Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) => Topic started by: jags on December 20, 2014, 11:25:02 pm
-
So is Santa bringing you lads a bike stuff for Christmas.
hopefully he's bringing me a carbon bike whooooo.
mind you it will be left in the box until i get bucks to build it up sure its the story of me life. ::)
i wont need much just.
front n rear derailleurs
compact chainset n BB
new bars n stem
cables n bartape,
bottle cages.
brake's n sti leavers.
just about 500 euros worth , :o :o
yeah so if i get a stem cap with Thorn printed on it that will qualify me to post photos of it here ;)
OK maybe not.
so will i miss my Thorn yes i will what i'll miss is loading up the barley with stove kettle sambos snacks going for a long solo ride yeah happy days.but im sure there another tourer out there with my name on it but for the next while at least im going back to where it all started for me lightweight road stuff actually looking forward to it.
so thats the story so far boys wishing one and all a very happy and safe christmas.
anto.
-
An OS map chip for my Garmin. Suprise suprise it is also good for the long distance walks my wife has planned for next year.
Mind you it is heaps better than the food mixer I was given for my birthday a few years ago :)
-
An OS map chip for my Garmin. Suprise suprise it is also good for the long distance walks my wife has planned for next year.
Mind you it is heaps better than the food mixer I was given for my birthday a few years ago :)
It's seems more useful to me, than a Carbon frame in a box with a pretend Thorn top cap on the steerer ;D
John
-
yeah the gps stuff is excellent i have a older model but does the job.
john if you have a thorn stem 90mm 10deg stem i'll have it for me christmas pressie from you .that way you can drool over my new dream machine when i post photos of it here wishing you had one just like it.
oh man wait until you feast your eyes on it you'll be danceing round in circles wishing and praying you could have a dream bike like ANTO 8) ;D ;D..
happy christmas
anto ;)
-
Not exactly bike related but I am hoping for a new down sleeping bag (rab ascent 700) and a fuel bottle for my trangia. Still enjoying the Sherpa a lot. Shame about your audax jags, but I know what it feels like to have a bike with too long a top tube. I could not bond with my Dawes galaxy at all for the same reason, mind you I am not sure I would go down the carbon road bike route as I like to be able to tour and go off road which is what the Sherpa does well. Each to their own though and you have to try them all out to find out what you really want from a bike.
-
Jackie im well used to lightweight carbon bikes.
i was thinking strongly of giving up cycling altogether because of my back problem,
but if i did i reckon i would end up worse than ever,so the lightweight bike will make for easier cycling.
i;m the kinda guy that likes company on a tour be it an overnighter or a week and so far i havent been lucky, jeez i could write a feckin book with all the geeks i cycled with even the latest cycling partner crackes me up ;D ;D he is never never ready when i call even thought i give him plenty of warning that im on my way ,this morning i waited in the cold for 20 minutes, jasus i'm a soft touch to be sure ::).
yeah anyway the touring end of cycling is great no doubt but i seriously dont think im cut out for it.mind you i have all the gear still unpacked even a down quilt i paid 250dollors for never used exped sleeping matt / couple stoves still in there boxes/ panniers and rack never used.Yip im a major geek never learn thats the truth.
Neil the new owner of the Audax will get to love it that im sure off i wish him well.
as i said before if i want to tour i have a friend who will lend me his cannondale touring bike no problem sure if ever i win the lottery i might even buy a new thorn if i can get one that fits me.
jags.
-
I also got a lot of shoulder and neck pain with my Dawes. 30 miles was the most I could do. I still get a bit of discomfort, but only after 5 or 6 hours on the bike so not a problem. I know you have a road bike background and I really hope that you find a bike that fits and that you can enjoy.
Touring alone can be very rewarding, but at times it can be lonely, especially in the evenings. Whilst riding, I think I prefer to be solo, but as you say at the end of the day it would be nice to have someone to sit and chat to. Mind you I found that on most of the campsites I used, there was always someone to chat with. I am gradually building up my camping gear, luckily I already had some decent kit from my motorcycling tours. This year I have been experimenting with stoves as I am trying to get away from using gas canisters. They are the most convenient to use, but I hate having bits left in the bottom of the canister and find they are becoming very expensive. I have invested in a trangia stove this year along with a honey stove which I love when dry wood is available.
-
I ordered a new bike jacket for the first time in about 20 years. All the jackets I bought in between were also bike jackets, becasue I often wear street clothes on the bike, but I mean a bike-specific jacket to wear in foul weather and for visibility at night. I chose the Altura Night Vision Evo in yellow, and very nice it is too. The only improvement would be if the Evo came in the orange that my pedalpal Philip has on his basic Night Vision, which to me looks like a very visible color, just as Julian said, and more practical than the yellow. I told my family they're giving me the jacket and perhaps some art materials I haven't had time to order yet. It'll be an advance from years gone by when I couldn't think of anything I wanted and they just gave me money.
Couldn't think of anything else I wanted for my bike that would actually be useful. But then a custom bike now six years old, that started off described as "a Rolls-Royce of bikes" and in constant development be me since — should be pretty pleasing! That's one sort of satisfaction.
***
Thanks to Julian (Julk) who sent me a rare and wonderful sandwich adapter and special bolt for my twin-rail Brooks B-73 so I could fit a micro-adjust seatpost. That was probably last year or even the year before, but what with my health and actually finding a 26.2mm seatpost that I wanted and the weather interfering with planned test rides, it took until this year to finalize the installation, which is now so much more stable than the wretchedly crude Brooks fitting. So bless Julian too this Christmas in expectation of even more perfect rides next year.
-
Ah i love cycling on my own as well Jackie usually end up singing to meself or along with what ever is playing on my ipod ;D and you can see much more cycling solo.but i don't like sitting in a tent campsite on my todd,when i toured with the fellclub in the cotswolds that was magic i enjoyed the company and the banter at the campsite.
nah think i'll stick to what i know best probably better for everyone at the end of the day.
well i hope santa brings me something for my new build going to be a struggle to get it on the road if he doesnt. ::)
jags
-
I just got some great news for Christmas.
The Dumfries and Galloway CTC are again organising the the KM rally, over May 22 - 25 in 2015, the Spring bank holiday weekend.
Based at Barnsoul camp site http://www.barnsoulcaravanpark.co.uk/ (http://www.barnsoulcaravanpark.co.uk/).
The booking form for the rally and evening meals is not available yet, I will post it when it appears.
Accommodation, tents, wigwams etc. should be booked direct with Barnsoul by letter or phone (01557 814351).
They should be giving a 5% discount to rally goers.
Anto,
The days are good with a variety of rides in the scenic hilly countryside.
The evenings are great with superb meals available in the local village hall plus entertainment and chat.
Book the meals in advance once the booking form comes out.
I hope to see you there…
Julian.
-
Hi All!
After struggling in earnest since September to find a replacement for my 30 year-old (!) lycra cycling tights, I seem to be closing in on a candidate at last.
Santa will be pleased.
I have a 32-33inch/81-84cm waist, and I'm astounded at the absurd sizing of some of the cycling tights on the market. I scanned the size charts and reviews carefully and sent for Mediums...then had to re-send for Large, X-Large and XX-Large in my attempts to get a fit, two-way postage eating up the savings provided by the sale price. The measured waist sizes were 22, 24, 26, and 28 inches respectively, waaay too tight for my 33-inch waist. Lycra stretches, but only so much and the waistbands all felt like tourniquets. Some wouldn't go past my knees. Fortunately, they can all be returned.
Another example purchased at the local outlet of a national chain seemed fine until I peeled them off and found my blood had raised to the surface in my legs' calf areas, thanks to the heavy seaming digging in when I closed the zippers. My legs aren't *that* massive. Who do these firms use as models and why don't these issues show up in user reviews?
The leading candidate (to be delivered by Family acting as Santa's helpers) is this one: http://www.rei.com/product/870189/novara-thermal-tech-bike-tights-mens
Fits nicely in the recommended Medium, the zippers work smoothly and lock when desired. The waist cord is flat, and I love the 360° highly reflective trim, secured by a nice overcast stitch and flat seaming throughout. Warm or not may be another matter, but these appear to fit, which gets me more than halfway to my goal. Yay for that, yay for Santa! Yay for -2°C temps in next week's forecast so I can try them out soonest.
Best,
Dan.
-
Interesting Dan. I am not complaining about my £2.50 pair from Aldi UK ( Weather proof-ish fabric on the front and wicking fabric on the back, great zips too) but.. I'm a 34 waist and the recommended size large is very generous indeed. They are lightly padded but I need to wear my padded shorts beneath them to get a better fit. Sizing is such a hit and miss thing I find but for future reference my next pair of tights will be probably be a medium size ands without any padding. The prospect of resembling that inflated Kardashian non-entity is not a good one!
-
Interesting Dan. I am not complaining about my £2.50 pair from Aldi UK ( Weather proof-ish fabric on the front and wicking fabric on the back, great zips too) but.. I'm a 34 waist and the recommended size large is very generous indeed. They are lightly padded but I need to wear my padded shorts beneath them to get a better fit. Sizing is such a hit and miss thing I find but for future reference my next pair of tights will be probably be a medium size ands without any padding. The prospect of resembling that inflated Kardashian non-entity is not a good one!
I bought some padded cycling pants from Lidl just to see what they were like and they fitted but I didn't like the padding.
I bought some Lidl running pants instead, no padding, and they fit well and work well with my Brooks saddle. I like them. Can't remember precisely what they cost but they were well under ten euro, so that I bought a couple more pairs when I discovered the first pair worked well. The problem is that is not often warm enough to wear them. In Irish weather they would go better as underwear than a single-layer garment; haven't tried that though as I have plenty of cotton and angora long johns with proven bike ability.
-
Hi All!
After struggling in earnest since September to find a replacement for my 30 year-old (!) lycra cycling tights, I seem to be closing in on a candidate at last.
have you looked at the Ground Effect site?
Mike
-
Hello,
Happy Christmas to all :) :) :) :) :)
Regarding purchasing rather than receiving gifts, how strange is it that cyclists (other than myself) can spend thousands on bikes
but become Scrooge skinflints when wanting clothing/lighting etc!!!
Happy New Year also.
Regards to all and sundry,
John (who is wishing for health)
-
I just got some great news for Christmas.
The Dumfries and Galloway CTC are again organising the the KM rally, over May 22 - 25 in 2015, the Spring bank holiday weekend.
Based at Barnsoul camp site http://www.barnsoulcaravanpark.co.uk/ (http://www.barnsoulcaravanpark.co.uk/).
The booking form for the rally and evening meals is not available yet, I will post it when it appears.
Accommodation, tents, wigwams etc. should be booked direct with Barnsoul by letter or phone (01557 814351).
They should be giving a 5% discount to rally goers.
Anto,
The days are good with a variety of rides in the scenic hilly countryside.
The evenings are great with superb meals available in the local village hall plus entertainment and chat.
Book the meals in advance once the booking form comes out.
I hope to see you there…
Julian.
Brilliant news Julian i neary got there a few years ago pity it didn't happen love to see scotland,i was watching a wildlife programme on tv last night Wild Scotland yeah beautifull place for sure .but with this new bike im getting its gonna cost me loads of money to get it on the road and we are trying to get the fair to sanfran cisco to visit the son and his family doubt i'll get over but the wife is hoping to get over.anyway julian something to look forward too enjoy the festival should be a cracker.
anto
-
John (who is wishing for health)
...and us, hoping you get it, John! Regarding purchasing rather than receiving gifts, how strange is it that cyclists (other than myself) can spend thousands on bikes but become Scrooge skinflints when wanting clothing/lighting etc!!!
'Cos there's nothing left in the coffers after buying the bike! :D No, in my case, it is just that I'm naturally "careful" with money, so try to get the best deal to extend it. Good point, though; it does seem a truism! ;D have you looked at the Ground Effect site?
Excellent suggestion, Mike, but they're not local to me, so I can't try-on before buying. REI helped tremendously in that regard, as I knew right away if the clothing had even a chance of working in a given size. It is a bit discouraging shopping the mail-order sales only to find I've eaten the cost savings in out-and-back shipping costs. Ah, me. Sure do like the Ground Effect things I've seen online, though...especially these: http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product/MER/DAD Interesting Dan. I am not complaining about my £2.50 pair from Aldi UK
Hug and hold and keep 'em, Ian; at that price, you still came out ahead! I am still amazed at my luck in finding Lidl Medium cycling shorts that really fit in Croation stores...equivalent of USD$7 in cost. Wish I could have bought a gross of them.
By the way, I always go for unpadded tights and 3/4 pants so I can add or peel them off mid-ride if temperatures change (my padded cycling shorts are my base-layer). I have one pair of really nice Pearl Izumi padded bibs bought as a store donation for USD$14 at the thrift shop. Like everything about them except the bib part. All seemed fine till Nature called in the midst of a very rainy ride on a freezing day with nothing to serve as dry cover overhead...and everything up-top had to come off to release the shoulder straps so the bottom half could lower. Cold! Wet! No fun! :o 3/4 tights are my new go-to layering favorite, as they keep my knees warm yet vent nicely below for a "happy medium" on cool mornings with temps down to about 3°C.
All the best and happy Santa Dreams,
Dan.
-
have to say the cycle clothing ive ever bought is assos just cant be faulted very expensive though but you certainly get what you pay for.
i bought a stormproof jacket from corrine dennis and althoughits good its not great i dont like the side pockets to far back and the collor is a pain the the neck but it does keep off the rain and stormy weather cant be faulted on that..
i dont like aldi gear i think its pure rubbish i did buy jacket and bibs i wore them a few times i then binned them totally useless.
-
I love Aldi for the quality and value for money as regards to groceries but I bought two pairs of Winter Cycling Tights which I threw after a couple of rides. The gel pad was awful and the material didn't breathe causing me to develop nasty boils which took an age to disappear, needless to say I always pass the cycle clothing baskets when I do my shop regardless of how good value they appear.
Neil
-
Neil corrine dennis bibs are great top quality pad in them last ages i bought a few pair from her i think 50 euro a pop.
-
I'll keep my eyes open for them, cheers. I bought a pair of Dhb shorts, tights and overshoes which I think are Wiggle's own make, they are very good quality for the money.
Maybe I was unlucky with the Aldi tights, you probably get good and bad items even with high end stuff like Rapha although I've never been flush enough to buy any of their clothing.
Keep me posted on your new frame Anto, I'm not on Facebook so you'll have to email me some pics. I'll sort out the Audax disc after Christmas, I'll need to get the manual out first ::).
Regards,
Neil
-
will do Neil thanks for that buddy look forward to watching it mind you i have a video play as well if that easier for you to record.
i ordered the frame yesterday no idea when it will arrieve certainly not before christmas pity i could drool over it for 5 or 6 hours man i sure hope i got the size correct ;D ;D
anto.
-
Which frame did you go for Anto? Have you got a link?
-
Which frame did you go for Anto? Have you got a link?
close your eyes here it comes .
http://www.dolan-bikes.com/index.php/road/road-framesets/road-framesets-carbon/dolan-l-etape-carbon-road-frameset.html
-
got it in blue and black 8)
anto.
what do you think . ;)
-
Wow, nice lines! The short chain stays will be really noticeable. Maybe more noticeable than the weight of the audax frame alone. That really is a contrast to the thorn, just hope it's the right size and you like it!
-
I painted a house for a guy few years back he was a member of the irish olympic cycling track team he said terry dolon made all his bikes for him he reckon he is a pure genius when it comes to designing bike
's a few of the lads in the local group ride alu dolan bikes and they love them.
i had a good chat with one of the lads on the dolan site told him my exact height and the problem i have with my back he reckons the 48 medium will suit me fine ,just hope he nailed it .
i cant get to ride it until i get the money for a groupset trying to sell my guitar AGAIN to finance it but no takers so far.
anyway fingers crossed this all comes together for me i'd seriously hate to give up cycling. :'(
anto
-
Hi everyone,
On Monday night we opened our front door to be greeted by Ho Ho Ho from a jovial Santa Claus who gave us chocolate coins and a Christmas card. The card was from my son who had left Edinburgh four years ago to work in the Cayman Islands. My wife was delighted and told Santa where her son was. What happened next was incredible as Santa took of his wig,whiskers and hat to reveal our son. Absolutely magical and the best present we could have wished for. ;D ;D
Wishing everybody a very merry Christmas.
alfie
-
Alfie!
What a wonderful Christmas story! Best gift from Santa was...Santa! ;D
All best wishes now and in the New Year to come,
Dan.
-
Wow Alfie, what a nice surprise, bet there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
Looks a lovely frame-set Anto, love the colour, very classy.
Wishing everyone a happy and safe Christmas,
Neil.
-
How WONDERFUL for you! Happy Christmas indeed.
-
got it in blue and black 8)
anto.
what do you think . ;)
Anthony,
Happy Christmas, but you will, sooner or later regret leaving behind not only Steel is real
but all your real true Thorn friends!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Purchase in haste with desire licking your lips. Envy of friends bikes usually leads to sadness...
Remember what I told you!
Happy Christmas and a good New Year to you and your family.
All the best,
John
-
Jabus John your a bundle of joy ;D ;D
i dont think the lads will shoot me for buying a bike thats going to suit me far better than the thorn.
believe me when i tell you once i get this bike built up i will enjoy every pedal stroke make no mistake about that my friend. if its a thing it doesnt suit me i'll sell it and buy another, sure why not i'll be dead for years have the craic while im still above ground. ;)
anto.
-
Anti
I hope the bike does suit you, but remember we will all be here when you return to the fold. Thorn will remember you and embrace your character and good humour.
You will be sadly missed as you bring such fun to this Forum!
I hope that you will be able to get the bike built before you are too old and too slow to enjoy it?
Have fun building it but remember to make sure you have mudguards fitted!,,,,
All the best,
John
-
Mudguards NEVER AGAIN ;D ;D ;D..
ah fear not I'll still join in the banter on the forum all or most of you lads take life to serious i live from one day to the next what comes at me I'll deal with it best i can sure i cant do better than that ...
if i had the money i would have a dozen bikes would not hesitate to buy another thorn there great bikes for sure but i enjoy lightweight bikes as well ,I'm like a big kid when i get new stuff cant wait to get me little mitts on this dolan should be fun.but if ever i do buy a thorn it will have carbon up front 700 wheels with 25mm tyres max no need for those big heavy tyres only slow a fella down. ;)tw John it will be after christmas before i fix u up ;) sorry for the delay but you know its safe.
anto.
-
Hi Anto! Santa here, delighted you're delighted, everybody wins!!
The deal is, though--please check the fine print on p. 258 of the delivery contract, claus 627B [ho-ho-ho], & you'll see there's no room for doubt--you can keep the new boike only if you contribute regularly to one or both of the "Cycling General/Non-Thorn" and "Muppets" threads of the Thorn Forum.
The elves an' me will be watchin', assisted by our friends at Google an' such, an' if your part of the deal is not observed, well, a year hence There Will Be Consequences.
-
hi santa glad you got my letter dont let me down now i'll be sleeping with one eye opened.dont come down the chimney come round the back i'll have the kettle on for ya 8)
have a great christmas john eat and drink plenty ;D ;D
anto.
-
WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH
" What was that "
"Just Anto trying out his new bike"
;)
-
Hah i wish ;D ;D.
i keep checking the tracking its still in liverpoole :'(.
-
Hah i wish ;D ;D.
i keep checking the tracking its still in liverpoole :'(.
Check the time into the depot. It usually leaves about 12-24hrs later. But if it will be stuck in the system because they've shut down, you want it stuck in a depot rather than at some airport where it may not start moving again. I had a bike that missed the last delivery before Christmas stuck in a container in a field outside Dublin for ten days into the new year until I persuaded a nice chap physically to go check the container it came in. It was the only parcel left in the container. They were so embarrassed, they sent a huge truck on a 400m round trip with only my bike in it to come deliver it.
-
still in liverpoole hopefully next week. ::)
-
still in liverpoole hopefully next week. ::)
A to
I've got the thing here with me! I know the delivery man and he redirected it so that I could fit the mudguards for you.
I'm just drilling out the rear stays now, ready for the bolts!
Happy New Year.....
John >:(
-
hah ;D .
i was in my daughters house for Christmas dinner and lovely it was too. when i got there attention i asked who was buying me what for my new bike ,man what a lecture i got sorry i opened me mouth. ;D ;D
the wife said i had a new set of mudguards hanging up in the shed.its as well i have the Christmas spirit or she was for the high jump saying things like that to me . ::)
anto
-
Santa brought me a Honey Stove and Trangia burner, after reading Jackie's (bikerta's) great thread on it some time back. :) I can't wait to put it to use, but it'll be months - We're in the Total Fire Ban season here in Oz, and even though the HS is eminently controllable, one spark can light up a forest. Big fines for naked flames this time of year! :(