Why not install footrests and mudguards on carbon bicycles?

In the world of bicycles, carbon bike often have unique design considerations. Firstly, in all racing events, the bracket cannot pass the vehicle inspection. This regulation is not groundless, but has sufficient reasons.

For carbon fiber bicycles, the control of weight can be said to have reached the extreme. Every gram lighter may come at a high cost. In order to pursue ultimate performance, removing equipment such as footrests and mudguards has become an inevitable choice.
However, foot support and mud protection are not completely useless. Foot support can easily support bikes, while mud protection can effectively prevent sewage and mud from splashing onto the body. But they also have drawbacks and safety hazards.

The drawbacks of foot support are obvious. Carbon bicycles supported by footrests are not very reliable. When a strong wind blows, many carbon fiber  bicycles supported by footrests, even electric bikes and motorcycles, are unable to stand firm. When a bike falls down, it may damage the paint surface of the beloved carbon bike, or cause some parts to be damaged or even scrapped. Even without wind, human scraping and collision may cause the bicycle to tip over.
The safety hazards of foot support cannot be ignored. Foot support is movable, and on bumpy roads, strong vibrations from bikes can easily cause the foot support to lower on its own, especially if it has become loose after long-term use. When turning at high speed on the side or when there are protrusions on the road surface, once the footrest is opened, it is easy to contact the ground and lift the rear carbon wheel of the bicycle, causing the bike to lose control and fall.
Mud protection also has its own drawbacks. On the one hand, mudguard will increase the cross-sectional area of the bicycle, increase the wind resistance during driving, and make riders consume more energy. On the other hand, the gap between the mudguard and the carbon bike wheels is very small. When riding in wet mud, the soil carried by the wheels can easily fill this space, causing resistance and consuming the rider's energy.

The safety hazards of mud protection should not be underestimated. The general protective mud is thin and wide, and the materials used for production are mostly steel, aluminum,carbon fiber, resin, and other materials with a certain degree of hardness. It is like an uncut knife, a sharp protrusion on a bicycle. When the rider falls off the bike, under the tremendous kinetic energy, this sharp protrusion is easy to scratch the skin, especially in summer, when riders wear less and expose more parts of their body, the risk of injury is greater.
However, as a slow-moving bike and often driven on highways, station wagons can consider installing foot supports and mudguards. However, it is important to pay more attention to the condition of these two components in order to prevent accidents.
Finally, by the way, please note that if you see someone else's bicycle being blown down by the wind, do not lift it up to avoid the bike being blown down again and causing greater damage.