Recent Posts

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 10
1
Non-Thorn Related / Re: +++Rides of 2024+++Add yours here+++
« Last post by John Saxby on Today at 01:32:18 am »
Thank you, Andre, for your kind words - esp about my photos.  ("Aw, shucks," he said, scuffling his feet & looking away  ;) )

Quote
the best cycling was that long, long descent from Pietermaritzburg to Durban
  For sure: In Dec 2005, I rode from Pretoria to Durban with a friend to celebrate his 70th birthday, along with 10-12 members of his family and friends.  That was my first long ride/tour, and I was hooked. The trend line from the highveldt to the coast was down, obviously, but there were plenty of tough climbs as well. The final run-in from PM'burg was a delight, and I understood why the uphill variant of the Comrades' Marathon is so difficult.

As we were in the last throes of the Valley of a Thousand Hills, a couple of hotshoes on 750 or 900 Dukes came screaming around a corner towards us, fairings scraping the ground and front wheels wobbling as the tires fought for grip, and I thought, "Ah, jeez, why does it have to end like this?" Luckily for all of us (incl the hotshoes), the Dukes kept the rubber side down.

Glad you liked my riff on Keats  ;)

Cheers,  John
2
Thorn General / Re: Mullet nomad mk 2 (26" rear -- 27.5" front)
« Last post by Andre Jute on Today at 01:02:51 am »
Every action has a reaction, but I think the arguments on both sides of this one are over reactions.

You're right about each action having a reaction*, Paul, but I don't see any "arguments" or "sides" here: all the points discussed fit along sliding scales of control and personal preference as long as one doesn't go too near the limits of adhesion and stability. A competently designed touring bike in any event has such a margin of safety and stability, that I haven't read anything in this thread that would be intrinsically dangerous.

* Mental image of Sir isaac Newton standing on a teetering pile of books to look over the wall at that universal truth!
3
Thorn General / Re: Mercury Mk 2 frame replacement
« Last post by JohnR on May 26, 2024, 09:52:15 pm »
I can see several 52 L and 55 L Mk 3 Mercury frames and a 550L Mk 2 frame (red) https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/thorn-mercury-frames/. A possible alternative frame is the Spa Elan which will take 40mm tyres with mudguards (and 50mm with mudguards using 650B wheels). It's not designed to be Rohloff ready but I figured out a torque anchor solution, most satisfactorily with the Ti frame but adequate with the steel frame. See https://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=14396.msg110737#msg110737 and https://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=14396.msg108175#msg108175 which have some photos. (BTW, the steel Elan frame needs a new home.)
4
Thorn General / Re: Mercury Mk 2 frame replacement
« Last post by iGom on May 26, 2024, 06:15:34 pm »
I bought a Mercury MK3 last year and don't think there were any restrictions in availability - except the colour.  I would have liked green, but the gunmetal grey is very nice IMO.
Ordered on 4 July & collected 7 August.
700C wheels, with rear disk brake & front rim.
The tyres are "Schwalbe Marathon Supreme HD HS469 Folding Tyre - 700 x 40 42-622" (to quote the receipt) and it came with mudguards.  Not problem with fit.
I am very happy with it & like the way it rides, but oviously can't compare with the MK2.  My first Rohloff bike (wish I bought one years ago).

So, in theory at least, I don't think you should have a problem in getting a new Mercury frame.
5
Thorn General / Re: Mercury Mk 2 frame replacement
« Last post by PH on May 26, 2024, 01:58:14 pm »
How dreadful.  I had a bike trashed in an attempted sale, it upset me more than when I had a bike stolen.
I have a Mercury (Mk3 but originally the previous model) and a Nomad, the Mercury is 700c and the Nomad started out 700c and was swapped to 650B. Despite the obvious similarities in looks, they ride considerably differently.  The Nomad is a good bit stiffer, it doesn't have the same zing (I know it's subjective!), I feel much more like I'm sat on it rather than in it, the steering is slower.  It's a bit heavier, I've got it written down somewhere, I think in the same spec it's about 800g. Though my builds are different, so the actual bikes weight difference is considerably more than that.  Those things are not necessarily downsides of course, depends on what you want and what you like.  The Mercury is by far my favorite bike, yet last year it did less than half the mileage of the Nomad.
When I wrecked my original Mercury, I did fleetingly consider two others, a Stanforth Skylander and a SOMA Wolvarine.  The Stanforth suffers the same tyre restriction of earlier Mercury models (The Mk3 takes 40mm tyres), the SOMA has sliding dropouts but isn't otherwise Rohloff specific (though I've seen Rohloffs fitted) There's also some Shand models, but I'm not keen on the geometry (Or the price!) The Cyclingabout website has a list of Rohloff frames, though not many are readily available in the UK.  The Rohloff in my Nomad started life in a Surly Ogre, which didn't really suit me  - Someone else on this forum went Nomad Mk2 > Ogre and preferred it, someone else did PBP (1,400km Audax) on their Nomad, which demonstrates how subjective it can be - For that swap I was considering frames from Tumbleweed and Brother.  In the end I wanted something less MTB geometry and more touring.

The Nomad Mk3 was reviewed in the CTC magazine a while back, the review is full of factual errors, so worth a read but don't take it on trust.   

EDIT - Link to Cycle UK review:
 https://www.cyclinguk.org/cycle-magazine/bike-test-expedition-tourers#

EDIT EDIT - my previous musings on the Nomad
https://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=14854.msg111738#msg111738
6
Thorn General / Mercury Mk 2 frame replacement
« Last post by ianatstanage on May 26, 2024, 11:58:32 am »

Hi,
Recently I had a burglary of the garage.
An attempt was made to steal my Mercury Mk 2, purchased new in 2015.
Fortunately it was well secured with good locks and the thieves could not take it.
Unfortunately, due to the use of a crowbar while attempting to break a D lock, the frame was significantly bent and is beyond repair.
I am now wanting to source a replacement frame.
Having noticed that there was very little stock of Thorn frames, I have just seen Robin’s post from December 2023, indicating a decrease in model availability.
For the last few years I had been running my Mercury with 40mm tyres and no mudguards (they don’t fit with 40mm).
This suited my riding and provided a noticeable increase in comfort, although being splashed with mud and road grime was unpleasant.
I am therefore thinking of getting a Mk3 Nomad, possibly with 650B wheels.
If I go for a 650B Nomad, should I go for a similar size frame to my Mercury (55L) or a bit smaller (52L)?
I would need to get the Rohloff re-built with a 650B rim.
I’ve not found any reviews for the Mk3 Nomad, so possibly not a popular bike?
Alternatively, are there other frames suitable for a Rohloff?
Many thanks,
Ian

7
Thorn General / Re: Mullet nomad mk 2 (26" rear -- 27.5" front)
« Last post by mickeg on May 26, 2024, 11:23:01 am »
My personal experience is that an easy way to inadvertently upset a bike’s stability is to fit a handlebar bag.   ...

Agree. 

But I almost always have a handlebar bag on my bike.  Carries my phone, some of my rain gear, multi-tool, sun screen, phone (I have a spare phone for emergencies, stored in my handlebar bag, very cheap phone plan with limited minutes) ID, a bit of money, first aid kit, a couple knee bands if my knees get over stressed, etc., etc.

I do notice at very slow speeds how it impairs handling, but am used to it.

I pack it with the most dense weight is aft where it is closer to the steering axis (steerer tube).  And mount it slightly lower.  On some of my bikes I use a second stem with a stub from a handlebar bag, on two bikes I use the shortest Thorn Accessory T Bar attachment, photo attached from my Nomad Mk II.

If best possible handling was my goal, there would be no handlebar bag, but the convenience overcomes that.  Call it personal opinion.
8
Thorn General / Re: Mullet nomad mk 2 (26" rear -- 27.5" front)
« Last post by mickeg on May 26, 2024, 11:07:03 am »
...
Since making this change to a much wider front tire on the E bike the handling has felt much more stable and giving me a lot more confidence on my commute. (about 15 miles each way half of which is off-road on relatively rough tracks)
...

A rotating wheel is like a gyroscope, resists wanting to change orientation.  The faster it spins and the heavier it is, the stronger that resistance to change in orientation.  I can see where a heavier tire on the front can give a feeling of stability.

If I put really light wheels with skinny light weight tires on a bike, the steering is more sensitive, same with my folding bike with smaller diameter tire.

I am not saying that caused all the change, but I am sure it contributed to it.
9
Thorn General / Re: Mullet nomad mk 2 (26" rear -- 27.5" front)
« Last post by martinf on May 26, 2024, 07:06:53 am »
Opinions on bar bags also vary, though you have to factor in familiarity.

I used a bar bag for quite a long time in the 1970's, but never really liked it. Perhaps because the frames I had at the time were closer to race geometry than for stable touring.

One advantage of a bar bag is that it can be quickly removed.

For day rides I got a bigger saddlebag to replace the volume lost by removing the bar bag, and a quick release fitting so that I could take all my luggage with me except water bottles and, at that time, a frame fitting pump.

For longer tours with pannier bags I use a small rucksack. I put all the valuable items in that and it goes in one of the panniers. Perhaps not quite so quick as a handlebar bag, and less convenient if I want to take photos, but more useful if I want to take a walk in the evening after parking the bike somewhere.
10
Thorn General / Re: Mullet nomad mk 2 (26" rear -- 27.5" front)
« Last post by PH on May 25, 2024, 07:36:39 pm »
Every action has a reaction, but I think the arguments on both sides of this one are over reactions.  I rode Derby > Barcelona some years ago, set off on a pair of  30mm Marathon Racers and split the rear before leaving the UK, choice in the first Decathlon in France was 25mm or 40, nothing in between and I bought the larger.  That wouldn't fit the frame so the bigger tyre went on the front.  That's a difference in radius of 10mm.  Did it feel different? Yes.  Was it a problem? No. 50 miles later I'd forgotten about it, not only did I not go looking for another tyre in the remaining 900 miles, I didn't bother swapping it when I go home.
Gratuitous photo, spot the difference


A 27.5" rim has a 25mm larger diameter than a 26" (584 V's 559), 3.5%, a radius difference of 12.5mm.  Form your own opinion about the effect that might have, or better still try it yourself.

Opinions on bar bags also vary, though you have to factor in familiarity.  I nearly always ride with one, out of laziness it'll sometimes hold a 2kg chain lock as well as the other stuff, the only time I consider it an issue is when off the bike it makes the bars flop.  The weight difference with/without the bag will be less than the difference in weight distribution between grips and bar ends on a straight bar, or tops and hoods on drop bars.  Your choice of course, though it makes me laugh that many Audax riders who wouldn't have considered one a decade ago, now wouldn't be without.

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 10