Thorn Cycles Forum

Community => Thorn General => Topic started by: phopwood on April 18, 2014, 09:11:00 PM

Title: Should I get an RST
Post by: phopwood on April 18, 2014, 09:11:00 PM
I have a sherpa with a rolhoff hub fitted, very happy with it, love it in fact.  But so far I use it for local cycling I may do some light touring at some point in the near future.  At the moment I keeping wanting something a little sportier.  I don't want drops, never liked them never been comfortable with drops.  I just want something sportier.

So the question is would I be happier with an RST?

I would just buy the frame, and swap some parts around, I would most likely keep the sherpa frame, but I would go for lighter rear wheel build, so I could rebuild a sherpa in the future if I needed too.

Today I converted my specialized racing bike to flat bars to see if the sportier bike would suit me, it has 700mm wheels but with flat bars it is more suited to me, I never got on with it with drops, we never become one with each other. I used existing parts from the parts bin to do the converstion so no money was wasted.

Peter
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: phopwood on April 21, 2014, 06:52:58 PM
Mind you I saw this today, look very nice a little more expensive that an RST frameset.

http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/products/decade/tripster-atr (http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/products/decade/tripster-atr)

Must stop looking at bike frames
Must stop looking at bike frames
Must stop looking at bike frames
Must stop looking at bike frames
Must stop looking at bike frames
  ;D

Peter

Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: jags on April 21, 2014, 07:36:28 PM
Peter thats one hell of a bike ;) but why not buy yourself a good carbon roadbike keep the sherpa for touring.myself i'm happy enough these days  owning just the one bike for all my needs. the days of me going fast is well and truly gone, 14mph is my usual  speed which i'm happy enough with.

theres no harm looking though  ;D


jags.

Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: phopwood on April 21, 2014, 07:50:09 PM
Yes that's what I want one bike that does everything, I currently spend all my time on my Sherpa or my Brampton both brilliant bikes.  I have never got on with racing bike they never seem to fit me, and while drops look great I don't get on with them at all.

Hence my want for a RST........

Peter
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: geocycle on April 21, 2014, 09:04:55 PM
Well, if sjs still have one in your size go for it! There are sportier bikes out there but if you want sporty and rohloff the mercury or the RST are your options with thorn.
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: phopwood on April 23, 2014, 11:54:36 AM
OK I got permission from the wife, the hardest part of any transaction. 

I just ordered a Blue 511s RST frame, a 73mm BB and a DT Swiss rim to rebuild my back wheel.  All the rest of the components will come from my Sherpa.

Hope it will be here soon so I can swap some parts around.

Peter
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: alfie1952 on April 23, 2014, 12:34:53 PM
Hi Peter,

Well done, this must be the month for new bikes, though I hope you are not on bread and water for a month, like I am.

Regards Alfie
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: jags on April 23, 2014, 01:04:30 PM
well done lads peter and alfie happy days are here again  ;D ;D
peter your wife must know mine.  ::)


jags.
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: phopwood on April 23, 2014, 01:27:44 PM
Jags,

Quote
well done lads peter and alfie happy days are here again   
peter your wife must know mine. 


jags.

Most likely, she comes from the other side of the border in Derry.  And you know everyone knows everyone.


Quote
Hi Peter,

Well done, this must be the month for new bikes, though I hope you are not on bread and water for a month, like I am.

Regards Alfie

I might be, I am sure it will cost me something special for her.  Lets see how it plays out.


Peter
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: Andybg on April 23, 2014, 03:13:37 PM
Congrats Peter.

Looking forward to seeing the new build. I am sure you cant wait to get it out on the road

Andy
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: Danneaux on April 23, 2014, 03:54:02 PM
Wonderful new-bike news afoot on the Forum these days!

Congratulations Peter and Alfie. These will be great in the gallery!

May many happy journeys pass beneath your wheels.

All the best,

Dan.
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: phopwood on April 23, 2014, 03:58:44 PM
Thanks all for your kind words, I have just ordered some paint protection film so i can protect it from the stones etc.  My Sherpa does not like stones at all and has too many stone chips.  in fact more than my 14 year old volvo with 190000 miles on the clock.

Peter
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: alfie1952 on April 23, 2014, 09:18:16 PM
Hi Peter,

I have used frame protection tape on my bikes for the last few years and it really does the job well. I got mine on ebay from Paragon tapes at a reasonable price. I'm sure you're going to have fun seeing your new bike coming together. Try posting photographs of the build I'm sure that would be of interest to a lot of forum members. Looking forward to seeing the completed bike.

Regards Alfie.
 
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: phopwood on April 28, 2014, 07:26:12 PM
Just got an email from SJS, my box of bits are on route.

This is a picture of my Sherpa ready to get undressed.  It is currently weighing in at 17Kg, I hope my RST will be a bit lighter.  I have ordered a much lighter rim for the rear wheel, and there are a few bits on the Sherpa that I never user, so they go in the bike bits box.

So tomorrow the new adventure starts.

All the best.

Peter
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: phopwood on April 28, 2014, 07:27:28 PM
Another picture
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: geocycle on April 28, 2014, 07:43:53 PM
17kg is quite heavy, although the bar bag must be a kilo.  My raven tour was around 15-16 kg.  I'd estimate my rst is less than 15kg but I haven't weighed it properly. What wheel rim have you gone for?  I don't find rohloff driven bikes heavy overall and especially when riding, but I wish the weight wasn't all on the back wheel.
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: Danneaux on April 28, 2014, 08:18:20 PM
Quote
17kg is quite heavy, although the bar bag must be a kilo.  My raven tour was around 15-16 kg.
For comparison's sake, my 590M Nomad (dry) and with only the underseat bag attached comes in right at 20kg total as pictured in the gallery.

My favorite derailleur rando bike is 14.5kg (considered a bit heavy for that use, but it is fine in practice).

Yep, the HB bags can add a surprising amount, and include the bracket as well as the bag.

Quote
I don't find rohloff driven bikes heavy overall and especially when riding
<nods> Good point, Geo'. Unless one is accelerating a lot (the commuter's stop light drag race) or has a lot of hills, even a heavier bike will go along well at a steady state. The Rohloff itself isn't that much more than the accumulated mass of a derailleur drivetrain. Geo's right; it's more the placement of the weight that causes any notice.

Best,

Dan.
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: alfie1952 on April 28, 2014, 08:19:31 PM
Hi Peter,

Looking forward to seeing your Raven.

Alfie.
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: phopwood on April 28, 2014, 08:34:50 PM
Quote
Looking forward to seeing your Raven, but your Sherpa is a smart looking machine. Is there any chance you will rebuild the Sherpa as a derailleur geared bike with a new wheelset ?

Alfie.
Alfie yes there is a very good chance it will be rebuilt, at some point in the future.  I still have the derailleurs and thumb shifters ready to go, I still have some wheels for it in the garage.  I like many people on this forum seem to collect bike parts.  I love the sherpa and the black colour it has rekindled my love to cycle.

Quote
Quote
17kg is quite heavy, although the bar bag must be a kilo.  My raven tour was around 15-16 kg.
For comparison's sake, my 590M Nomad (dry) and with only the underseat bag attached comes in right at 20kg total as pictured in the gallery.

My favorite derailleur rando bike is 14.5kg (considered a bit heavy for that use, but it is fine in practice).

Yep, the HB bags can add a surprising amount, and include the bracket as well as the bag.


Quote
I don't find rohloff driven bikes heavy overall and especially when riding
<nods> Good point, Geo'. Unless one is accelerating a lot (the commuter's stop light drag race) or has a lot of hills, even a heavier bike will go along well at a steady state. The Rohloff itself isn't that much more than the accumulated mass of a derailleur drivetrain. Geo's right; it's more the placement of the weight that causes any notice.

Best,

Dan

The picture is how I ride it all the time, I don’t worry about the weight of the whole bike, this is the first time I have ever weighed it, I hope the lighter frame and less bits will make it feel more sporty

I have ordered a DTswiss 425 rim, which is 300g lighter than the Andra 30 that is on it now.  I will keep the Andra rim and spokes just in case I ever decide to trek around the world on it.


Peter.
Title: Re: Should I get an RST
Post by: phopwood on April 29, 2014, 05:13:25 PM
I have added some pictures of my build to the gallery.

http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=8965.0 (http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=8965.0)