Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Cycle Tours => Topic started by: naiveclone on February 15, 2016, 01:10:15 pm
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First off, a little background so you all understand the slightly odd position i'm in.
In a couple of months i'm going to be effectively homeless. That is to say, without a home/room to call my own. I can certainly stay with friends or my parents for a while, I've even been offered a room in my friends new flat in Glasgow, so i'll always have a roof over my head - there's no worry there. The house i'm staying in now and have been living in for twenty-two years is being sold because my parents have recently fallen out. They each own half, and neither want to stay here and nor do I (it's in a remote area, but the house is lovely, Scottish Highlands north of Inverness) so after a lot of grief and headache they've decided to do it up a bit and sell it.
This leaves me without anywhere to live but with a perfect opportunity to go out and see some more of the world. I'll get a little bit of the money when the house is sold. I'm sure you can see where this is going. The books 'As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning' by Laurie Lee and Paulo Coelho's 'The Alchemist' spring to mind.
No job. No House. No plans. I'm effectively free to do whatever, and cycling around at a leasurely pace living from and around my bicycle seems like a wonderful solution as to where to go from here. I've watched a bunch of youtube videos of peoples trips which all seem incredible. I've read up on the realities of bicycle touring and it even when people say it was hard and miserable, they never speak of regret. I'm no stranger to camping though, at least.
Obviously, the foundation of any trip by bicycle is the bike you're on. Lots of people say that you can tour on any bike that you can fit racks and panniers on, but the consensus is largely that the better the bike you have the more enjoyable your time will be. The difference between getting from A to B and getting from A to B with a big smile on your face. I'd really prefer the latter.
So! I've done a lot of research on these touring specific bicycles which I knew nothing about just a week or so ago, and have ended up here at Thorn and am so glad that I have. I want a bike that was reliable, strong and without any unnecessary bells and whistles. I want a bike that's suited to all kinds of terrain, capable of dirt tracks and pavement both. A bike to take me round the world if need be.
Perhaps most importantly, I want a bike that will feel like a friend. I want a bike i'll love! and I think I may just have found it in the Thorn Sherpa as it seems to meet all my requirements and more. But I would very much like some input from you guys. Is £1,300 worth it for me, someone so inexperianced? Would such a bike be wasted on me? Have I missed out on another bike that you think would perhaps be better? Anything that comes to mind i'll certainly take on board.
Bare in mind I have literally none of the equipment I'll need. No tent, panniers... anything. I'll probably be buying everything new and expect it to cost me at least £2,000 in all. I'll be selling that electric guitar that's gathering dust anyway, haha.
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Hi and welcome to the forum.
Your situation is a sad one but - as you say - it's an opportunity to do something really memorable. So go for it.
As for the choice of bike - others will shortly chip in - there are lots of great bikes out there, but you won't go far wrong with a Thorn.
I currently own a Sherpa and it's a great bike. A couple of years ago I sold my Raven Tour to someone who was cycling to New Zealand. He's in SE Asia now and the only thing that has failed is the Brooks saddle.
The Raven Tour was probably about the most comfortable bike I've even owned - just perfect for me - and I am a big fan of Rohloff as well. When I came to buy the Sherpa, Thorn had rationalised the frames sizes and I couldn't get one quite the same size as the Raven Tour. I've fiddled about with stems and seat posts and it's now the Sherpa is a good enough fit for what I want to do with it. But I do miss the Rohloff.
Make no mistake - the Sherpa is more than good enough for what you want - and I love mine. If you are convinced by the Rohloff arguments, but can't stretch your budget, think about a secondhand one.
Good luck and do come back with more questions.
Ian
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I would say, the more you are a novice, the more it makes sense to get a top-notch bike like the Sherpa. At least, that's the philosophy I used in getting my Nomad! I am still a novice, really! People who are mechanical wizards can tweak and tune flawed bikes and make them work better than like-new. With a Sherpa, it won't need tweaking. Well, ok, you need to fiddle with saddle height/tilt & a bit of handlebar angle. But you can just get on that bike and go.
Really, the foundation of a trip by bicycle is the rider! The real key is mental attitude. Stay curious, attentive, responsive, to the world around you, to your equipment, to yourself.
Post us some photos and stories along your journey!
Jim
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I can only speak from an old guys perspective who started touring last year....but like you was a keen camper. I looked at lots of bikes and went for a Thorn Nomad.
I won't say it's better than any other model because I can't compare them (short on experience). What I will speak out for is the Rohloff. Find the money for one. It made my trip a joy.
Someone will quite rightly defend the derailleur in a moment ;D but it's the future, and it's here now!
As for tents find a two person one......you will probably know what it's like in a miniscule one person tent but to hide in a decent sized tent with room for luggage is a must in my book. The ability to remove the outer and sleep in hot climes if you are heading for one, and the room to cook in a vestibule if inclement.
Lots of goodies/toys out there, spend wisely on good gear and reap the benefits.
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Welcome first of all,
well let me see the rohloff if u have money to burn yeah the rohloff would be a good choice .but give me shimano deore 9 speed any day 105 sti shifters , good set of hand built wheels 36 spoke on deore hubs and your away in a hack.the sherpa is a fantastic touring bike (btw it takes 600 wheels ).
your £2000 wont be long disappearing i can guarantee u that much .
but if u buy quality it will be money well spent .
anyway good luck sure hope all works out for you ,im taking it your a young dude so yeah enjoy life while you can u only pass this way but once.
remember the alamo.
jags.
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On the bike, there are a couple personal preference issues. First, some people for touring prefer flat bars (upright) and others prefer drop bars (think, racing bike handlebars). You need to decide which you would want before you buy.
Second, some people tour with very light weight, but most people I have seen touring carry four panniers, sometimes a handlebar bag, and usually a bag on top of the rear rack. If you would do it like most, you need a pretty solid bike to handle that kind of weight.
I met a gal several years ago that was about 70 or 80 percent complete with her around the world tour. She started in the UK, went through Europe, was in Eastern Europe when her bike and all her gear was stolen. It was high end expensive equipment. She did not have a lot of money, so she bought what she could and continued on through Asia, to west coast of North America. I am in central USA, that is where I met her. I would not have wanted to tour more an a few hundred miles on her bike, but she was doing well with a low budget rigid frame mountain bike.
I met another gal that was in year seven of her big trip. Started in South Africa which was her home, rode through Africa, Europe, Asia (including China), Australia, back to Asia, Japan, Canada, and I met her on the west coast of USA. She estimated her bike had 100,000 km on it. She said most components on it had been replaced several times, her tent with a couple bends in the tent poles was two years old. The attached two photos are of her and her bke. I would never have picked a mountain bike with an air suspension front fork for a trip like that, but that is what she had. The bike was covered with stickers on where she had been.
For bike touring I like to have a handlebar bag that I can unclip from my bike in seconds. That has my valuables and whenever I go into a restaurant or store, the handlebar bag is hanging over my shoulder. My point is that keep your valuables with you at all times. I have never bothered to bring my valuables into a shower in a dry bag with me when at a campground shower or hostel shower, but I have heard of people that do that. My point is that you will probably have some of your stuff stolen at some time, figure out how to make sure that you don't lose it all.
This website has lots and lots of photos of touring bikes, you click on a small photo to see a larger version, it might give you an idea on what is out there and what others are doing: http://www.pbase.com/canyonlands/fullyloaded
Good luck.
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Wow! Thank you all so much for your replies. I never expected so many so soon but as i'm coming to learn, you bicycle touring guys are an uncommonly personable and helpful lot.
I hadn't considered a Rohloff as although they seem like a great investment, my budget wont stretch that far. Honestly I wasn't even aware such an invention existed before looking into bicycle touring.
I'm 24 years old, jags. 'Remember the alamo' cracked me up.
I also hadn't thought about a two person tent, but that makes good sense to have room to put baggage for sure.
Here's another question for you all. With a big change coming up ahead of me in terms of lifestyle, there's a certain tinge of fear and apprehension that comes along with it. The romanticism of cycling around the world certainly has a huge pull to it, but the reality is that my feelings are constantly flip flopping between great enthusiasm and worry i'm being crazy and will waste my money on a bike i'll never use or that something terrible will happen along the way.
I believe in making the most of my life. I'm sure working a job for a flat i don't really want would be a waste of my time, and that this is the best opportunity i've ever had to go and actually have an adventure of my own, actually see the world rather than letting it pass me by.
But the fear of the unknown is real. Have any of you felt the same way, and have any advice on overcoming it when it comes to call?
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i guess that fear is always there but if you go looking for trouble your sure to find it ,you'll be grand fear not as the man said if your kind to people they will be kind back...
just on the gear thing don't go buying rubbish u get what you pay for.
ortlieb pannier are the best doesn't matter the model all great.
tubus racks are excellent light and strong.
brooks b17 saddle once broken in your arse will thank u for it.(but take the sudocream anyway) ;)
shimano mountain bike shoes clipless are excellent.
check out Corrine Dennis cycle ware.
Tent i wish u luck buying a tent that fits all your needs .
your going to need good lights dynamo would be my choice.
exped sleeping matt are class ,alpkit do great sleeping bags at great prices (down)
i hope your writing all this info down ;D ;D
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Here is a good book about fear: http://www.amazon.com/Other-Survival-Signals-Protect-Violence/dp/0440508835/
Fear is like an alarm bell or maybe like the "check engine" light on an automobile. You definitely do not want to ignore or suppress fear! But you don't want it to rule your life either. It it just a sense of danger. Taking risks or doing things that involve danger, you pretty much can't live a life without some risk or danger! But you don't want stupid risk or danger, either!
When you are contemplating doing a dangerous thing, the first consideration should be the goal. What are you striving to achieve? If the goal is important enough to justify the risks involved, well, ok! People die taking selfies to post on facebook. That sure seems like a goal that fails the test!
Next - are there ways to work toward the goal that avoid the worst dangers? Look at various strategies and scenarios and try to see which one minimizes the potential damage.
If you're contemplating a big bike tour... really the risks are not too severe for the most part. What is your goal? That's where I would be focusing, if I understand your situation. Use the bike ride to connect to the people and places. You could ride around different farming regions and help with farm work to make some money and learn about agriculture and then eventually you could settle down with your own olive grove or whatever.
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;) great post jim wise words indeed.
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... the fear of the unknown is real. Have any of you felt the same way, and have any advice on overcoming it when it comes to call?
Everyone has fear. Should you quit your old job to get a new one? Should you move to a different place hundreds or thousands of miles (or kms) away? Should you marry someone? Or, should you change spouses, and how often?
If you have a backup plan, perhaps some money that your parents hold for you if you suddenly decide you want air fare or train fare to come home, having a backup plan can reduce stress and fear. I know people that have spent months when in their twenties in foreign countries, others that never went anywhere. Some people are better adapted to one of those groups, others more adapted to the other.
When things go wrong, and they will, force yourself to smile and say to yourself one more lesson learned. Then move on.
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How tall are you ( none philosophical question, honest!)
Here's a Sherpa on ebay if you are around 5 10 - 6 ft
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161968609642?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
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No way! Im 5'11! and he's selling the panniers too! Wow. There's an awful lot of interest in it, and no wonder. £501 at the time of this post, what a steal... 18 days left. Thanks for showing me! I never thought to look on eBay, what are the chances.
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it says buy it now ;)
it has deore 9 speed on it a good service and it's worth every penny i reckon.
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Ah so it does! How important is the sizing to get right? I'm 5'11 like I said, but on the Thorn site they seem to go really hard on making the bike the perfect size, taking all sorts of measurements as you must have done yourself!
Also, could you explain about the 9 speed?
(I like the idea of the bike already having been all over the world on long tours, almost as if it knows the way and will keep me straight, haha)
*I sent the guy selling it an email asking about sizing and wether or not I can arrange for it to be picked up for delivery. Seems the universe could be on my side about the touring idea? Not to mention you guy :)
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funny, the description says 21 speed which ought to be 3x7. But 7 sprocket cluster in the back is pretty old. Anto says it's a 9 sprocket cluster - he's probably right! So that would make 27 speeds altogether, if you count blindly. E.g. the cross over combos are not going to work well plus there could be some duplication. That granny chainring looks pretty small - that bike looks well set-up for real touring!
The seller has zero feedback! Probably perfectly honest but still, that's a lot of money! If you could pay cash when you collect it, that'd be good!
Sure, size is important. The real key is the virtual top tube. If you have really long arms/torso or really short, that could call for a different frame size. Mostly if you are in the zone you can just swap in a longer/shorter stem. The big fat Thorn super brochure has recommended person sizes vs bike sizes, that that is surely worth checking.
I think the XL designation means a longish virtual top tube, which works with flat bars or even swept back a bit. The shorter virtual top tube is for drop bars. If you want drop bars, this would not be the ideal frame. Unless you have amazing long arms/torso.
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Thanks JimK. Any idea what setup this bike would be? If I was to go bespoke, I'd definately go for relaxed or fairly relaxed, definately avoiding the 'sporty' riding position. Any thoughts?
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In that main photo, you can see that the saddle and the handlebars are both at about the height of that counter. Actually the saddle looks a little low to me overall - maybe the owner has shortish legs. Anyway the handlebars are pretty high. You can see too that there are lots of spacers on the steerer. Not impossible that the steerer is uncut. Anyway it has plenty of height. So I would say the bike should be easy to configure for a relatively relaxed / upright posture.
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i'de say it's 9 speed x3 up front gives you 27 gears to play around with .(loads)
if i were buying it i would change rear cassette and chain new bearings on bottom bracket and new cables inner and outer no big job (seems like it is but not really)
and give it a good mother and father of a cleaning .
size wise ask Dave here on the forum he's the thorn man knows his stuff.
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I was going to reply and write a nice piece, but 'jags' has already done it!
The only thing that I would add really:- Thorn racks are better than Tubus and a decent tent by Force Ten (Vango owned) for 2 is perfectly suitable-Force Ten Nitro lite.
John
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i'm keeping that post John and posting it on my wall for all time. ;D ;D
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Interesting thread you have started here naiveclone! I think it resonates with many starting out on their first tour.
Someone once said that travel can be dangerous but routine is fatal!
I was about your age 30 years ago and on a whim bought a 6 month round the world ticket leaving in two weeks. I told my parents the week before and headed off on my own. There was no chance to feel much fear as I was committed to leaving. I had just finished a job and I suppose was feeling like you. In the end I had a ball, met a lovely girl, travelled extensively overland through South East asia and China to Pakistan and eventually emigrated with her to Australia. Wasn't a cycle trip though!
That small decision led to a 12 year wonderful adventure of travel and fun. So go for it! I don't see your situation as sad but extremely exciting and an opportunity not to be lost.
There are some great web sites on cycle touring ... here are some articles from Alastair Humphreys about fear ...
http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/?s=fear&submit=Search
I recommend too that you read his two books about cycling round the world. They inspired me two years ago to cycle round the 6700km North Sea Cycle Route. True to form I bought a one way ticket from Shetland to Bergen in Norway two weeks hence so I had no choice but to leave. Again a wonderful three months, had a battery stolen , but no real problems.
Tom Allen is also a wonderful resource ...
http://tomsbiketrip.com
His book Janapar is also an inspirational read for someone contemplating a big cycle tour.
I mention Alastair Humphreys and Tom Allen as they seem to match your age and predicament. They have both overcome the fear of setting off and are great writers. Hope you find some more inspiration from them.
As for equipment, that Thorn bike on eBay looks just the job. I got almost all my stuff from eBay including my second hand Raven Tour from Thorn themselves.
So, just do it. Setting off is more important than having the latest newest fanciest gear, though I would not compromise on a good bike. A Thorn will do the job well!
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Hello!
Good luck with your choice and plans.
Not a lot I can add, except to say that the Sherpa is a brilliant general purpose bike, and if you buy new, the basic spec represents very good value and sound equipment. The 'extras' are fine, but mainly serve to make the bike better for specific tasks - e.g. lightweight touring, or extra heavy long distance stuff. My Sherpa, for example has DT Swiss wheels, Tubus rack, XT cranks (so I can get 165 mm crank arms, better for my shortish legs, but the baisc start model is fine.
And yes, for your purpose and general mixed use, the Thorn rack would be better in my view.
As for the bike on sale above, on the one hand, the fact that it has already been to South America and back means that it could go again. But I would guess that all the bearings would need to be overhauled (not difficult, but needs care) and the rims could be worn as well. Has the owner put a replacement rear wheel on? Hence the confusion over 7 / 9 speed?? The frame size should be identifiable from the frame number.
Good luck
Lewis
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this looks tempting as well .
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Thorn-Ravern-Rohloff-Touring-Commuting-Bike/331777147349?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140221143405%26meid%3De19dc14f179c45d0a77457c20159101a%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D18%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D161968609642
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make that guy an offer on the raven it will sell quick i reckon.if it takes your fancy that is.has rohloff all the guys here love rohloff and it has little miles on it.
i didn't read the discription on the sherpa but be careful there's a lotta miles on that bike the raven would be a better buy if u get it at a good price ,it should fit u no bother.
jags.
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Yes, the Raven Tour with Rohloff would be better if you can get it for a good price and have the budget. Thats a nice bike too! The Sherpa has done the miles but I am sure can do many more.
I second Thorn racks too. Very solid and can take a lot of weight.
If you are looking for a tent I recently replaced my Vango Spirit 200+ tent with the lighter (same design) Force Ten Nitro Lite 200+ as I found it on eBay for a good price.
I used the Spirit 200+ round the North Sea Route as well as extensive camping in France and Spain. Its a great cycle touring tent with a large porch if the weather is bad. Very liveable and a home from home. Stood up to a couple of wild storms in North West Germany where other tents were launched into the air!
Click on StuntPilot to send me a PM if interested. I would love to see the Spirit 200+ put to good use! I was going to put it up on the forum or eBay soon. Some details, reviews and photos of the Spirit 200+ here ...
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Vango-Spirit-200+/873
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Another great find from you guys! Thanks again haha. The Sherpa guy has stopped replying to me, and seems a little shady honestly, I'm not sure he's legit anymore. The Raven looks perfect also, I'm going to contact that guy now.
About the Rohloff, I'm guessing that means less gears - harder to get up hills but less chance of something going wrong?
Also about the tent, I haven't even looked into tents yet but i'll give your link a look, thanks for all the help everyone!
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I also have a Thorn Sherpa which I purchased almost 2 years ago for a solo John O Groats to Lands End trip. Up until then, I had only done limited leisure cycling on a cheap hybrid bike. After some research I purchased a Dawes Galaxy for the trip which was a mistake as they have long top tubes and I ended up with pain in my shoulders and neck if I went over 25 to 30 miles.
I then came across Thorn and loved the utilitarian look of the Sherpa and as I wanted to take the scenic route from John O Groats, cycling along many forestry tracks etc I thought it would be ideal, so I paid a visit to SJS. They take many measurements and then match you up to a frame size, depending on whether you want drop bars or straight. (the frames for drop bars have short top tubes and straight bars have a longer top tube) In my case, I have very short arms, so I needed a short frame and straight bars which is what I wanted anyway. I have never spent that amount of money on a bike before, but one in my size has never appeared for sale and I don't regret buying new at all. The bike completed the trip with ease, with not one problem apart from tightening the seat bolt. Not one puncture even. I use the bike to commute to work, and still love it.
I would suggest you ring SJS and give them your measurements, they can then advise you what size frame would be good for you.
I was scared stiff when I set off on my JOGLE, but then you soon settle once the trip starts and you just take it one day at a time. I spent 3 weeks, camping most of the way. The thought of being able to just leave to travel wherever you want is a fantastic opportunity which you should definitely make the most of. It's the things you don't do that you regret, not the things you do. Just start simple and expand your horizons as you become more confident.
I agree with Jags on most of his equipment list, especially Ortlieb Panniers. I have also used the Vango Spirit 200+ as my tent of choice along with a Terra nova voyager. I would now like to try the Vango nitro lite 200/200+. Would definitely recommend a 2 person tent though for a longer tour.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do and keep us informed.
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The Raven is very similar to a Sherpa, but is Rohloff specific - and no, having fewer gears i.e. 14, does not mean going up hills is harder - with the overlap on derailleur set-ups, the range of useful gears is actually very similar, and assuming the choice of chain ring / sprocket is suitable for loaded touring rather than, say, faster commuting, the range of gears will be absolutely fine for touring. My guess is that that would be a better choice than the Sherpa you looked at earlier.
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Thanks so much for your positive input bikerta! I'm really not sure what to do about the bike. Everyone who has had a bespoke thorn made for them has sung its praises and I can really understand why. I'd love one myself, but the chance to get a second hand one that would fit me at half the price would go a long way to softening the blow to my pockets as I have a lot of other equipment to buy too.
This is all Thorns fault for having so many beautiful bicycles to offer. I had a brief look at the Nomads out of curiosity and wow. That's what I call a bicycle.
*also guys, i'm sorry if I don't reply to your specific post, I never expected a quarter of the replies and help you've given me. I've definately read every one of your replies though, and some of them two or three times hahah.
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Another great find from you guys! Thanks again haha. The Sherpa guy has stopped replying to me, and seems a little shady honestly, I'm not sure he's legit anymore. The Raven looks perfect also, I'm going to contact that guy now.
About the Rohloff, I'm guessing that means less gears - harder to get up hills but less chance of something going wrong?
Also about the tent, I haven't even looked into tents yet but i'll give your link a look, thanks for all the help everyone!
most of the guys here are on rohloff for a very good reason i reckon but i like something i can fix easy enough and i can afford, rohloff hubs are fierce expensive .if you get that raven for under a grand buy it the rear wheel is near enough worth that alone.remember this a smaller frame is way better that a larger frame ,a big frame is way to hard to fit properly IMHO.the raven would be a super buy.
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I think that the decision on Rohloff vs a derailleur bike is less important than getting one that fits well and has the type of handlebars you want to use.
I have a Rohloff bike (Thorn Nomad) and a derailleur touring bike (Thorn Sherpa). I also had another derailleur touring bike (LHT) until recently. Both types have advangates and disadvantages. Maybe you should read, or at least skim through the publication living with a Rohloff before you form too strong an opinion on that.
http://www.sjscycles.com/thornpdf/thornlivingwitharohloff_lores.pdf
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About the Rohloff, I'm guessing that means less gears - harder to get up hills but less chance of something going wrong?
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It can be easier to get up hills, it all depends on the gearing on the bike.
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You mentioned fear.....I'm sure you mean "butterflies" ;)
Perfectly normal and something to be faced in order to challenge oneself. I have done a lot of motorcycle touring (before trying it without a motor) and have often sat there having planned the trip, my mind ticking off the "what if's". From a simple puncture in the middle of nowhere to injury in a strange land.
I always wanted to cross the Sahara. However since the sale of orange jumpsuits has gone up, that's off the list.
You can still have adventure without crossing war torn regions. It's great reading about those people who have circumnavigated the world over several years, but is that what you need to do to have fun?
You could tour Europe now and then head off to Australia /New Zealand for their summer. Whatever you decide I think it helps to have an aim, and whatever you decide....have a shakedown trip before you go anywhere with your new gear. I did a Scotland trip last year....look out your window...you are already in a fantastic country to explore!
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There are links to Historical brochures including the Raven Tour here: http://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=6975.0
There are also links to magazine articles about the Raven Tour there too.
Keep reading through the vast number of threads on this site, it is an education in itself.
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I now have a Rohloff-equipped Thorn Raven Tour, which is a very good bike for most sorts of loaded touring.
But I have done most of my tours with bikes that were not really designed for loaded touring, having great fun in the process despite occasional mechanical problems, which I always managed to sort out.
My most recent longish tour (3,300 kms from Brittany, across northern Spain and just into Portugal, then back, mostly on roads but with some use of tracks) was on a 20-year old steel frame mountain bike, adapted with racks, drop bars, fat semi-slick tyres and the lowest possible derailleur gearing I could get with the cranks and wheels I had (24,39,44 chainrings and 13-34 7-speed cassette).
This was adequate for the job. Main drawbacks compared to my Thorn were :
- the racks, mine were Karrimor from the 1970's, far less rigid than Thorn racks but still adequate for carrying a month's kit.
- the derailleur gears, which needed frequent cleaning and chain replacement.
- the odd U-brake arrangement under the bottom bracket (fashionable in the early 1990's) which made the transmission wear issue worse by spraying muck onto the chain.
Apart from this, the bike was nearly as much fun to ride as my expensive Thorn, and because it wasn't worth all that much I worried less about leaving it locked up.
So though having a bespoke new bike is nice, it isn't absolutely essential. A good compromise would be a second-hand bike if you can wait till the right size turns up.
In the Thorn range Raven/Raven Tour with Rohloff, or Sherpa with derailleurs should be OK for most touring, but if you intend carrying really extreme loads or doing lots of off-road riding with heavy loads a Nomad would be best.
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Hi there naive, I'm writing from Down Unda, where we're visiting family. Welcome to the forum -- you've come to a good place, where people have a lot of knowledge & experience, and are good about sharing that. Sorry to hear about your folks' breakup, with your house lost in the undertow, but as the saying goes, one door closes and another opens, and you seem to have turned a problem into an opportunity.
There's a lot of good commentary & advice on your Sherpa, so I'll not duplicate that. Let me add a couple of observations:
1) First, there's a guy here in Oz, Graham Smith, who posts regularly on crazyguy, who's ridden his Sherpa far & wide, and has written about it on crazyguy. Graham also posts here now & again, as "Vintage tourer".
I ride a Raven-mit-Rohloff, which I bought 2013. As part of my research, I exchanged some emails with Graham. He was very complimentary towards Thorn bikes, saying that they're robust to the point of maybe being overbuilt for most purposes. Certainly he's taken his Sherpa across rough terrain in Oz.
I haven't tested my Raven in the same tough conditions, but it's robust and very comfortable, and does everything I ask of it.
2) I switched to a Rohloff after having a lot of adjustment problems with a variety of Shimano derailleurs over about 10 years on my Eclipse ti-framed touring bike. My difficulties (they were hassles and recurrent nuisances, no catastrophes) seem to have been uncommon -- certainly lots of other riders have had very good luck with Shimano and SRAM.
One thing I did learn from my decade of experience with derailleurs, is that I needed gearing for loaded touring that was lower than standard manufacturers' offerings, and often lower than that recommended by bike shops.
You might want to experiment a bit with different types of touring, to find out what you like best. Is it camping, and if so, lighter, or more loaded? The weight you carry, plus your fitness, and your preference for pottering or pushing it -- all these things affect, and are affected by, your gearing.
(There's a whole discussion about the range of gear-inches as a way of indicating the lowest to highest gearing on your bike. It can get quite involved, and a bit mind-boggling until you're familiar with it. Here's an online calculator -- you enter your front chainring and rear cogs info, plus your wheel diameter, and watch what happens, bemused, befuddled, and ultimately hooked: http://www.gear-calculator.com/ (http://www.gear-calculator.com/))
On my Eclipse, now a day-ride bike, I finally was using a 12-36 Shimano Deore cassette at the rear, with a 24-36-48 Deore triple at the front. That bike has 700c wheels, with 32mm tires. My lowest gear on the bike (24 at the front, 36 at the rear) was 18.5 gear-inches, if memory serves. I found that ratio just barely OK for climbing a 12 - 14% grade with a camping load. (My Raven now has two gears lower than that, and I am much happier on the steep grades.)
Your Sherpa has 26" wheels, with probably fatter tires--maybe 26 x 1.6" Supremes? I'd guess that with the 26" wheels, you could run an 11 - 34 cassette at the rear, and a 24-36-48 triple, and still have a low gear which is a bit lower than the 18.5 on my Eclipse. If I had such a Sherpa, though, I'd probably put a 22T small ring onto the front triple. I'd keep the 36T middle ring, however. I found that ring to be very useful on my Eclipse -- I did about 80% of my loaded riding on that ring.
Some people would find those ratios too low, others just right. You could get 2 or 3 different small chainrings for the front, say a 22T and a 24T (plus perhaps the more common 26T) and see which ones you like best, according to the terrain and the gear you're carrying.
Good luck in any case, and enjoy! We'll look forward to your stories & fotos.
Cheers,
John
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On my Eclipse, now a day-ride bike, I finally was using a 12-36 Shimano Deore cassette at the rear, with a 24-36-48 Deore triple at the front. That bike has 700c wheels, with 32mm tires. My lowest gear on the bike (24 at the front, 36 at the rear) was 18.5 gear-inches, if memory serves. I found that ratio just barely OK for climbing a 12 - 14% grade with a camping load. ...
With a 12 to 14 percent grade, I am off the bike pushing it up the hill. I have a minimum speed that I need to maintain to stay upright, I can't keep my heart rate low enough at that speed at that grade. Congratulations to those that can.
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Whilst Thorns are described as long distance touring bikes, many of them are bought by people who get rid of them having travelled very low mileages. There was nothing wrong with the bike!
If you can get a Rohloff equiped bike then go for it. One cog at each end on the outside, a straight chain line and all of the complicated bits tucked away in a hub running in oil. Or you could have a derailleur setup - no contest if the budget can stretch that far.
Although due to sad events, this is a wonderful opportunity. Go out there and do it before you get trapped in a marriage, with a mortgage and kids, and bills coming out of your ears. As Bikerta said - you'll spend more time regretting what you didn't do. Added to that, you will get fit and come back a hero with tales to tell. Either that or it will be like Deliverance! Just joking, you'll meet lots of great, very kind people on the road, but take some lube just in case you meet some bad guys!