Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Member's Gallery => Topic started by: nztony on December 21, 2013, 04:47:09 am
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Hello All,
I've been studying, reading, thinking, planning, saving etc for the last couple of years and finally bitten the bullet and bought myself a brand new
Thorn Nomad MKII. I looked at various options from other manufacturers but decided the Thorn Nomad MKII was the way ahead for me.
I've lost track of the amount reading of Thorn Forums, the Nomad pdf, individual cyclists blogs, crazyguyonabike entries, component and accessory makers etc, and I've finally done it.
About me, I'm 51 now, but I was a keen cyclist in my 20's in the 1980s and rode the velodrome but also did lots of road miles in training and road races.
In fact I used to ride the 4 man 100km Team Time Trial on the road, 40km Individual Time Trial and the 4000m individual pursuit and 1000m individual time trial on the track. And I almost forgot, did a couple of cycle tours before I started competing - so after a little over 20 years away from the scene, I'm back, and I never thought I would.
Up until now I've been a tramper (hiker) doing lots of walks up in the steep hills, and bush around my part of the country, here in Wellington, New Zealand. I am hoping my with my cycling background and base fitness from my hill walking, to get to grips with riding again - although I can't say I'm in love with my Brooks saddle just yet, but it's early days and I've only had three rides on my new bike, 20km, 40km, and 30km today. I seem to be averaging around 17 - 18km. My 80 - 160km rides in the 1980s averaged 28-30kms an hour and are a distant memory now. I didn't realise it at the time, but looking back on it now I'm quite impressed. I remember doing my rides and trying to keep the average at 30km and be disappointed if I let it slip.
The Thorn is 98% done - haven't trimmed the arms on the rear rack yet until I get and fit my panniers - which I just ordered a couple of hours ago.
(am I allowed to say where from or is that considered being over commercial on this site?) I am hoping to get The Plug III soon too. The handlebars and stem are on loan while we sort out what works for me. I should add I had the Thorn frame and quite a lot of other parts imported into New Zealand and built up here with SJS sourced components and also from elsewhere. Because I am a heavy rider I went for the strongest components possible recommended from the Nomad pdf. In the pdf prior to the one online now, SJS used to highlight their strongest/most durable components in red and I was guided by this.
Just in the three rides I've done so far, it is like I am the newbie I was when I started back in the early 1980s - a lot of cyclists passing by on the opposite side of the road didn't have the time to return a friendly wave to the newbie and I am getting the same (non) response from the racing guys now. It shouldn't, but it bugs me a little bit, as what they don't know I was doing the same kind of rides they are doing 25 years ago - I 'll get over it.
I almost forgot to say, the reason I have bought this bike is that a few years ago I got a whole box of photo slides** from my (late) grandmother, who
made a trip to England and Scotland in 1966 and I've scanned and worked out their locations and I decided I wanted to visit the UK and try to re take the same photos 50 years later and that has now turned into and idea of riding the UK. I want to do a modified version of the John o'Groats to Lands End ride. I want to ride from JOG along the top of Scotland, down to Ullapool, cycle the Outer Hebrides, put the bike aside and take a boat trip and spent a couple of nights on St Kilda Island, then return to the Outer Hebrides and cycle to their southern end, get the ferry to Oban, then ride to Dover and stay with a friend, preferably via London if I'm brave enough. Any, that is the plan and I am fairly set on it now.
Yesterday's (and my second ride): http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/3590805
kind regards
Tony
New Zealand
** http://www.flickr.com/photos/nztony/sets/72157621939814154/
(am I allowed to place links to other sites here or is that a no no?)
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/11459262575_848a80dcce.jpg)
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Wow!
What an absolutely fantastic ride, Tony; so very happy for you and your new arrival! All congratulations your way! Always terrific to see the new "pride 'n' joy" and this one is a beauty!Just in the three rides I've done so far, it is like I am the newbie I was when I started back in the early 1980s - a lot of cyclists passing by on the opposite side of the road didn't have the time to return a friendly wave to the newbie and I am getting the same (non) response from the racing guys now. It shouldn't, but it bugs me a little bit, as what they don't know I was doing the same kind of rides they are doing 25 years ago - I 'll get over it.
Aw, Tony, they just don't appreciate what's beyond their immediate interest. You're already a member of a supportive community here, not a worry in the world. We'll all return a friendly wave!(am I allowed to place links to other sites here or is that a no no?)
No problem at all; delighted to see the rest of your photos, Tony.
Thanks so much for sharing with us; looking forward to reading and seeing it all myself next.
All the best,
Dan. (...who is always happy to welcome another member to Thorn ownership)
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Thanks Dan for the kind welcome.
I know you are a drop handlebars person and so am I and I very nearly went with them, but finally went with MTB bars. I am having to re-educate myself and remember that I am not a 'racing' cyclist anymore and have to try to forget those days when I make new decisions regarding my Thorn. I was hopeless at some decisions: it took me a year to talk myself in the MTB bars, about a year or longer to decide on Yellow as the frame colour. As for the panniers, that has taken me a couple of years to make up my mind on the colour and model. The brand was easy, it was always going to be Ortlieb of course. I ordered them earlier today, so photos to come in the New Year.
It's OK regarding the racing guys not waving, I will get over it ;-)
It was very rewarding paying cash upfront for it too, no loans, no credit cards etc - my daughter left home 18 months ago, so my savings kicked into gear.
I did a little bit of touring 30 years ago (scary how long ago that was)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3252/3021847064_50e9e0215a.jpg)
I promise not to post any shirtless self portraits with the new bike.
regards
Tony
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Congratulations Tony what a fantastic looking Nomad, everything looks spot on to me. I'm sure you will get used to the straight bars fairly quickly, I did. Would it be possible to list the components you chose for you steed, can't speak for everyone but it's always interesting to see what other Thorn riders opted for in the end.
Looking forward to reading your posts and hope you and your Nomad have many happy miles and memories ahead.
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YAY!! Another Tonka Yellow Nomad!! The best colour
Great looking bike Tony, looking forward to more tales of your travels, and pics of course ;D
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Brilliant photos of your Gran's! Plockton remains the same too! I see she was pioneering Mac computers way back then too. Visionary stuff ;D
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Hi Tony.
Good to see your new bike.
I'm a Raven man myself and live in Scotland.
Please contact me if your trip here comes about.
Noticed you mentioned St. Kilda as part of your tour.
I hope to visit the island in the Spring as a 60th birthday present from my 2 kids.
Any idea when the trip may take place?
Let me know if I can be any help or assistance.
Matt
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Hi Tony (your second name isnt kelly by chance) ;D
that bike is class colour is mental but super cool.
my son is over in your part of the world well Aukland he loves it best country he was ever in and he been all over.
that racing group that doesn't wave back it must be the same one i meet, the cool dudes group. ah worry not when they hit there 50's they will discover what cycling is really like.
anyway i'm rambling again ::) welcome to a great forum and enjoy every pedal stroke on that wonderfull bike your allow to post loads of photos and the odd video all mine have been deleted ;D ;D
oh happy christmas .
jags
anto.
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Hi Tony and welcome to the wonderful world of Thorn.
Your bike looks great and you are going to have some great trips together.
Keep the photos coming.
Steve
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Neil,
Here is a list of most of the components I chose in conjunction with Puresports NZ using the Nomad PDF for our main reference:
(with thanks to NZPeterG for putting me onto www.puresports.co.nz/ )
Frame: Thorn Nomad MK2 590L (from SJS)
Headset: Orbit (standard fit with the Nomad I think) (from SJS)
Handlebars: Thorn Flat bar (not installed yet - using a borrowed stem and handlebars from Puresports NZ until we choose a suitable stem) (from SJS)
Grips: Ergon GP5
Cranks: Shimano XT 175mm (from Chain Reaction)
Chainring:Thorn 40 tooth (replaced mid March 2014) 42 SRAM
Rear Hub: Rohloff CC DB EX (direct from Rohloff)
Rear Sprocket: Rohloff 16 (direct from Rohloff)
Front Hub: Son 28 (hope to add the Tout Terrain Plug III shortly) (direct from Son)
Front Rim: Andra 30 plain 32 (from SJS)
Rear Rim: Andra 30 CSS 32h (from SJS)
Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Mondial 2.15 - may be considered overkill but we chose these as I am a very heavy rider at 130kg, so went for these. (from SJS) 8 May 2014 - first puncture at just over 4000km to front tyre.
Dec 2014 Changed rear tyre after 9000km with the same. Not one single puncture in those 9000km - I'm very impressed.
Wheels built in New Zealand by: www.wheelworks.co.nz/about/ (they have a "lifetime broken spoke guarantee" I presume they mean "no"
broken spoke? Or perhaps they guarantee to fix all broken spokes for free?)
Front and Rear Quick Releases: Halo XL Hex Key Black.
Brake Calipers and Levers: Shimano XT - in the short time I've had my new bike I am super impressed with these - I descend a very steep windy hill
close to home and only need two fingers on each lever. (from Shimano New Zealand - I think)
Saddle:
December 2014 Specialized - giving it another try
August 2014: Selle Italia Turbo from Chainreactioncycles - the remake of the old 1980s favourite. Should have got it in the first instance - my third saddle this year probably no need to try another. I used to ride them on all my bikes in the 1980s - road bikes, track bikes etc.
May 2014 Specialized
December 2013 Brooks B17 Honey with black rails - finally gave up on the Brooks after almost exactly 4000km and replaced with a Specialized - lets see how this one turns out. Brooks unceremoniously chucked into the spare cupboard.
Pedals: Shimano XT Trekking T780
Front and Rear Racks: Thorn Expedition (from SJS)
Bottle Cages: Profile x 3 (from SJS)
Front Light: Schmidt Edulux (direct from Schmidt)
Rear Light: Cateye TL-LD1100 LED (from SJS)
Panniers: Ortlieb Back and Front Roller Classics (from www.thetouringstore.com/ORTLIEB )
Rear Rack Bag (for day rides) Arkel Tailrider www.arkel-od.com/us/tailrider.html
Neil, I think that covers most of it and although we imported the frame to New Zealand and built it here, I am pleased to say I did my best to support SJS Cycles.
Relayer, thanks for that, I'm really enjoying the bright Tonka Yellow colour - my first ever custom made road and track frames were in matt black, so done that, so time for something bright this time around, although I'd have been very happy with black too - actually took me months to decide.
In4, my Grandmother took the slides in 1966, but I scanned them and processed them on my Imac - but, hope to cycle in the general area of Plockton someday or if not, at least through some of the places she photographed - if I have time I'd love to re photograph her photograph of Chedworth, I guess mainly as that was the photo that took the longest to work out where and what it was.
Matt2matt2002, thanks for your offer of assistance, I may hit you up on that for some local knowledge. I'm hoping to hit the UK in 2015 - now that I've bought the Nomad, time to save for airfares and UK expenses now. I am a map nerd from way back and now with Google Earth I super enjoy exploring our Earth and remote places and stumbled across St Kilda a few years ago and found it and its history fascinating. I worked on the Chatham Islands (bigger than St Kilda) in the early 1980s almost 800km off the coast of New Zealand: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nztony/sets/72157608195982797/
(most photos have links to the location)
Jags, I was an Aucklander myself for my cycling years and lived there 1982 - 1993 and still visit. As for those cool dudes - I was one of them once, but I always waved at all cyclists. And what they won't know is that 25 years after competing I'm still as recently as October this year giving talks to local groups about cycling and goal setting - so I feel I get the last laugh there.
Swision, many thanks, and just because you asked, here is another photo! (if I remember how I inserted yesterdays one.)
My sunday ride to Petone Wharf, Wellington, NZ: http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Embed/3592667
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2812/11488639463_fea7893013.jpg)
or a bigger version here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nztony/11488639463
I hoped I haven't missed anyone that kindly commented.
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Congratulations on taking the jump Tony, the bikes looking good.
Nice seeing the old photos and a good idea for a tour. Looking forward to many more photos, looks like you're a dab hand with a camera, learned a thing or two about photography from your grandmother?
That photo of Plockton is just round the corner from the house where I grew up, the village has changed some but probably much less than many of the other places.
Regards,
Iain.
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Thanks macspud, I'm really enjoying checking out my planned route on Google Maps and Street View, especially along the northern Coast from John o'Groats to Durness (would love a side trip to Cape Wrath if one can cycle there?) My Grandfather was the family photographer, who passed it on to my Grandmother who passed it on to my father and now it's my turn to keep the family photos coming, and I've been dabbling in it on and off for over 30 years now. Those photos my Grandmother took are fascinating as I've checked everyone on Google Maps and Street View quite extensively. (I was a map nerd way before Google Maps was invented.) Several people have said they are looking forward to more photos, but people may regret that as I find such offers hard to resist ;-)
24 Jan 1984
Day two of three of my Auckland to Wellington Ride of 652kms, today's ride of 229km from Lake Taupo to Sanson:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3044/3024549772_b1798e7939_z.jpg)
or more details here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nztony/3024549772
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Hi Tony<
Looking good :)
I wish you Mile's (km's) of Happy Cycling....
Pete 8)
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Hi Tony
Welcome. Your bike looks great, the same colour as mine by coincidence :D You'll have agreat time with that bike riding in NZ and anywhere overseas. My road bike and the MTB have been languishing with a rueful expression on their bars since I built up the Nomad.
Cranks: Shimano XT (from Chain Reaction)
Chainring: 42 SRAM (once I work out the appropriate gearing I'll probably go for a Thorn, assuming it fits my Shimano Cranks)
You will find that the Thorn ring is only in 5-bolt and as the XT is a 4-bolt crank you will have to reassess the options.
Cheers
Pete
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Those photos my Grandmother took are fascinating as I've checked everyone on Google Maps and Street View quite extensively. (I was a map nerd way before Google Maps was invented.)
Here is a photo looking back to where your grandmother would have taken her photo from....
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Saddle: Brooks B17 Honey with black rails - very early days so unfair to judge, but at this early stage we are not good friends. I'll persevere, but I'm very tempted to go back to my all time favourite that I see is making a come back: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/selle-italia-turbo-1980-saddle/ (from SJS)
I'm afraid that par for the course, having not cycled for a long time pretty much all saddles are uncomfortable until that body gets used to sitting on a saddle again. Going by my own experience, being off a bike for years and have gained a lot of weight in the intervening years, getting used to sitting on a saddle again is somewhat akin to torture but things do get better.
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Hi Tony
Welcome. Your bike looks great, the same colour as mine by coincidence :D You'll have agreat time with that bike riding in NZ and anywhere overseas. My road bike and the MTB have been languishing with a rueful expression on their bars since I built up the Nomad.
You will find that the Thorn ring is only in 5-bolt and as the XT is a 4-bolt crank you will have to reassess the options.
Cheers
Pete
Thorn reversible chainrings are available in 4 bolt 104mm bcd http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/thorn-104mm-bcd-4-arm-reversible-single-chainring-3-32-inch-black-prod11054/
nztony,
The Cabbage trees in Plockton (as can be seen in macspud's photo) will help you feel at home,.
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They look like Cordyline (cordyline australis) rather than Cabbage Tree Palms (livistonia australis). Cordyline tend to be much more tolerant of cold conditions than the Cabbage Tree, which are very rare here in Victoria, whereas the Cordyline is a common garden plant.
;)
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What ever type of tree, that is one drop dead gorgeous place!
Tom
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Some people find the B17 too wide. I prefer the Conquest (discontinued model), it is the same shape as Brooks Pro but with springs. I am not suggesting you buy a Pro on the gamble it will fit well, but if you know anyone that has one, maybe they would let you try it.
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They look like Cordyline (cordyline australis) rather than Cabbage Tree Palms (livistonia australis). Cordyline tend to be much more tolerant of cold conditions than the Cabbage Tree, which are very rare here in Victoria, whereas the Cordyline is a common garden plant.
;)
Cordyline Australis is the Cabbage Tree, at least it is in New Zealand, where they get plenty of exposure to colder conditions in the South Island.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordyline_australis
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Front Rim: Andra 30 plain 32 (from SJS)
Rear Rim: Andra 30 CSS 32h (from SJS)
Ah ha.
An interesting combination. Something I have thought about.
May I ask your own reasoning?
Look forward to helping out in 2015 for your UK trip around Scotland and St. kilda.
Matt
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Many thanks for the parts list Tony, it's very much appreciated. I'll be interested to know how you get on with the GP5 bar ends. I have the Thorn straight bars with SJS bar ends which are excellent but the GP5 do offer another hand position and is something I've been thinking about. How do you find the Rohloff gear system compared to the more familiar derailleurs?
One thing is for certain I don't believe there is a better expedition bike on the planet, you've made a great choice of frame and components.
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NZPeterG thanks for that, I am bound to be passing through Taupo at some stage, so will pop into the shop and say hello, and thanks for putting me onto Chris at Puresports NZ.
il padrone - it took me ages to choose Yellow, so I'm glad there were only two choices, otherwise I'd still be trying to choose the colour! Sad news about
the cranks, but then shortly after rualexander gave me some good news, so I am very pleased about that, and re reading the pdf I see all the options for their cranks and Shimano.
macspud, that is a beautiful photo of Plockton. When I processed my Grandmother's 1966 slides, as well as trying to place them it is always interesting to try to work out where she stood when she took them. As for the Brooks, I'll be patient, I know not to expect good things immediately.
rualexander that is excellent news regarding Thorn chainrings. I'll keep what I have at the moment until I get a good feel for what my final gearing will be, then order one.
rualexander I'll hang in there with the Brooks B17 as to be fair, I've only ridden with it four times or 130km but it's nice to know my old favourite the Sella Italia Turbo has been re released.
Matt2matt2002 I went with the Andra 30 plain 32 on the front, Andra 30 CSS 32h on the rear as this is Andy Balance's new recommendation from Page 6 of the Nomad pdf, Issue 30, Winter 2013 -2014 edition. I am fairly sure from memory his old recommendation was CSS rims on front and rear but he had modified his views. Once the CSS brake surface eventually wears through wet weather breaking is impaired, so figures it is best to have a non CSS rim on the front so you will always have good braking from the front rim. But, just in case I have not interpreted that correctly, suggest to refer to the pdf. The one thing I can say about the rims and brakes, is that I instantly love the XT brakes and calipers (dry weather only so far) as I only need two fingers to feather the brakes on and off, even on steep windy descents.
Neil, I'm reluctant to comment on the GP5's at this stage as I've just don't have the miles/hours on the bike to give them a judgement call yet - I very nearly went with my favourite tried and true racing type drop bars (like Danneaux) but I am doing my best to try to forget I was a 'racing' cyclist once and start from a clean sheet with my choices. It is great to have the bike and doing rides, as up until now it has all been theory, but nothing beats riding it for real to work out what I like and don't like about it, and things I'll keep and things I might consider changing, but I don't want to make decisions until I've done a lot more hours in the saddle. As for the Rohloff, again early days, but it works well - a couple of times I've wanted to shift into the big chain ring but then realised I don't have big and small chain rings anymore - I just have to twist my wrist. Yesterday at one stage I also looked under my arm to see what sprocket I was on, on the rear cluster, which of course I don't have anymore!
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Once the CSS brake surface eventually wears through wet weather breaking is impaired, so figures it is best to have a non CSS rim on the front so you will always have good braking from the front rim.
19,000kms so far - no sign of that happening yet ;)
I should thnk that when the CSS surface wears off it should then just be a matter of switching from the hard Swisstop blue pads to some Koolstop salmon for use on the plain alloy surface.
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il padrone, 19 000kms, I'm at 130kms! (Hence the reason I am reluctant to make any comments or pass judgements just yet!)
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19,000kms so far - no sign of that happening yet ;)
I should thnk that when the CSS surface wears off it should then just be a matter of switching from the hard Swisstop blue pads to some Koolstop salmon for use on the plain alloy surface.
I'm in the same position with similar mileage on the CSS rims to il padrone. I have not noticed this perceived reduction in braking yet. They are certainly worse in the wet than dry but very hard to say whether this is worse than other rims in the same conditions. I've just swapped my front swissstop blues for some softer avid blocks although I can't say I've noticed much difference.
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geocycle, I imagine it will be quite a few years until I get to 19 000kms, so good to know my rims will last a long time.
I used to ride the quintessential Mavic GP4's in the 1980s and know to dry the rims by light breaking before I need them. (I am thinking it's all going to come back to me fairly quickly - I hoping so anyway.)
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I am thinking it's all going to come back to me fairly quickly...
Aw, you'll do fine, Tony; it's "just like riding a bike".
That phrase seems to be the universal one for regaining familiarity with any past pursuit.
All the best,
Dan. (...who think you'll soon be doing Big Rides on the Yellow Bike and wonders if you've named it yet)
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Say Tony this is a long shot but did you ever come across an Irish track rider named Phil Collins he was on the Irish Olympic squad one hell of a rider.
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Dan, thanks for the encouragement - raining and blowing a gale here today, and finishing work soon but will revert to one of my hilly walks (don't want the brand new Nomad all wet and grimy just yet.) Not sure if I'll name the bike, but if I did the name Hodori might have front running...
Jags, no problems with long shots, you never know, but unfortunately in this case I'm afraid the name doesn't ring a bell. Back when I rode we didn't really mix too much with the opposition, and especially as I rode the kilometre time trial, I was up on the velodrome by myself so didn't mix and match it with my competitors. Also, when I competed, I used to get so focused warming up for a competition I did not notice anything outside of my immediate area - if I didn't need to know about it, I didn't want to know about it. Once I was leading an event but was nervous for the next hour or so because I knew another guy with a better PB was due to ride so couldn't relax, but what I hadn't noticed is that he had ridden before me, and I had gone faster than him!
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cheers Tony just a long shot.i don't know phil to well i painted his house few years back and he often came out with us for a sunday morning spin.
but yeah he was telling me of his training when he was on the team serious stuff, Terry Dolan used to make all his bikes he knows him very well, pure genius at making bikes.
anyway all history now great memories i'm sure, but you can relax now and enjoy the new baby.
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***ONE MONTH OWNERSHIP UPDATE***
I've had my Nomad for one month now and I did my first 100km ride yesterday: http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/3633056
It was my first 100km ride since the very early 1990s. It was meant to a be a 60km ride, but then when approaching my home suburb I had 68km
on my Cateye so I thought I'd take the long route home and make it up to 80km, then when I got near home again I was up to 82km, so I thought why not,
lets push the boat out, and I ended up at around 102km and the heart/lungs found it easy - I think if I tried another 20km I may have got the odd calf or
hamstring cramp - so I have to remain patient and not overdo it.
My Brooks saddle and I are becoming acquainted now and learning to get along with each other. In fact yesterday's ride was by far my most comfortable yet, as I ditched
my too big, too baggy, mountain bike shorts that I wore over my normal lycra cycling shorts - I promised as a middle aged (heavy set!) male that I would never
wear lycra in public ever again, but it was fantastic - no more ridiculous bunching up of material of my baggy MTB shorts between myself and the saddle, especially when sitting
back in the saddle after climbing out of the saddle - it was a revelation.
I have to stay patient, and not get carried away, but I think I can feel a little bit of my old cycling mojo coming back. I have to admit after my first couple of rides I wasn't thinking that!
Tony
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/12046140414_4bd9a879b0_b.jpg)
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Wow bike and pilot looking very well indeed.well done Tony glad the auld mojo is coming back remember its not a race anymore ;D ;D all that stuff is done and dusted you can smell the roses from now on.
jags.
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Thanks Jags, very kind words. I suspect I'm going to the type that will set a destination for each day, and set myself the target of getting from A to B, rather than meandering and stopping off to smell too many roses. But I'll be doing it at 15 - 18km'h, so I'll see the scenery, towns, villages, etc as I move through - and I love a coca cola stop every 50km, so I won't quite be non stop! (Actually my coca cola stops were 75 and 92kms yesterday, as I was needing a little sugar high.) I have distance targets I want to achieve, but 100km for now was pleasing at this early stage. I am trying my best to forget I was a keen racing cyclist once, but I guess old habits never die! (I didn't really think they would!)
Tony
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Well done, Tony! Expect you'll find now that 100 km is no big thing at all, esp with a comfy saddle and no chafing where chafing's not wanted.
Super foto, love the greenery & the sea.
Keep on truckin', eh.
J.
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Fair play Tony as you say old habits ;D ;D
well i'm away to me bed have to paint a room in the morning i need the dosh. ;D
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Looking fantastic, Tony!
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Great to hear you're building back the legs after a big gap from cycling. I still count myself as lucky that, despite family, job, injuries etc, I have just kept on riding most times, even if just for a weekly day-tour or short commute. You will come better still I reckon and 15-18kmh speeds will look to be a dawdle.
Great photo, some good hills you have there ('tis 'uNZud' of course).
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Hi Tony!
What a wonderful photo and ride report.
No worries...it'll all come back in time and with use. You've a wealth of muscle-memory to build upon, even after so many years away from the saddle. Every faith in you and your abilities.
As for the shorts...wear what works and hang the comments -- if anyone dares to make them. You're the fellow out there "doing" while others might be "commenting" and your comfort and functionality are what count. They look fine in the photo, so no worries.
Terrific bike, fantastic scenery, healthy-looking rider. What more could one ask for? I know! Tailwinds. May they all go your way, Tony.
Best,
Dan.
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Great bike and great view.
May I wish you all the best for future rides and ask where there picture was taken?
Great location.
Matt
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I also have the Tonka Yellow frame and yellow Ortlieb panniers. Bummer that they do not match in color.
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Great bike and great view.
May I wish you all the best for future rides and ask where there picture was taken?
My guess is just south of Paekakariki, near Paraparaumu, overlooking Kapiti Island, NZ?
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Great photo Tony, great looking bike and wonderful backdrop.
I'm looking forward to more photos and stories of your adventures.
Its great to see different parts of the world that our Forum friends ride.
All the best
Steve
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Hmmm, I'm thinking Mt. Manganui! Regardless, that is so the place to do a selfie with one's Nomad! If I can get a day free I'm off down the M5!
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Great stuff, Tony! I'm equally as impressed with the 735m climb during the day as the 102km. NZ is bumpy.
Respect!! :)
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my son is arriveing home from Aukland tomorrow man is he in for a shock .
the weather here is cold and wet guess we had better put more blankets on his bed. ;D ;D
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JimK, thanks for that. Talking of looking fantastic, a motorist stopped up at the lookout and asked me about my bike and I told him I was training to ride in the UK and he looked at me and the bike and said “you don’t look like an athlete” I have to admit, while denting my pride for a couple of seconds, throughout the rest of my ride I literally laughed out loud several times when I remembered his remark and smiled to myself thinking “how dare you!”
Il padrone, I seem to be averaging around 18km/h but I don’t want to focus on that as it can be distracting – I’m more interested distance and time to build up my endurance. Until I got the bike last month I had no idea of what distances I might be able to cover, so I couldn’t plan any trips, but now I can look at maps and work out daily distances between towns/cities etc.
Thanks Danneaux, trust me, I keeping with the tight lycra shorts – but no tight lycra tops! And funnily enough, and I don’t want to jinx anything, and I don’t understand how, but just about all my rides have been in tailwinds, whichever direction I seem to ride! I wonder if it is to make up for all the headwinds I rode in my 20s?
Matt2matt2002 thanks for the best wishes. The location is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nztony/12046140414/ then click on Paekakariki Hill, Wellington, NZ (just under my name and buddy icon) and it should take you to the map.
Mickeg, it took me over a year, probably more, to decide on the colour for the panniers, and I almost went for the Grey Ortliebs as I thought they look too yellow, but the black sections of the panniers break the yellow up nicely, and I am purposely wanting to be as visible as possible to traffic – hence the rather bright shirt too!
Rualexander, very well guessed, you are 100% correct.
Swilson, trust me, I’ll be posting more photos as that is my other hobby. (and I don’t need to be asked twice!)
In4, unfortunately the day I took this photo it was cloudy, often the skies are blue and the view goes for miles – although the cloudy (but warm) day made for an easy ride.
Sammy, very kind (about the metres climbed). Although I’m not exactly a “climbers” build, I have always loved the hills for training for both cycling and hiking, and if I go along at my own pace, there aren’t too many hills that frighten me. The ascent up here from Riverstone Terraces to Moonshine Valley is brutal: http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/3623063 (The ALT button at the top of the map is worth a click.)
Jags, it has been unseasonably wet for January here in New Zealand, but warm. Yesterday it was bucketing down, so it was back to my hiking in the hills, while the Nomad sat at home nice and dry. When I get to touring on the Nomad I’ll ride it in the rain, but while it is still shiny, sparkling and new, I’m not. Back in my cycling days in the 1980s I rode in any weather – but I’m allowed to pick and choose when I ride now without a grumpy coach ready to get tell me off for slacking.
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he looked at me and the bike and said “you don’t look like an athlete”
That is so ridiculous. To be honest, you look so strong in that picture, it made me think, "What am I doing on a bike? How can I possibly keep up?" Then I remembered my real secret: I don't need to keep up!
Have fun riding!
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you should have decked that guy in the car ;D ;D
just flicking through your photos ,man what a beautifull country no wonder my son loved it.
we dont get much rain in ireland maybe twice a year 6 months at a time though ::)
jags
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JimK, thanks for the encouragement, but honestly (other than for about 2 seconds) I thought what he said was extremely funny and it gave me many smiles and grins for the rest of the ride whenever I thought of it. And you're absolutely right, whatever pace suits is the right pace.
jags, rain twice a year - sounds great, as does Ireland - I've been checking it out on Google Maps and Street View, and day dreaming riding down the country lanes. Next year I hope to ride the UK including the Outer Hebrides and a new idea, perhaps a couple of days circumnavigating the Orkney Islands right at the start of my tour, before hitting Scotland, and making my way to Dover. If time permitted, and sadly it probably won't, I'd love to cycle from the very top of Northern Ireland to the bottom of Ireland - but there is always the following year.
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Tony only joking about the weather most of the time its fine, as a matter of fact the sun is out now blue skys but still cold.that tour of ireland is better done from south to north better know as Mizen Head to Malin Head, fantastic trip as long as the sun shines but i guess thats the same as most cycle tours ;)
on that google street maps you can spot me in my wee garden,amazing stuff no where safe to hide these days.hope you make the big tour tony great way to see a country by bike magic.
jags.
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Jags,
That looks fascinating. I checked it out on Google Maps, but which way is the most interesting, via the East Coast or West Coast? Google Maps, of course, suggested a route straight up the middle! I guess it would be half dozen one and half dozen the other, i.e. either or?
Tony
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oh the west coast all the way if you like i'll send you a map with the route i done,mind you i only got as far as galway.(long story) there are some tough enough climbs mols gap /healy pass.the climb up to clifs of moher. but if i can do it so can anyone ;D ;D.plenty campsite on the west coast around 9 euro band b is 35 euro but usually a great breakfast.i only stayed in one hostal that was doolin nice but not my scene to many young doods ;D ;D.
btw tony my son is just home from your part of the world he ust gone to bed completly knackered and freezing cold ;D ;D.
if you want any info on ireland i'll be only to glad to help where ever i can,check out boards.ie for more info on mizen to malin.
jags.
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Jags
Thanks for that info, I was thinking the West Coast was going to be the answer. I'll do some Googling. No hurry though as only daydreaming at this stage - UK up for next year I hope, then will be time to plan my next trip. Of course, I'll be doing some practice runs here in NZ first.
Tony
P.S. How is this for a coincidence: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nztony/11741301623/
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hah how often would that happen great story tony..
well best of luck with planning your tour as i said if you need any info give me a bell.
jags.
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Now that I am getting very close to my first 1000km on my Nomad, (less than 50km to go) I'm starting to get my legs slowly back into
cycling again and am now able to venture a bit further away from home and take in some more varied and interesting sights and routes.
I'm quite pleased with my progress after the first five weeks, as did 6 1/2 hours a couple of days ago, followed by 3 1/2 hours the next day
and I usually try to find some decent hills. I'm a big guy so I'm not a natural hill climber, but nevertheless I have always loved
riding up them - as long as it is at my pace. I was a little worried after my first two or three rides and was starting to think
my reintroduction to cycling (after a 20 year plus break) was going to take a bit longer than I thought, but I seem to be coming
back into it quite well now - I'm can be a determined and dedicated sort of person I guess. There have been a few hills I've put off until I've had
a few weeks back in the saddle that I am now attempting, and I have to admit I've been a little frightened approaching them and
wondered if I have bitten off more than I chew, but so far so good! Because I work 12 hours shift work, there are days that I can't ride
but I think at this early stage that could be a good thing to give myself a chance to recover from my rides, as I know what I'm like,
I'd probably end up overdoing it, so a bit of enforced days off the bike probably isn't a bad thing.
I have to say ditching my baggy mountain bike shorts and sticking to tried and true lycra cycling shorts has been my best decision
in the last couple of weeks - my comfort factor had gone up four fold and my Brooks B17 and I are now on pretty good terms.
http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/3644843 and http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/3644843#id=3643689
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2876/12201172385_0a5c058823_c.jpg)
or here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nztony/12201172385/
The infamous Rimutaka Hill Climb - probably well known to most New Zealanders living in the bottom half of the North Island.
(and did you notice the lovely weather here in NZ at the moment - I have white lines down the side of my face where my helmet straps block the sun!)
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You and the Nomad are lookin' good, Tony.
Looking on from afar and reading the "snapshots" of your reintroduction to cycling, I think things are going really well. I would have expected a bit of plateauing, but I think your past top-level cycling skills are still ingrained and are being put to good use. The body remembers!
Very good, Tony.
All the best,
Dan.
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Dan
Regards the plateauing - I was patient for my first four weeks of riding, just letting the miles and hours in the saddle mount up without trying to do anything silly, getting my legs, and hands and butt used to everything again - and I still have a long way to go, so I mustn't get over confident. As for my the body remembering, I am confident I remember i.e. my brain, as for my muscles etc, I'm not so sure! I'm super enjoying knocking off some of the bigger hills around here though and each one gives me the confidence that I'm getting back into it. I live in a different city now from when I was a cyclist in the 1980 and 1990s, so unfortunately I can't compare old hills and training routes with those I'm doing now.
I'm eager and itching to get out and do some more miles and hours as I don't want to just do 100km rides, I want to ride them well, as so far, I've been pacing myself until I know I can handle the distance. In the old days 6 hours would be a 160km ride, today it's a 100km ride! Then again my bike was a lot lot lighter than my Nomad, I was a lot lot lighter, and I was 25 years old!\
best regards and thanks for the encouragement,
Tony
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Hi Tony,
Good to see your new Nomad and that your out cycling.
I was out cycling before work on Tuesday this week MTBing and we only cycled 45km's but climbed over 1300 metres
Never Got to work Tuesday? Ok as was cycling with one of my work mate's (boss) ;)
Love Hill's as for any uphill there is a Down Hil ;D
Mountain Biked home one of the long ways 10km's tonight 8)
Pete :o
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Pete,
Not sure about Taupo, but it's been excellent weather down here in Wellington last few days (and about time, as it's been a wet summer) but finally I've been able to string a few decent rides in a row and I'm all the better for it. I may be biting off more than I can chew, and it is sooner than I'd ideally like, but I'm in Auckland late March, so I am considering riding back home to Wellington.
I did it in 1983 in three days flat, but I won't be aiming for that this time around! I'll keep an open mind and keep my training going for the next six weeks then see how I feel.
Tony
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Prior to buying my Nomad in December 2013, I used to hike a lot in the hills and I used to take lots of self portraits (way before "selfie" became the word of 2013.)
So I thought it was time I had a go at a "selfile" with the Nomad:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/12472809994_d544547ec1_b.jpg)
Paekakariki Hill Road, Kapiti Coast (Wellington region), New Zealand. (and good luck with the pronunciation!)
Larger: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nztony/12472809994/
Course: http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/3643689
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Great shot Tony, how long is the self timer on your camera? You've done well to get back down the hill and turned round into a natural position before the shutter fires!
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Great shot Tony, glad you're enjoying your new Nomad,
Neil.
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Rualexander,
I have a collection of cameras I use for different things, so today I took along my self portrait camera:
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2649/3898814727_aa435c8fe0_n.jpg)
Canon G10 Self Portrait Camera.
Today I set it to wait 30 seconds after clicking the shutter, then to take 10 shots. I usually have it set to 10 seconds and 4 shots, but as you said, I had to get back into "position" and 10 seconds would not have done that! I have much more sophisticated cameras than my little G10 but it being a compact camera, virtually everything is in focus - trying to achieve focus with my more expensive DSLRs is very difficult as there isn't anything to focus on when doing a Self Portrait. Although taking a self portrait can be done: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nztony/8031986374/
Thanks Neil, I sure am, we are getting along fine - putting in some 'miles' before embarking on a tour or two.
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Class ,mind you looks like a tough enough climb ::)
the sun is out here but its freezing cold.
good on ya tony your certainly geting the miles in.great photos as usual thanks for shareing.
jags
(Anto)
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Wonderful photograph, Tony. Makes me quite nostalgic for NZ.
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dont tell me you were in new zeland as well ::)
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Had a G9 on which I damaged the lens and the flash broke. Cost far too much to repaire ....now I have a G15. Far superior low light performance and although visually very similar it's a very different camera inside. I just lov 'em :) Sits in my bar bag now and has a UV filter stuck on the lens and a protector on the screen as I damaged the G9 by bashing it on my handle bar stem when wearing it around my neck while cycling.
This picture is an example of the very poor low light performance of the G9 :)
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dont tell me you were in new zeland as well ::)
I was there with a rugby tour, and a couple of times on business. It's a very cold place, almost in the Antarctic, but beautiful in an austere way.
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Anto, someone did ask me to share photos when I joined the forum and I don't need to be asked twice, as I am a bit of a camera nerd ;-)
Thanks Andre, this is just the beginning of half decent photos (I hope.)
Frog Prince, I have a whole collection of cameras to choose from. I think I may be one of the few here on the forum with just one bike*, but like most people that own several bikes, I own several cameras, as I can't bear to sell an old one when I buy new one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nztony/sets/72157615345827248/
* to be honest I have two track (velodrome) frames from the 1980s still, but they are not built up.
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<snip>
Frog Prince, I have a whole collection of cameras to choose from. I think I may be one of the few here on the forum with just one bike*, but like most people that own several bikes, I own several cameras, as I can't bear to sell an old one when I buy new one: <snip>
Uh-oh! Now you've gone and done it, Tony! Your Canon camera collection demands a response (although it'll take me awhile to amass the gallery that you've posted on Flickr).
I've always been a Nikon fan, although I was late into DSLRs (and most of my digital compacts have been Canons). I have a Nikon D90 and D7000, but along the way, realised that there were some fantastic film bodies out there that had cost the earth when new, but were now "obsolete", and could be picked up for pennies! I started collecting Nikon film cameras and lenses (the lenses still work fine with modern DSLRs, but they aren't automatic).
Let's see - I've got an F5, F4s, F3, F2, a couple of FEs, FM2, FM... These things are jewels of engineering, and far more robust and enduring than the digital technology that replaced them. Nowadays, new cameras with more pixels, better low light performance, auto everything including video etc. come out in six monthly increments, and your investment is ruined within three years! From now on, I'm spending my money on lenses - the glass is timeless.
I will get mine into a gallery - you've inspired me!
Sam
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Sam,
Sorry for the delay on replying - I've just got back from my first little adventure on my Nomad - so about to spend my day working on the photos.
Regarding the cameras, I never really intended to start a collection, but one day I got them all in one place at the same time and could see that they looked a bit of a ''collection" and far more interesting than sitting in the back of wardrobes. And I like the fact that I can point out photos from my collection tied to certain cameras, so each one has a special history for me. I never intended to photograph them individually, but it is nice to have a record of them. The same goes for other series of photographs I have - for example I had photos of various workmates scattered around in shoeboxes, but once scanned and put into a Flickr album, all of a sudden I found I had quite a good collection. I love the the 'cloud' storage we have available these days via Flickr and Smugmug, Onedrive, Google Drive etc. On my very recent mini four day tour it was great to be able to take cellphone photos and email to people immediately or send them Google Map links to my location - I love this modern 4G and internet age.
Tony
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I've been leaving the Nomad at home and doing a few walks lately as winter approaches and it rains. If it rains I walk, if it doesn't I ride.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7365/14009004558_16f5ab50f5_z.jpg)
When it rains I walk (it was raining at the start!)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7430/14197461984_b965bb19b1_z.jpg)
And when it's dry I ride
A nice easy ride of 30km before nightshift this evening. We've had quite a bit of rain lately, but today was nice, dry, sunny, cool but crisp. I've been inspired by other member's photos of their rides down their country lanes, so I took a back country ride myself this afternoon before starting my 7pm - 7am Nightshift.
Pre nightshift ride: http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Embed/3820602
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Class Tony boy ,i got a great spin in today myself not long back watching the giro now on TV,well i will be in a minute ;D.
i took couple photos hopfully Andre will post them from my facebook page. tell me again please whats with the number on the nomad. ???
jags.
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Anto
They don't show the Giro on tele here in NZ, but I make up for it by watching virtually every single minute of the Tour de France on tv each July.
288 was my frame number for the Seoul Olympics, but as I rode on the velodrome I didn't get to use it, and instead affixed my number to my back. After sitting dormant with other memorabilia for many years, I fished it out and cable tied it to my bike a couple of months ago. I do wonder that it may be a bit OTT, but out on the road, very few people seem to notice it and those that do tell me I mustn't remove it, although I might do at some stage.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2565/3828488987_4cdfde451a_n.jpg)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nztony/3828488987
Tony
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No way Tony leave it where it is i bet when you meet someone and they ask the same question there mouths will drop when you tell them that story ,fair play buddy tis a super memory to have.
anto.
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Anto
It's funny, people my age and above (50+) think it's a interesting story, and understand the achievement, the 20 somethings on their wonderful looking carbon bikes don't seem too interested. But to be fair to them, back in 1988, if someone had told me about the 1960 Rome Olympics I'd have thought it such ancient history, I may not have been that interested either, as I would have been too interested in trying out for my own Olympic Games, rather than listening to 50 year olds prattling on about "the good old days" when they cycled! And before I knew it, I'm now that 52 year old prattling on about "the good old days!" Time goes too fast, I want to be 25 again!
Tony
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That's a great story, Tony. You should leave that number. You earned it.
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Hah don't knock it Tony, at least you have something to pratt on about in spades ;D ;D
i'll be 61 in june i still feel young especally when the cycling is good, hills slow me down but what the hell i still manage to get over them eventually :D
the young carbon dudes know sweet feck all.
Anto.
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Thanks Andre, it did take a bit of effort (but it was most definitely worth it.)
Anto, I wasn't knocking the 20 somethings, I genuinely meant their modern carbon bikes do look very very nice. If I was a mere 80kg I'd probably buy one myself.
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don't worry Tony i know you weren't knocking the young carbon brigade,
i#ll knock them for ya ;)
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On my ride today I saw this sign and wondered if SJS Cycles may be about to open a branch down under, here in New Zealand?
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Quick! Grab the franchise before our Oregon Sage gets dibs on it! Working with Thorns in NZ, such a tough prospect! ;)
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On my ride today I saw this sign and wondered if SJS Cycles may be about to open a branch down under, here in New Zealand?
Best check the spelling!
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I am aware of that leftpoole, it is a little tongue in cheek.
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I am aware of that leftpoole, it is a little tongue in cheek.
I was aware! ;D
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Leftpoole,
It's not perfect, but nothing an early morning bike ride and a spray can can't fix*
* I didn't really attack the sign with a spray can!
Tony