Thorn Cycles Forum

Community => Member's Gallery => Topic started by: Bill C on September 22, 2014, 07:22:56 PM

Title: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 22, 2014, 07:22:56 PM
Hi All
been lurking off and on for years, posted a bit just latetly and thought i'd share a few pics of my xTc classic
I grabbed it in the workshop sale, It's one of my better buy's 
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: jags on September 22, 2014, 07:27:29 PM
EH think your missing something bill ;D ;D

look forward to the pic's.


jags
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 22, 2014, 07:33:27 PM
hi Jags
bl@@dy android won't play nice, i'll try again one pic at a time
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 22, 2014, 07:38:43 PM
try again
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: jags on September 22, 2014, 07:39:17 PM
class keep em coming. ;)
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 22, 2014, 07:41:11 PM
must learn about posting pics
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 22, 2014, 07:43:05 PM
last one as i don't want to upset the mods with too much editing
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: jags on September 22, 2014, 07:49:09 PM
WOW your upsetting no one Bill, those photos are class man what a beautifull put together bike.
are those paul thumies you have .panniers are class well the whole set up is.thanks for posting.

jags.

just looking again dura ace 9 speed shifters ?
very clever the way you set that up ;)
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 22, 2014, 07:56:43 PM
they are jagwire bar end converters, i mounted them on acor bar extensions,
i have my sherpa set up the same way but they are in silver which looks much nicer, but the gold ones were on special so i grabbed them when i could
but i have got paul thumbies ready for my other xTc  ;D and in silver  ;D


Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: jags on September 22, 2014, 07:59:46 PM
was that tour in france  ::)
what the hell tyres are those i cant get to see the  name look fantastic with the brooks.

jags.
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: in4 on September 22, 2014, 08:07:47 PM
Wonderful.  The Xtc frame looks great. Which sprung Brooks is that? I'm curious how the Carradice is attached to it.
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 22, 2014, 08:10:07 PM
jags.....they are schwalbe spicers, i did try panaracer tourguards but they were like pedalling in treacle
couldn't find anything else that grabbed my fancy so thought i'd take a chance on these
the tread looks much the same as supremes
it's just a fun bike for knocking round in the summer, the sherpa is much more workman like but  this will do for a week or so away camping plus i get lot's of admiring looks from little old ladies, needs a tarten picnic rug rolled up on the back rack or a tarten thermos (old skool lol )

in4,,,,,,it's a brooks flyer special, the saddle roll is attached just to the saddle loops
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: triaesthete on September 22, 2014, 09:41:21 PM

Very interesting set up. Love the "mudguards". Remember them on the Raleigh Arena back in '78  ;D

cheers
Ian
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: sg37409 on September 22, 2014, 09:58:32 PM
Thats really nice. Great to see a different slant on the normal XTC.
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Kuba on September 22, 2014, 10:44:20 PM
This is stunning! What's that paintjob, if you don't mind me asking? Looks a bit silver, a bit champagne... or champagne & silver overspray?  ??? I'm just about to take my bare metal factory clearance xTc frame to Argos and not sure what colour I should get (actually was firmly decided on one or another shade of blue until just now).
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 22, 2014, 11:00:41 PM
hi Kuba
No paint! it's raw steel with clear lacquer, took me an age to get all the rust off back as clean as it is now
rust killer and nylon kitchen scouring pads and sore fingers for about 3 weeks, then multiple coats of lacquer
then i hung it for a month or so to cure, then a wet sand and polished it up
probably won't last forever but it was a labour of love and worth every minute, being a summer bike i reckon a couple of seasons before i need to strip it and redo
i did think about powdercoating it but didn't fancy having it blasted, thin tubes and blasting naa! plus it would play havoc with all the nice crisp lugs

glad you posted as i saw that you bought one and wondered how you were doing with it, you have an awesome treat instore when you build it up, so get a move on lol
atb Bill


Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Kuba on September 22, 2014, 11:56:14 PM
I admire your dedication Bill, but in this case mine will be blue! I'll ask Argos to be careful when shot blasting, from speaking to them I understand they always treat bare metal frames like that so hope they know what they're doing... Well, at £140 for a single colour, they definitely should.

Your photos may just make me get on with the build. The frame has been sat in the living room for far too long. Just one last question, what are the bars in the photo?

And what a brilliant idea to leave it bare metal, really, I'd say it's the prettiest bike I've yet seen on this forum. But watch out for mine when it's finally built!
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: jags on September 23, 2014, 12:04:13 AM
cheek obviously haven't seen mine :'( :'( :'(

jags
that hurt deep down .
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 23, 2014, 12:41:07 AM
Just one last question, what are the bars in the photo?

they are Modolo Gran fondo's

i use them on the sherpa as well, i bought them here     http://www.defietsenmaker.nl/index.php?item=modolo-gran-fondo-handlebar-_-wide-44-50cm-center-center&action=article&group_id=10000004&aid=66&lang=EN (http://www.defietsenmaker.nl/index.php?item=modolo-gran-fondo-handlebar-_-wide-44-50cm-center-center&action=article&group_id=10000004&aid=66&lang=EN)
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Kuba on September 23, 2014, 09:08:51 AM
Hey Anto, cheer up, Audax 853 is definitely the second-best looking bike Thorn ever made, after the XTC. :P

Bill, looks like I'll end up with the same bars as you have, thank you! Might start a thread on the build shortly to help me with other bits...
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: jags on September 23, 2014, 09:51:53 AM
 ;) ah that will do so. 8)
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Slammin Sammy on September 23, 2014, 02:29:31 PM
Love it, Bill! It is one choice looking machine.

I especially like the handlebar treatment. The tops come way back for drop bars - I think I understand why you rotated the hoods upwards - to get them closer?

Besides the amazing finish (well done!), my favourite aspect is the bar end shifter mounts. Why didn't I think of that?  :o
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Audax hopeful on September 23, 2014, 03:06:53 PM
I'm really drawn to this machine. A clearly individual build with so much attention to detail!

Very thought-provoking!!

And stylish too!
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Danneaux on September 23, 2014, 06:50:33 PM
Bill,

This is just a stunning machine, and I keep coming back for yet another look...and will again and again.

Wow.  Wow!

You've really created one for the ages here, and given many others pleasure by sharing it. Well done and many thanks for the photos posted here.

All the best,

Dan.
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 24, 2014, 12:05:57 AM
hi all
really pleased you like her , i thought strange shifter setup,funky bars, shortie mudguards and a sharkfin would get me run off the forum, i at least thought i'd get some ribbing, so i am REALLY pleased you like her

Sammy... the bars are setup like that because of my back, front to back the bars are longer than my old ski bend extensions
grip at the back and i'm nearly upright
grip on the hoods and i am as prone as i can be
grip left hood and right hand on the straight i can change gear and brake in traffic, also i can use the right hand for a two finger salute when applicable  ::)
alternate each hand front to back a few mins at a time and i can keep varying my posture/spine
they are (brake levers) setup a bit higher than on my sherpa but the bars on the sherpa are good couple of inches higher
plus i get a myriad of hand positions as a bonus, who was it that said drops are a bodge and unergonomic?

Audax Hopeful......you been parking your bike at Fremington Quay this week? as i saw a red Thorn leaning against the wall outside the cafe tother day, i would of stopped and spoke but when i mentioned keeping an eye out for you in another thread there was no response so i gave it a miss


Dan,,,,,, really pleased you like the bike, i waited to see if it got the thumbs up from a mod before i posted any other pics,
no need to thank me for posting pics as i have been dropping in and out of here for approx 5 years. about time i added something rather than just reading posts and keeping quiet


the colour in the pics is very warm as it was early evening, the steel seems to look a lot different depending on ambient light temprature, i'll upload a few pics of the frame after lacquer but before wet sand and polish

Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 24, 2014, 12:07:18 AM
seat cluster
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 24, 2014, 12:09:31 AM
fork
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: David Simpson on September 24, 2014, 12:38:11 AM
i thought strange shifter setup,funky bars, shortie mudguards and a sharkfin would get me run off the forum, i at least thought i'd get some ribbing

Bill --

Your unorthodox setup is what we like about your bike! I think the highest compliment is when other (knowledgeable) people are inspired by what you have done.

And a really like that metal "paint" job. It looks very classy.

What is a sharkfin?

- Dave
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 24, 2014, 12:47:42 AM
hi Dave
a sharksfin is either the naffest bit of shimano XT kit ever or if you think like me, it's a pretty much bombproof way of protecting the paint on the chainstay
http://www.bikerecyclery.com/shimano-deore-xt-shark-fin-chain-deflector-nib (http://www.bikerecyclery.com/shimano-deore-xt-shark-fin-chain-deflector-nib)
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: David Simpson on September 24, 2014, 12:54:30 AM
OK, I remember now. I knew I had heard of it before, but I just couldn't put my finger on it.

By the way, those evening photos of your bike are like works of art. The colours are perfect.

- Dave
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Bill C on September 24, 2014, 01:06:06 AM
hi Dave
thanks for the compliment, but it was just nice light and a photogenic subject
if you saw where they were taken you'd laugh  ;D
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Danneaux on September 24, 2014, 01:57:41 AM
Quote
Dan,,,,,, really pleased you like the bike, i waited to see if it got the thumbs up from a mod before i posted any other pics...
By all means, Bill; just pleased to see as many as you'd like to post!  :)

All the best,

Dan.
Title: Re: xTc classic
Post by: Relayer on September 24, 2014, 07:44:28 AM
That's a great looking bike you've got there Bill, well worth the effort you put into it.

It makes me a bit sad that Thorn discontinued such a nice bike which I was tempted to get at one time, and which is still so well loved by it's owners ... ah well, sometimes I do think "progress" isn't all it's cracked up to be ... unless they were to make a 650B version, how cool would a pair of Grand Bois Hetres on a XTC be?!?!?   :o

Happy cycling Bill.   :)

Jim