Thorn Cycles Forum

Community => Member's Gallery => Topic started by: Swislon on February 21, 2014, 09:44:43 AM

Title: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: Swislon on February 21, 2014, 09:44:43 AM
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5516/12672388523_6238890589.jpg)Well here it is!
Arrived last Saturday but work has been so hectic I have only just managed to upload a few photos.
Hopefully a few more in a few days when I am out and about.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/63482963@N03/sets/72157641301052214/

Also included a photo of the Spa Ti Tourer for comparison.
I'll put full spec on later.
First impressions: lovely ride, very comfy, elegant, planted, brakes are wonderful (and quiet at the moment), lighter than expected 27/28lbs (but weighed on bathroom scales!) for
size 610s with Son28.

Steve
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: honesty on February 21, 2014, 11:19:34 AM
Very nice!

though if it were me I'd flip the stem and reduce the amount of spacers under it, but thats just a personal aesthetic choice.
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: in4 on February 21, 2014, 11:27:48 AM
That is such a handsome beast. It reminds me of my much loved but since sold Nomad Mk1; that was stealth grey not unlike your gunmetal grey but without the sheen. Interesting that you have gone for the rear disc option too. Are you biding your time re lighting choices?
I'm sure some fine riding awaits.  :)
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: JimK on February 21, 2014, 01:24:27 PM
Beautiful bike! Happy trails!
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: Swislon on February 21, 2014, 01:49:38 PM
This is the bike out of the box. I have only added pedals and fitted the bars.
I have changed the saddle since as I had two leather ones spare.First trying my Gilles Berthoud Aspin.
I would also prefer the stem flipped and reduce the spacers however those are fine tuning and aesthetics that I will get on to over the next few weeks.
Thorn have sent me a mix of spacers plus extra deep washers for the seat tube bottle cage to get over the front derailleur clamp. Great service.
The front light I have still to decide upon.
Yes I went for a rear disc. I was in two minds as often rear discs rub a bit and make a noise which i really find annoying. However this one is really quiet at the moment
and the brakes are both extremely confidence giving much better than my 105 caliper brakes on my audax bike.

Steve
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: jags on February 21, 2014, 03:55:30 PM
Steve that is one classy looking bike the paintwork look's deep .
now that i see the disc on the back wheel i like it.
will you be adding racks front and rear?
the wheels are obviously hand made look fantastic.
yeah overall a stunning bike very best of luck with it,
keep it clean.

jags.
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: geocycle on February 21, 2014, 06:11:34 PM
Really like the new bike Swislon.  It works well in your large frame size.  Are they especially deep bars or the standard ones? 
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: Danneaux on February 21, 2014, 06:14:57 PM
Aw, what a stunner, Steve; a real beauty to ride for ages. I'll bet it will be a great all-'rounder for you, and I especially love grey/silver bikes for touring. Classic, timeless, classy.

Can't wait to see it in its final configuration, but for looks...well, this right out of the box would be hard to beat! Modern-day classic.

Best,

Dan.
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: Swislon on February 21, 2014, 06:50:39 PM
Thanks Guys,

The bars are the standard Thorn bars and they do look large with a deep drop in the photos but they are very comfortable to use. There is some padding under the bar tape.
Not going for a rack yet Jags until I need one. Will put on my Barley saddlebag this evening.
It does feel like a modern-day classic Dan and I am looking forward to many miles together.

Steve
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: jags on February 21, 2014, 07:20:20 PM
Really is a cracking bike,i've just this minute put my lovely guitar up for sale on my facebook page AGAIN i need to sell it to buy the club tour.love to get it for some tours come the summer.

Steve post a few more photos good man. ;)

jags.
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: Joe B on February 21, 2014, 08:51:01 PM
That looks like a superb all-rounder, there are some nicely thought out components on it, I especially like choice of chainset.
It would be good to here how the Thorn and Spa compare.
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: DABBER on February 21, 2014, 09:14:27 PM
Hi,

that is a lovely machine, I have been seriously thinking about ordering a CT to replace my Nomad. Now I have seen yours I want one. In that colour, very classy - you have made up my mind for me.

Are those the expensive option 2 fork upgrade? If so I would love to know if they really are much more comfortable than the standard Super Tourist and worth the extra cash.I have no requirement for front panniers.

Enjoy that beautiful steed.

Dabber
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: peter jenkins on February 22, 2014, 08:20:20 AM
 Looks good indeed Steve,

Puts my 2005 version (mark 1?) in the shade.

Enjoy!

pj
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: Swislon on February 22, 2014, 06:20:27 PM
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3696/12700949283_bf1fd29a60.jpg)

One more for jags to commiserate for us beating the Irish at the rugby!

Steve
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: jags on February 22, 2014, 07:01:50 PM
 ;D ;D those rugby boys get well paid so no sympathy for them.I'd sooner cry over me not owning a club tour  ;)

ah lovely bike Steve so did you get a chance to get her a good testing.
thanks for the photos i enjoy drooling over it.


jags
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: ians on February 22, 2014, 10:10:11 PM
a really handsome bike.  I like this very much.

ian
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: sjacka on February 23, 2014, 08:18:02 AM
Beautifull bike, I think it will the bike will even look better when you flip the stem?
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: gaz46 on February 23, 2014, 03:25:05 PM
Lovely looking bike Steve. Especially like the colour and finish. Wishing you many happy rides on it.
Your 'ex' has been given an airing for the first time since the back operation last November. We headed to Greenwich and back and are thankfully both still in one piece. It was great to get back on such a solid comfortable ride.
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: Swislon on February 23, 2014, 03:54:09 PM
Spec:
Frame is 610s Gunmetal Imron
853 MERVC Fork
XT front & rear derailleurs
TA Zephyr 46/36/24 chainrings
XT FC-M370 cranks
Cassette 11-32
Deore hub at rear
Schmidt Son 28 at front
Swiss DT TK540 rims (32 front 36 rear)
XT front V brake with Koolstop salmon pads
Avid BB7 rear cable brake
Tektro RL520 brake levers
Shimano 9 speed bar end shifters
SKS 45 mudguards
Schwalbe Dureme 35mm tyres


I have changed the saddle from the Thorn to a Gilles Berthoud Aspen.
I will probably change the stem very soon and the seat post in the near future plus add front light and Buddy flap at the rear.

I had a good ride yesterday and it rides beautifully. Very comfortable and I hardly noticed the crappy roads round here. The bike in this spec is not fast, certainly with me in the saddle, but it asks you to relax and enjoy the ride and breathe in your surroundings. There is no pressure here to keep up or even to keep to the route.

The bars are old school 25.4mm with MarSAS shock gel under the tape and they are lovely. The brakes are confidence inspiring. I would have liked a pump peg for a Zefal HPX and am carrying a mini pump in the Barley bag, not my ideal choice. The bike with these tyres is very "planted" and solid feeling, which will be great for Roughstuff riding. I will change the tyres to the GrandBois Cypres 32mm at some point and keep the Duremes for winter and Roughstuff. The GrandBois are a lot lighter and should be much livelier.

I like it alot! ;)

 

I cannot compare the fork to the Super Tourist as i haven't tried the other fork. This fork is very comfortable I tried one at the NEC a couple of years ago and loved it so just knew I would get one on this bike. I have no need for front panniers so was a no brainer for me (except for the extra cost!).



Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: Swislon on February 23, 2014, 03:58:15 PM
Hi Gareth,

Glad you are back on the bike and recovering!
I hope you are treating her well?

All the best
Steve
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: jags on February 23, 2014, 04:10:39 PM
Steve where did you buy the tyres grand bios  ;)



jags.
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: Swislon on February 28, 2014, 10:24:10 PM
hi jags,

Apologies for late reply. The Grand Bois came direct from Compass Bicycle, i couldn't find them in UK any cheaper or without a delay.

http://www.compasscycle.com/tires.html

Steve
Title: Re: Thorn Club Tour Mk4
Post by: jags on February 28, 2014, 11:26:20 PM
Thanks Steve .