Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Member's Gallery => Topic started by: Andybg on December 02, 2012, 12:43:51 PM
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Took the old Nomad out today to run in the new Schwalbe Winter tyres at the reccomended 20psi to bed the studs in. Sounds like riding on egg shells and about 10% slower than normal but all studs present and correct on return. The only negative I would say is the level of vibration means I am going to have to go back and use threadlock on all the bolts I normaly dont bother with.
Compared to the comfort and quietness of the standard Marathons these will ve definetly an as required rather than a fit and forget tyre choice
Andy
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Those are ferocious headlights! And then with the growling of the tires coming down the pavement... quite a scene!
But 20 psi... really? Those are the 47 mm wide? I can see 30 psi when you really need the traction. I would have thought 20 psi would be too low. I can see 20 psi on a 60 mm wide tire. Maybe I just need to get courageous and try it on my 47 mm tires... which should be going on this next week. We have a few warmer days in the forecast so I will enjoy riding studless for a little longer!
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Yeah Jim 20psi is low but it is what Sxhwalbe reccomend to run the tyres at to bed in the spikes. I think about 30 is as low as you would need to go to get the full benefit from the spikes in icy conditions.
Andy
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Andy!
Those are some wonderful photos of your Nomad Mk1, outside with the woods as a backdrop. It looks ready for anything!
The Surly Nice Racks look especially...nice...and really complete the go-anywhere look. It's a beauty!
All the best,
Dan. (...who loves derailleur *and* Rohloff bikes)
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Andy great photos bike looks class.
but hey are you certain anout that tire pressure i would imagine you would have plenty of pinch flat's. :(
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30psi should be fine to avoid pinch flats but the 20 psi running in certainly required a bit of avoiding the potholes. I took the bike back out for a run at 50psi which is the pressure I would run the tyres at when low risk of ice with dropping to 30 if the roads got very icy. To be honest even at 50psi it was still running on the studs and I would be very surprised if it requires to be dropped by much below 40 to have good control in icy conditions.
By the end of the winter here I hope to have a good feel for their performance and the best running pressures.
Running in the Ice Spiker Pros tommorrow just in time for the forecast snow on Wednesday
Andy
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photos please andy always good to see Thorn bikes in the snow.
be carefull out there buddy 8)
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Have spent a couple of hours this evening swapping out the Winter tyres and fitting the Ice Spiker tyres. In conjunction with this have romoved the narrow(er) mudguards and fitted some sks P65 mudguards and also removed the spacers to maximise clearance. Need a bit more playing to get perfect (need to shamfer the end of the mudguard as it does not fit perfectly into the space behind the bottom bracket without spacers) but a quite happy with the results. Have nearly 2cm of clearance even with the big 2.1 ice spiker tyres. Am planning on running these mudguards with the winter tyres but am of the opinion even with 2cm clearance that they will jam up pretty quick with snow with the ices spikers on. I am planning on a different solution (if require) utilising the racks and bike frame to support snow deflectors rather than the guards) Time will tell.
Andy
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Andy,
My goodness, Man! :o ;D :D
You've just upped the Wicked Quotient of the Nomad by a factor of 10. The thing scares me to look at it in the best of ways...like something from Mad Max: The Road Warrior).
Can't wait to see/read Action Riding Reports after the snow hits. Very wise to go for max clearance on the mudguards...Hmm. Perhaps a CrudCatcher approach might work up front, and a rack-shelf behind? No...how 'bout the mudguards like NZPeterG uses on his sus fork and at the rear? I think the rear 'guard might work, but have my doubts about the front due to the different diameter/shape of the fork blades. See: http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4418.0;attach=1727
Anyway, a wonderful job, Andy, and it looks positively unstoppable! Just be careful of "you", as I have a feeling those studs might not offer the best traction on the occasional dry patch, and the lean angles must be pretty shallow. For snow and ice, though...well, they should work a treat.
All the best,
Dan. (...who says, "Oooh; I like!")
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Just back in from running in the Ice Spiker Tyres. Although hard work at low psi (about 20% slower than normal and noisy) they were surprisingly ok to ride at 50psi.
Cheers
Andy
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Following today's run in of the tyres it has decided that now is the perfect time for a snow storm so might get the chance to take them out for a test tomorrow.......
Andy
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The snow kept falling and 6" of unadultarated snow on the roads this morning. Got out for an hours play with plans of heading out later on once my chores are sorted for the day.
Damn its cold
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Oh Wow you werent joking look's 8)
look forward to a few more pic's be careful out there andy.
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...6" of unadultarated snow on the roads this morning...
Man alive! Andy! You weren't kidding! I can feel the cold coming through my computer screen.
Be sure to mind your toes and fingers; the cold can creep into them before you know it.
Good on you! (virtual slap on the back). Keep at it, Andy! Boy, I'd join you in a moment if I could. Thanks for sharing the moment this way. Oh, and..."Please Sir, I want more"!
All the best,
Dan. (...whose formerly frostbitten fingers just began to twinge)
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I managed to get out this afternoon for a 20km outing on the bike. The tyres (the ice spiker pro) performed excellently on the bike giving superb grip at all times. Surprisingly too the mudguards with the 2cm of clearance gave no issues.
Only difficulties where as follows:
Riding through 4-6 inches of fresh snow is damn hard work to the point of being impossible. Unless you are almost putting in spint power you are going so slow that it is hard to control the bike.
Riding at speed (20kmh) on tyre tracks is extremely difficult and as soon as you veer into the fresh snow it is almost like doing an emergency stop (but less controlled)
The busier roads where more vehicles had been or had been ploughed and the road was a mixture of clear / black ice / rough uneven ice were no trouble at all. Even conering in these cnoditions was possible.
The only close calls I had was riding too fast 20kmh+ where there was only a single tyre track to follow and not quiet managing to keep to it.
All good fun though
Andy
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Riding through 4-6 inches of fresh snow is damn hard work to the point of being impossible. Unless you are almost putting in spint power you are going so slow that it is hard to control the bike.
Riding at speed (20kmh) on tyre tracks is extremely difficult and as soon as you veer into the fresh snow it is almost like doing an emergency stop (but less controlled)
Andy, this is spot-on with my own experience, especially here in Oregon's Southern Willamette Valley, where the snow falls wet, melts, recrusts, and then gets snowed on again. The tire (tyre) tracks are almost the worst...like riding in a box, and if you hit the sides...down you go (or nearly so; takes real watching, which is fatiguing as well).
It sure puts one's senses on High Alert, though. Makes y'feel alive! Till you almost aren't, anyway. Please do be careful, Andy; I'd hate to hear of you getting hurt if car traffic doesn't have quite as good traction as you do on the Nomad.
Loving the Wintry Ride Reports!
All the best,
Dan. (...who worries cars sometimes won't do as well on the slippery-slick as you do!)
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Well, it's summer here in Australia but we might need to take notice of this thread as it's snowing down where Il Padrone hangs out.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-05/snow-storm-visits-victorias-north-east/4409366
38 deg Celsius where I live, though.
Cheers,
pj
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it's snowing down where Il Padrone hangs out.
Peter! That's...well, that's just incredible. 38 deg Celsius where I live, though.
Equally amazing! I thought we were having strange weather up here in the States, but I don't think we can hold a candle to your two extremes Down Under.
Thanks for the ABC link!
All the best,
Dan. (...who's left wondering "What's next?")
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Man oh man no snow yet but plenty frost and ice and is it cold ???
yes freez the n...s of a brass monkey
i'm staying indoors.
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It is cold here Jags and it has taken me 3 years to acclimitise to the weather and sort out the right clothes for the job. I can now go out in anything down to -40 and stay toastie warm. If anyone is interested in my findings I am more than happy to post what works for me to stay warm
Andy
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yes andy i am post away please ,i have to go to london next monday funeral.
and i believe its e ven colder over there
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A few arty pictures out in the cold:::
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Hi Jags
The best way I have found to stay warm which also gives a lot of flexibility for heating up (on climbs) and cooling down (downhill runs) is to layer up with as many thin tight fitting layers as possible.
When I am out on the bike I wear the following
Neoprene "wetsuit" socks
Karrimor trail running shoes
Crivit Thermal base layer (tight fitting very warm and very easy to move in)
Karrimor Running trousers
Unknown make winter riding long sleve jersey
North Face Windproof Jacket
Karrimor Balaclava (only if sub 15 or so)
Karrimor Runnung Hat
No Name snood which is excellent (either round my neck to cool down when climbing or full face cover for downhills)
Also have a Karrimor Rain coat for on top if I get caught out in the rain but this time of year it is normaly too cold for rain
Andy
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Cheers Andy yeah that lot should keep you toasty warm is the wetsuit socks over your shoes..
to be honest i can keep warm enough on the bike i ware two base layers long sleeve one of which is marino .
thermal socks
altura waterproof overshoes
scull cap under my helmet.
longs are assos excellent but expensive.(pressie from the wife)
corrine dennis stormproof jacket
gilet
fleece gloves.
so thats me sorted on the bike ,but not for everyday usual stuff
feet and legs are the problem will have to get that sorted.
cheers Andy.
jags
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An forgot the gloves:
Either:
Karrimor running gloves (good for cold and rain)
Thinsulate winter gloves (a bit bulky and not very waterprrof but oh so warm)
Andy
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No the wet suit socks are worn as socks under my shoes. They are 3mm neoprene so fit ok as long as your shoes are a comfy fit. They keep your feet wet but warm vey similar to sealskinz socks but at a fraction of the cost.
I would have gone for overshoes but not running spd shoes/pedals it is an issue
Andy
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ah my shoes are a bit on the tight side for heavy socks,i do ware the sealskinz but you defo need an extra pair of socks with them useless at keeping feet warm on there own.
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A quick picture of the bike defrosting in the Garage. Fortunately my garage complex is under the house and partly underground so it never get too cold so always good for defrosting vehicles:
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And will atach the photo this time................
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Andy...
This is Art.
All the best,
Dan. (...who has an eye for Art and knows it when he sees it ;))
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I have had the bike out quite a bit over the last few days in a mixture of snow/slush ice and mud. The tyres have coped admirably and to my surprise the mudguards have caused no issues. The der drivetrain has run smoothly (with plenty of re-oiling) The only area that has been a little dissapointing has been wheel jam due to build up of crud around the brakes. It does make me think that maybe for winter riding discs are the way to go? Might try playing with the front fork of a disc trucker next year. Although discs are frowned upon for expedition touring for those of us who are never far from home it may be a compromise worth making.
It is a nice sunny day today so hope to get out later for a ride
Andy
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Like your sofa ;D
Looks ready for everything in this setup! Discs cause issues with shipping, but like you say it's for local use.
Can the forks etc. take disc brakes? I heard front forks need to be beefy enough, but I may be wrong.
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The only area that has been a little dissapointing has been wheel jam due to build up of crud around the brakes.
It happens with damp mud and dry-lake playa, too (see attached pic). I have often pondered what a change to discs would mean, and have concluded it is best for my needs to wipe/scrape the stuff off than to deal with (what for me in my use would be) the detriments of discs.
That said, I think disks are a wonderful solution to address rim-brake pack-ups, and that's why I specified a disc-compatible Rohloff on my Nomad Mk2. It not only future-proofs the bike, it gives another option for braking while keeping the same fork and rim brakes up front (which means I can also keep the same lowrider rack option as I have at present with a rigid, v-brake compatible fork).
Andy, I'd think a spare fork, properly designed and fitted for discs would be really appropriate for consistent wintry/snowy use. A person could make a semi-annual swap, along with the tires.
All the best,
Dan.
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As per your photo I am not sure if the build up is due to the brakes or just the clearance at the forks. I think before going down the disc version i would try running the bike without the front brake to see whether this improved matters by a considerable amount as I am not totaly convinced it would.
No steep hills or busy roads will be used in this experiment I hasten to add
Andy
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...before going down the disc version i would try running the bike without the front brake to see whether this improved matters by a considerable amount...
I think that's a brilliant idea, Andy! Looking forward to any and all results from such an experiment!No steep hills or busy roads will be used in this experiment
Whew! Good news there....
All the best,
Dan. (...who thinks peppermint is good, but 'xpeermint is even better...and the puns are getting worse)
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We had a very warm (for time of year) weekend so we decided to try out the three grandchildren on the bike and trailer. Sashi who is now nearly 2 is a professional back seat rider but it was the first outing for the twins Leigh (boy) and Marina (Girl) now 6 months old in the trailer.
A first run round the village to make sure they could support themselves ok in the seating and then took them all back home in the afternoon (about 10km to my son's village)
They were all fast asleep by the time we left the village so a success story all round. Atleast I can hang up the car keys for the weekly kiddy run
Andy
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Wonderful photos, Andy, and so glad the outing was enjoyed by all! You've now got some good company at the ready for future rides (and training weight!).
Andy...what's the lettering on the front of your Surly Nice Rack (Front)? Almost looks like the script lettering from an Austin Marina. Could it be?
Lookin' sharp all 'round! Nice jacket, too.
All the best,
Dan.
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Very sharp eyed Dan. It is the chrome name off of a Morris Marina (Possibly badged Austin in other sales territories than the UK). It is usefull having a supply of badges to match the wife's name. I dont think we will be so lucky to find an Austin Andy or even a Dodge Dan - lol
Andy
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fantastic photos andy the kids look happy enough ,i have 3 grandkids and another 2 on the was so its a bus i need. ;D
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As the weather has improved the bike has had to take a back seat to the flymo so thought it was a good oppertunity to finaly strip the down tube on the bike where the stickers have peeled, fill that small dent (happened when the frame was shipped by Thorn some 10 years ago) and spray it back up.
Well one out of three jobs done so far......
Will photo her again when the job is done.
Andy
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Finally recieved the spoke reflectors and got them fitted. They fit securely on my spokes so not sure if it is a new batch or if I have thicker than average spokes.
Andy
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Wonderful photos, Andy, and some real progress made. Planning to do the repaint yourself? If so, a wet-spray job and some rubbing compound should make it blend in invisibly.
Love those spoke reflectors; one of the best cycling accessory purchases I've made in recent years.
Your Nomad really looks the business; well done! Very much enjoy seeing all the little details like the bell on the T-bar stem and the Click-Stand holder on the seatpost. Such things really distinguish a bike positively and make it truly yours. The kind of thing I really enjoy seeing.
All the best,
Dan.
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Managed to get the downtube, filled, sanded, primed, painted and restickered over the weekend. Built her back up Sunday evening and ready to take her out for a nice evening run tonight.
Andy
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My!
That looks terrific, Andy, and I love the downtube tribute as well -- looks "OEM quality"!
Very well done indeed!
All the best,
Dan.