A fender mounting system for mounting a fender disposed partially around the circumference of a wheel can include a first bracket, a second bracket, and a third bracket. The first bracket can be attached to a leading radial edge of the fender and depends toward an axis line associated with the wheel. The second bracket can be attached to the radial mid-section of the fender and depends toward the axis line. The third bracket can be attached to a radial trailing edge and depends radial toward the axis line. In an embodiment, the first and third brackets can resist lateral forces along the axis line and the second bracket allows deflection due to lateral forces along the axis line.