece of sea glass (“Meerglas”) on a beach and had a revelation: he had to build bikes. In 2013, he started his business in Berlin. He shared his first workshop with Niccolo Bonnano, who now runs Cicli Bonnano in Kreuzberg.

• 
• 
• 

After some time, Thomas moved to Groβ Lübben, where he now lives and works in an old farmhouse that’s still being renovated. He builds custom classic French-style randonneur bikes that are suitable for long-distance rides and have wide tires, racks, and fenders. He defines his work as “a mix of 60s-70s and neoclassic” processes. To date, he has built around 50 bikes under the Meerglas name and spends about a month per machine.

• 
• 

Earlier this month, Thomas launched a new offshoot brand called MRGLS that offers stock sizes to help standardize the building process, work faster, and make his production more financially accessible to a broader range of cyclists.

Bikes of Fenderfest

In tandem with photographer and regular BIKEPACKING.com contributor Stefan Haehnel, I rounded up details on nearly a dozen of the many striking bikes that were on display and in attendance. You can find a small gallery and a little background on each bike from its rider below.

Fern Ultrarando

Built and ridden by Florian

“This is a modern steel randonneur bike I made with light Columbus tubes. Classic randonneur bikes are my main influence, but I wanted to contradict it by building a rando bike but in a modern way. People always think that steel is heavy, so they use carbon for their bikes instead. I wanted to have fun and did it the other way around by using steel for the frame and carbon components. The fenders, rims, saddle, and handlebar are all carbon.

• 
• 
• 

The bike weighs 9.3 kilograms (20.5 pounds) complete. I didn’t spec disc brakes because I think rim brakes are better for this type of bike. The brakes are light and flexible, and it has a nicer overall look because you can have curved fork blades. So you save a lot of weight, and of course, it has a much better braking. Also, I chose 650b wheels with 48mm tires because they’re more comfortable for both road or gravel. You don’t lose speed with bigger tires; you just gain comfort.”

Meerglas

Ridden by Matthias

“My bike is a full custom randonneur bike built with a mix of Columbus and Reynolds tubes. I came to know those kind of bikes 15 years ago. I bought one, but it didn’t fit, so I asked Tom from Meerglas for a better one. I’m a collector, so before getting the bike built, I asked myself what components I like the most. Then I bought all the parts and took them to Tom who built them together.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

At the time, I also brought him a glass spirit bottle, and that’s how we picked the green color of the frame. This bike suits my size, weight, and wishes perfectly. I go to work on it. The riding position is great for that, as it the handlebar bag for my clothes. It’s also nice for touring. Most people who aren’t into bikes often comment how they like my old bike, and they are always surprised when I tell them it’s only four years old!”

Rossman Cycles

Built and ridden by Hahn

“I build randonneur bikes, and I made this one for Paris-Brest-Paris 2023. I wanted to do something different and create a bike that could be taken apart very quickly, Rinko-style, to get into the TGV in France, for instance. To fold this bike, no wires need to be disconnected. I made a prototype for the headset, which includes the switches for the lights but is wireless. I also modified the Honjo fenders, which I love, to make them foldable.

• 
• 
• 

More generally speaking, fenders keep your bike cleaner, but they also make it more reliable. Because when I’m riding, I want to be able to do whatever I want to do and not think about anything. Fenders are part of that. There’s no reason not to have them. If I were in charge, I would even make them mandatory—like lights in some countries. In picking a color for the frame, I just went with something that I could find quickly among hundreds of others at PBP controls, and I take and ride this bike everywhere, so I won’t cry if something happens to the paint.”

Map Bicycles

Ridden by Erik

“I got this bike 10 years ago, and I’ve ridden around 50,000 kilometers with it. I use it mostly for commuting and also for some longer rides. It’s a custom randonneur bike with an ultralight steel frame. It has the look of old French rando bikes—for instance the old French saddle from the 70s—but with newer components.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

I really like it because the lights and the fenders were integrated into the building process. Plus, it’s beautiful. And you can ride it all year long without thinking about anything.”

Wunderlich

Built and ridden by Erik

“This is the third bike I built, and I’m pleased that it took home the Fenderfest award for Best Modern Bike. I built it for Bespoked 2023, and it’s made to measure for me. It’s quite light because of the components and the frame tubes I picked. I wanted a mix of classic and modern elements for it.

• 
• 
• 

The nickel-plated fork and stem are a reminiscence of the old French randonneur bikes. But there are also modern components like disc brakes with integrated cable routing and electronic shifting. This pretty minimalistic style is appealing to many people.”

Motoconfort Superdeluxe

Ridden by Phelim

“This bike is from 1965, but I got it five years ago on eBay, where I do all my bike shopping. I bought it from a woman who found it in a flea market in Strasbourg, France. I was looking for a classic bike, and I liked the proportions and the look of this one. Also, the front light really attracted me: it’s like a little ball. When I got it, the bike was in good shape; I mostly just cleaned it up and put a new set of wheels.

• 
• 
• 

When you look at the frame, you can imagine it once was completely pink, but it probably sat in the sun too long. When I bought it, it was too dirty to be sure what the color would turn out to be when cleaned up. Today, I can say that this bike would definitely not be so nice if it was still full pink! I don’t use it often, but it’s a very comfortable, versatile, and rewarding bike.”

La Perle tandem

Ridden by Sebastian

“This bike, which won the Fenderfest award for Best Classic Bike, was built in the late 1940s by the Pélissier brothers in France, who were former road racers. I bought it 10 years ago on eBay. I wasn’t looking for a tandem at all, but I saw the first picture, which only showed the front part of the bike. I was already amazing, and then I realized it was a tandem! I got it even so because it was too beautiful not to. The colors drew me in: the blue of the frame, the greenish of the cables, and the red highlights. The hammered fenders and lights, too. The whole combination of details make it special.

• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Also, something that’s not so common for a tandem is that both riders have the same handlebar and saddle. And another unique aspect is the braking system. Back in the day, it was a bike made for traveling with kids. But if you were in the Alps, the small brake couldn’t handle the whole family, so they built an extra brake. It’s a special tool put on the diagonal tube that goes to the back wheel hub. I don’t ride this tandem that often, but my girlfriend and I sometimes take it out. We have two dogs, and we think about getting a carrier for it, though it might be tricky to find something that fits aesthetically!”

Alex Singer

Ridden by Heinz

“I’m a collector, and I have around 100 bikes. This one is from 1974, and the name of the first owner is marked on top. I bought it 10 years ago from another collector who got it restored at the end of the 1990s. After restoration, the bike was ridden a bit, so I put it more polish to make it look a little bit nicer. This first owner only wanted French parts on this bike.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

For instance, the derailleur is special because it’s made with some titanium and is very light. I like these handmade randonneur bikes because I think they’re quite close to perfection. And they’re all unique in some way. I use this one for Sunday rides of around 40 to 50 kilometers. If I go to a coffee shop or wherever, people often check it out, because it’s not often you see such bikes these days.”

Giant Escaper

Ridden by Daniel

“This bike and I have a nearly 10-year story. It was first a very dirty Specialized Stumpjumper, which I called “Rusty” back then. I decided to change it up. I had some mountain bike parts, so I put them on, but the frame was too small. Then I found 26’’ tires suitable for road rides, so I tried them… and it was a completely different bike! Then, step-by-step, I started to change everything, from the fenders to the handlebar. Ultimately, I figured out that the frame really was too small, and I eventually found this Giant frame that’s a bit taller.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

In the beginning, I’d planned to sandblast it, but I ultimately decided to swap the parts over from the Stumpjumper and keep it like this. I use this bike for long-distance brevets. When it goes downhill, it gets really fast, and people are always surprised how quick it can be. Of course, it’s not the lightest bike when it goes uphill, but I can still follow my friends on their road bikes. I also like that the fenders are very far out; they cover the front, and it’s maybe more aerodynamic. It really is a go-anywhere bike, but I’m happy to say that have a new frame in the making from Meerglas, and all the nice parts of this bike will go on the new one. But I will keep this bike anyway, because when you build it piece by piece, you enjoy the process and form some kind of connection.”

Timtas+Rek

Built and ridden by Jean-Michel

“Everything started with the front light, which was a Black Friday deal. It promised a faraway light, and I thought that a new bike would be nice to come with it. So, I built this machine for this year’s Cyclingworld Europe, a bike show in Dusseldörf. It has squared stainless steel tubes at the back, mostly for aesthetic reasons. I really wanted to see how it would stay, and I think it really looks nice. The front and rear brakes are different from each other. It’s a rim brake on the front because I like the fork blades, and also because it works well with the rack.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

At the back, there’s a disc brake. I like the simplicity of discs, which I already have on another bike. My last bike was a dotted bike, so I wanted dots here too. I like to work with colors, as you can see. I don’t like black bikes. And I painted it myself. I don’t want to pay for this because I eventually wreck my paint. I just like to do stuff for myself, so it’s not perfect, but it works!”

René Herse

Ridden by Heinz

“Before this bike, I already had René Herse bikes from the 40s, the 50s, and the 60s. This one is from 1976, so it’s a real René Herse, one of the last bikes he built. It’s special because it was made for a customer who wanted Campagnolo parts, and the frame was specially built for that. I like it because it is more or less an “option bike,” with anything you could get at the time: René Herse’s fenders, a really small rack, and a Dynamo hub that looks nice in its position under the frame.

• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

The crankset—homemade by René Herse—and the stem are also very special parts. When I got the bike, it was pretty dirty just because of storage, and it was a lot of work to polish everything and clean it. It’s too small for me to ride, and these chrome parts are so difficult to clean, so it stays in my bike museum.”

What’s your favorite Fenderfest bike? Let us know which one speaks to you in the Conversation below!

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...