Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Member's Gallery => Topic started by: hoogie on October 29, 2003, 08:38:41 PM
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This is the bike I use for touring at present. This photo was taken on the road from Halls Gap to Dunkeld, located just out of the Grampians, Victoria, Australia
Bike is a bog standard 1990's ??? Giant Yukon, 21.5" 4130 CroMo frame, 7sp gearing [remember those?]. All I did was replace all bearings in hubs when I rebuilt them, headset too, new secondhand BB [ex my racing bike], new tyres, a general clean up, added some racks and we were away!
More details on this and my other bikes on my website http://www.hoogie.co.nz
(http://www.hoogie.co.nz/images/gdr.jpg)
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Hey Hoogie,
I am a big (19 stones plus luggage) Nomad fan.
I think they are the best upright bike in the whole world ever and I would have lots and lots and lots of them if I could!!![:o)]
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Looking at the luggage load that you are carrying you will appreciate the toughness and extra stability under load that the Nomad gives over the XTC. The Nomad sports stronger rear dropouts and fork blades than the XTC does it not? I would imagine this is good indication of what the machines are destined to be used for.
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I've pretty much held off responding before as I though you wanted specific feedback on the xTc, but with the setup you are carry I would go with the Nomad - it just handles wonderfully with a full load - impeccable, really.
Add on a set of Thorn carriers and you have a solid set up that will take you anywhere. My Nomad has a pretty heavy duty wheelset with Rhyno rims, but a lighter wheelset will make a sprightlier bike but still happy to carry weight. I just like the reassurance!
Not sure what is happening with the end of 531st though. Will the Nomad now be 725 or something (I've never fully got my head around the Reynolds system...)
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The new Nomad is now 725 as per recent adverts.
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quote:
Originally posted by hoogie
This is the bike I use for touring at present. This photo was taken on the road from Halls Gap to Dunkeld, located just out of the Grampians, Victoria, Australia
Bike is a bog standard 1990's[?] Giant Yukon, 21.5" 4130 CroMo frame, 7sp gearing [remember those?]. All I did was replace all bearings in hubs when I rebuilt them, headset too, new secondhand BB [ex my racing bike], new tyres, a general clean up, added some racks and we were away!
More details on this and my other bikes on my website http://www.hoogie.co.nz
[:)] Have just ordered the NOMAD[:)] Can't wait till it gets here! will post some pics once it is built up, otherwise keep looking at my website for updates! http://www.hoogie.co.nz
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DM - how does 725 compare to 531ST, in terms of:
Weight?
Strength?
Stiffness?
I know that Reynolds stopped making 531 but I just wondered how much it will change the Nomad?
Hoogie - I'm sure you won't regret. Lovely bike [:D] and I look forward to seeing the photos
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I didn't know Reynolds had stopped making 531 and am really surprised since they've been making 531 since something like 1938? So is 725 the new 'standard' Reynolds tubing? I bought a Nomad last year and my wife one this year, both in 531 obviously and plumped for 531 partly out of prejudice, (I have been riding various 531 bikes since 1976 and have always enjoyed the combination of strength and comfort), and partly because I had heard that 725 was thinner-walled and liable to be damaged when handled roughly (by airlines for example). This was the prime mover behind choosing Nomads over the xTc, for example. I have no regrets, the Nomads are fantastic bikes, but I am curious to know if 725 has been beefed up to avoid accidental damage? Will Thorn decide to rationalise a crowded 26" wheel model catalogue and drop either the xTc or the Nomad?
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quote:
Originally posted by daveireland
I have no regrets, the Nomads are fantastic bikes, but I am curious to know if 725 has been beefed up to avoid accidental damage? Will Thorn decide to rationalise a crowded 26" wheel model catalogue and drop either the xTc or the Nomad?
The xTc uses a mix of 0.9/0.6/0.9mm and 0.8/0.5/0.8mm gauge 725 tubing, while the Nomad's 725 is 1.0/0.7/1.0mm, same as the old beefed up 531st.
Although the xTc and Nomad now start at the same price point, the differences in tubing gauge and frame geometry will appeal to different riders. Or the same rider (me!) who will want one of each. I hope they both remain in the catalogue.
And Hoogie, I started out with a similar Taiwanese MTB converted for touring, then built up a Nomad frame. You're going to love it.
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quote:
Originally posted by Cephas
The xTc uses a mix of 0.9/0.6/0.9mm and 0.8/0.5/0.8mm gauge 725 tubing, while the Nomad's 725 is 1.0/0.7/1.0mm, same as the old beefed up 531st.
And Hoogie, I started out with a similar Taiwanese MTB converted for touring, then built up a Nomad frame. You're going to love it.
Hi there, thanks for your comments.
How do find the Nomad rides unladen?? Have you changed the wheels for everyday riding?
While I did seriously look at the XTC, and received many comments about it being a really nice bike. I think it was just a bit too light for my type of touring, so I guess I got a bike built for two weeks of the year I go touring, rather than the XTC which is good for the other 50 weeks of the year?
cheers, hoogie[:)]
http://www.hoogie.co.nz
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quote:
Originally posted by hoogie
How do find the Nomad rides unladen?? Have you changed the wheels for everyday riding?
Actually alot of fun. The handling is wonderful and steady. The only compaint I have about my Nomad is the weight. As it is specced for touring with a family I went the whole-hog with the wheels and have Rhyno rims with 1.75 Pasela tourguards. Roll quite well but they are heavy so not too nippy. I have thought about changing them, but the front hub is a dynamo and I like that for commuting in winter so it works fine for me. I also can't be bothered to take off the front racks so add another kilo there...
For faster riding I got a 700c Lee Cooper, not dissimilar to the Brevet. A much more traditional ride but I think I will eventually upgrade to an 853 compact audax bike. I felt that the xtc was fine for light riding and mid-range touring, but if you have the Nomad for touring already ,then a really light and fast bike for everything else seems to make more sense...
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Here is a quick progress pic of the replacement. Waiting for some more important bits to arrive so I can complete it ... front deraileur, Avid Shorty 6 brakes, dura ace 9sp bar ends.
Also check the website for updates ... http://www.hoogie.co.nz
cheers,
hoogie
(http://www.hoogie.co.nz/images/part_build.jpg)
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Lovely bike H. What rims are you using? I would be interested to know if you find a way to avoid the Avid 6's from squealing... The one on-going problem I have had with my Nomad. In fact, I'm off to post a thread on it now...
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Have got two sets of wheels ...
touring set: (as seen above)
Mavic D521 rims
9sp XT hubset
SRAM 9.0 9sp cluster
Swiss DT stainless 14g/2mm straight gauge spokes
Tyres undecided as yet, maybe Conti Travel Contact?
Bombproof heavy duty touring wheelset!
everyday/commuting set:
Mavic X221 rims
9sp LX hubset
SRAM 7.0 9sp cluster
Black double butted spokes, rear 3 cross laced, front radial laced
tyres, possible Specialized Nimbus EX 26x1.5
Lighterweight everyday wheelset!
will let you know how I get on once my goodies arrive!
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Hoogie-
Judging from that photo... what are you, about 7 feet 7 inches? Lordy, that's one HUGE headtube!
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[:D] ... nah, just 1.92m, or about 6'4" ...
yeah, that is one humungous headtube huh? ... looks kinds like I rode it into the back of a parked car ... squashed it fore and aft and extended it upwards! ... should look better once it is completed and the racks are on I think ...
I should post the pic of me standing by my Trek 520 touring bike ... it is a 25" model, and I make it look small too.
Sadly, there aren't many second bikes in my size, so I gotta buy them new ... but I can live with that! [:)]
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Hi there again,
I have almost finished the Nomad! The bits I was waiting on finally arrived and I could complete building the bike up ... Must say that it rides really nice on the lightweight wheels I got second-hand [as pictured .. and yes, that is a radially spoked front wheel!].
More pictures and information on my webpages ...
http://www.hoogie.co.nz
The Nomad almost complete
(http://www.hoogie.co.nz/images/almost_ready.jpg)
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Sweet ride Hoogie!!!
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!!! :)
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The NOMAD is finished and ready for the road! [:D]
More info on the build including pictures are here ... http://www.hoogie.co.nz/bikes/nomad.htm
(http://www.hoogie.co.nz/images/nomad_30_12_03.jpg)
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I took the Nomad out for a whizz around a 20km loop I use ... it has a bit of everything ... smooth pavement roads through town, a reasonable climb, a wicked downhill, and some undulating country roads. It was hot and very windy.
All I can say is that I am impressed with the ride ... can't wait to try a longer one and to get it loaded!
cheers,
hoogie
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Hoogie, your mail arrived here at 7:56:14 and I'd just got up. Envy set in immedidately - hot weather! Here it is grey and miserable. Yesterday frost, today mild and drizzle.
But your Thorn is lovely. Now, if you could afford colour-coordinated water bottles, say red like that on your tyres than the picture would be perfect! (Notice, how I always pick up on the really important aspects?)
Happy cycling, Mario
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Color coordinating accessories is nice. The alternative is to stick with a simple theme.
(http://home.comcast.net/~jrmoore49/bottles.jpg)
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If I may be so bold; What's the extra sticker on the seat tube?
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LOL ... I just grabbed the first three I could lay my hands on ... I do actually have a red one with "fossil fuel" and a picture of a dinosaur on it ... apt description with a pic of the owner on it!!! LOL
I have been told that if I bring home any more water bottles, I will be in trouble [again!]...
cheers,
hoogie
Yes, it has been really hot here lately ... over 30degC
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I should have looked at page two before answering !!!!
Thorn water bottles!!! yes, should have got a couple of those as well ... definite accessorizing ...
The extra sticker on the seat tube is one sent to me by a firefighter/chaplain in USA that i swap emails and stuff with. It is a helmet sticker work by NYC firefighters to commemorate the 343 firefighters that never made it back home when the twin towers fell over.
It is reflective and the yellow does actually look quite good against the balck.
I am a firefighter here in New Zealand, so have put it on my bike as a mark of respect.
cheers,
hoogie
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FIRST RIDE IMPRESSIONS
Been out for my first real ride on my new Nomad ... it was only a 40km loop, and included a 17km uphill trend grind into a headwind from 0ft to 970ft, with some gravel roads thrown in on the tops then a 16km downhill tailwind assisted sprint back to the cafe ...[:)]
the new frame is very stiff indeed ... just not sure if I am going to stay with the drop bars or move over to flat bars and v-brakes like all my other touring bikes ... the ride on the gravel was really impressive, bike handled well and wasn't squirrelly like my Trek 520 is [tyres? wheel size?? geometery??] and I didn't back off at all on the gravel.
Mind you my fastest speed ever is still on gravel ... 64mph on gravel [107km/h], only 102km/h on road, 88km/h on road towing a fully laden BOB yak trailer ... only about 75kmh with panniers [wind resistance??]
Definitley can't wait to get the Nomad loaded and touring though!
cheers hoogie
timaru/oamaru, new zealand
http://www.hoogie.co.nz
(http://www.hoogie.co.nz/images/calvin_mtb.gif)
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NOMAD UPDATE
Hey there,
Noamd is largely completed, just some fine tuning to go and also a loaded tour.
Have swapped the stem for a shorter one, 120mm down to a 100mm.
More pics and full story on build here:http://www.hoogie.co.nz/bikes/nomad.htm
(http://www.hoogie.co.nz/images/nomad_loaded.jpg)
NICE!
cheers,
hoogie
timaru/oamaru, new zealand
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Looks lovely. Actually makes me jealous even though it is very similar to my own Nomad! Probably something to do with it being loaded up for a tour, rather than another bloody commute to work [V].
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Seat post looks like it is leaning back a fair ways though in this pick ... very relaxed angles ... mind you, matches the relaxed attitude of the rider!!!!
cheers,
hoogie
timaru/oamaru, new zealand
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Have just come back from 3 days away touring on the Nomad ... took it over all sorts of terrain, from sealed roads to rail trail and it was no bother ... the Nomad actually handles and rides better once the weight is on it ... [:)] Still deabting the drop vs flat bars issue though ... am perservering with the drop abrs I have on there now, but think I may eventually end up putting on flat bars/bar ends ... I already have the 9sp shifters/brake levers/v-brakes as well to make the change as quick and painless as possible ... [8D]
I did take a few pictures, but looking at them today I seemed to have gotten the camera cord into all of them [:(]
Ah well, guess it is a good excuse to go abck and do it all again! [:D]
later then,
hoogie
timaru/oamaru, new zealand
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Great Hoogie!! Glad to hear the Nomad is coming up spades for you... yeah, check out the flat bar side of things too. I've done it with some spiffy Dia Compe levers, Paul's Thumbies w/Dura Ace barcons, a nice Profile h-bar & Profile bar ends. So far so good.
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Hi Hoogie, regarding your experience with drop bars, I think that the ones you've got are not the best for touring. I changed over to TTT Morphe Randonneur drop bars and find them extremely comfortable. They have a slight angle back on the tops which fit the hands nicely and a shorter distance to brake hoods meaning a less extreme stretch. The drops are closer too. All of this means you can achieve a set up with a semi sit-up-and-beg position on the tops, a moderate stretch to the hoods for faster riding and a lowish position for pelting along or slipsteaming a headwind while still being able raise your head enough to see. Of course, everyones anatomy and usage is different, but that's how it works for me. Cheers, luceberg.
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Hey Hoogie,
I just did a long weekend in the English Lake District (Bloody 1 in 3 hills") on the Nomad loaded up. The bike was excellent but I have decided to change the bars and spoke to SJSC to order a pair of the Modolo Traveller bars, they're the ones shaped like a pair of glasses, as I had them on an old Peugot tourer and they were fine. The bars arrived and got put on today and they are excellent with loads of hand positions. Means you can use the V-brakes etc and they are a bit better for "Panic Braking" as the driver of the car on Hawkshead Hill would appreciate!
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Hi there,
would be interested to hear what you think of those bars ... am definitely leaning towards a flat bar set up on the Nomad now ...
Hills??? you want to see some of them around here as well!
cheers,
hoogie
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Please do tell us what you think of the bars -- they look great for usable hand positions, but they don't really look as though you could use a front bag with them. Has anyone tried the ITM butterfly bars? They do come with a bag mount extension (www.detours.us has them). I've been using drop bars (I don't think plain old straight bars give me much in the way of hand positions), but I hardly ever use the deep drops, so these butterfly type bars look interesting.
I hope Cephas survived his 300k brevet today -- it's been well into the 90s; I found even my 50 miler a struggle.
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Replying to Georges query about handlebar bags with the Traveller bars.
St John Street have a Klik Fix type extension thingy that I got to use my Carradice bag with them. It would be difficult to use a bar bag without the extension though. Took a ride with them on today and it was excellent. Had a few non responses from Roady types in Lycra with the "That's not a proper Bike" type expressions on their Titanium, holes drilled for weight saving faces!
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well after much thought and deliberation, I have swapped the drop bar setup on my Nomad with a flat bar setup ...
drop bar setup: 44cm drop bars, 105 brake levers, Avid Shorty 6 cantis, 9sp barend shifters, bar phat bar tape.
flat bar set up: amoeba flat bars with barends, deore v-brake levers, deore v-brakes, pauls components thumbies with 9sp levers.
will update my website soon with pics and comments of the new setuphttp://www.hoogie.co.nz/nomad.htm, but even riding the new setup on the windtrainer it feels so much more comfortable. the windtrainer actually makes a really good poor-mans workstand. not sure how the new/retro thumbies will work with a barbag.
one question though ... are the deore v-brakes universal and not a rear set and a front set???
if anyone is interested in a set of slightly used Avid Shorty 6 cantis with 105 aero brake levers, or maybe even some Diacompe 287V aero brake levers [for use with V-brakes ... bought on eBay but not used], then please get in touch ... trades welcome.
cheers hoogie
timaru/oamaru, new zealand
don't you just hate it when you move the bike and you find a washer sitting there ... after some searching i figured it came from the v-brake pad i pulled to bits to clean ... well i dropped it on the ground and thought i had all the bits ...
(http://www.hoogie.co.nz/images/new_thorn_setup.jpg)
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Sounds good Hoogie.
I managed to let one of the Nomads go with the flat bars and kept the one with drops. Half regret that now but I can't afford to change it!
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i went out for a ride with a workmate yesterday, he was on a mountainbike and i took my Nomad ... we rode a mix of tracks, including road, rail trails, gravel roads, singletrack, and beach tracks ... the Nomad went really well on all the surfaces ... just missed the front suspension on the singletrack and also the 26x1.5" slick tyres running at 100psi don't brake too well on damp singletrack ... other than that it went fine everywhere ... a truly versatile bike!!!!
cheers,
hoogie