How much easier to pedal would this make my bike?

I cannot see how removing the fenders will increase your speed or make your bike easier to handle. Removing the fenders could be a hazard for you, if it rains and you are caught out in a storm. The fenders help to keep the water off your body and out of your eyes.

Way to go riding a bike at your age. Did your doctor okay this for you? I hope so. jp

Fenders are pretty light, so I’m going to go along with @john65pennington that they are unlikely to make the bike easier to ride- unless they are rubbing on the wheels or something.

You might look into purchasing some lighter wheels, if such are available. Also, if your tires are rated for 60 psi or lower pressure you might think about using higher-pressure tires, particularly if most of your riding is done on hard, flat surfaces.

I have a mountain-bike frame with 2.5” tires rated at 85psi, and I make sure to keep them properly inflated whenever I ride. The high pressure keeps their rolling-resistance low in spite of their size.

Happy riding, and take it easy.

The fenders shouldn’t make a difference. be sure your chain is well oiled, your tires well filled, and that you are in a gear that is comfortable for you.

The weight difference of the fenders is insignificant in the aspect of the ease of peddle strokes. At fast rates of speeds though there would be a slight aerodynamic advantage of removing the fenders. If you are not planing to win any bike races, then it really doesn’t make much of a difference. You could gain a psychological and fitness benefit it you think that your bike looks better without fenders in that you may be more incline to ride your bike more often.

You should keep them on if you cylce somewhere and want to arrive without loads of road mud splattered up your back. Make cycling part of your life!

Is the seat adjusted to the proper height? If it is too low you are going to lose a bit of leverage when pushing down on the pedals and that will make it feel hard to pedal. Fat tire bikes use more energy to move. Possibly switch to the narrowest tires that will fit on the rims while you are getting stronger then put the fat ones back on. Anyway, unless you plan to go off road a lot there is no real purpose to have the wide tires beside maybe aesthetics. I’m guessing that is a single speed bike it would be really rough going off road without the ability to downshift to an easier gear.

I think I should have mentioned that ALL the riding, if it materializes, would be on flat, dry, clean, paved streets.lol

@woodcutter says it – the fat tyres will create more road resistance than the weight of the fenders (Does everyone else call them that? I would call them mudguards)

Once you become conditioned to riding it will be much easier but it’s going to take some time to get there. Starting out is hard but improvement will come.

I’m REALLY worried a neighbor will see me pedal twice then almost fall off. It never seems to get dark until I’m half asleep. );