Thorn Cycles Forum
Technical => General Technical => Topic started by: stevegloster on November 21, 2007, 03:41:46 pm
-
Having been a keen follower and also participant of challenging, long distance bike rides such as Audax, i finally built myself a new bike after much research. The result being a custom built frameset by Argos of Bristol using Reynolds 753 tubing (still limited stocks)with a relaxed 72 degree head angle. Equipment is mostly Campagnolo Record with compact double chainset (34/50). Although very different from my other bikes, this bike gives me a more relaxed, sit-up position instead of the more stretched out position of most racing type geometries, but also a very light and responsive bike at the same time. I have only ridden it up to 135 miles so far and without any problems but what do other riders have and why?
-
Thorn Raven Tour
Because it's so comfy and seemingly bombproof
300Km Audax is my max so far but plan to attempt 400Km next year
-
I started audax this year and used my pre-owned Thorn Cyclosportif, sometimes with a rack but usually with a Carradice and a bag support. I rode my qualifiers and PBP on it but using 24c and 25c tyres it was impossible to use mudguards so it wasn't the perfect audax bike but was perfect for summer days.
(http://snap29.photobox.co.uk/07386581f1d40fd78f5894ed2af4b0ede97391d34f5ea639c37862fe.jpg)
Next year I'll be using a Thorn Audax Mk.3 and apart from being a tad lardy it looks like the perfect audax machine. I've only ridden it three or four times (but including a two-day tour) and it's been great so far and good VFM. I don't like triple chainsets and I've gone for a medium cage rear mech and 13-29 cassette.
(http://img4011.photobox.co.uk/37679307681ed43f875bcdac0033bcdd0ff0b006d258241ea25f841a219fd87ce78f1d64.jpg)
-
quote:
Originally posted by The Raucous AUK
I started audax this year and used my pre-owned Thorn Cyclosportif, sometimes with a rack but usually with a Carradice and a bag support. I rode my qualifiers and PBP on it but using 24c and 25c tyres it was impossible to use mudguards so it wasn't the perfect audax bike but was perfect for summer days. Next year I'll be using a Thorn Audax Mk.3 and apart from being a tad lardy it looks like the perfect audax machine. I've only ridden it three or four times (but including a two-day tour) and it's been great so far and good VFM. I don't like triple chainsets and I've gone for a medium cage rear mech and 13-29 cassette.
Hello,
I actually own the perfect definitive of an Audax bike-beware ALL those who try to immitate.In my opinion of course as a completely Thorn biased writer!
http://www.pbase.com/john28july/853
Of course any bike of any brand or indeed age can be used, but a dedicated Audax bike will come out best overall.
All other bikes will fall short and until you ride Thorn you do not know what its like to ride a comfortable bike that actually does what it is supposed to.
Have fun and be a commedian if thats what makes you tick..........
John.
www.pbase.com/john28july
-
John
My bike is better than yours, nah nah nah nah nah! ;-)
How old are you (rhetorical question!)?
And you wonder why I find your posts comical!? [:D]
-
John's bike does look the business have to admit.
-
I rode the last few km's of Paris-Brest-Paris alongside a Scot (Audax Escosse I think) who was riding exactly the same bike as Johns and our two Thorn's almost finished at the same time. Unfortunately, Rosemarie nipped in between us at the finish and was...
a rose between two Thorns
Sorry! I'll get me coat.
-
The perfect Audax bike is whatever gets you to the finish! Comfort is the most important requirement, and to achieve that the bike must fit you but you've only got to look at the huge variety of bikes on any Audax event to realise that it's all down to personnal choice!!
Even PBP is ridden successfully on anything from carbon race bikes to full tourers, fixes to recumbents, tikes and tandems - even tandem trikes!! I'm hoping the Audax mk3 is the perfect bike for me - but I've no idea what's best for you!!
I am seriously impressed by anyone who has actually finished PBP though - now thats a serious achievement!
-
AH
Wise words indeed, each to their own, a philosophy that John struggles to accomodate.
I met a guy called Drew Buck on the way back from Britanny in June, who judging from a recent photo in Arrivee magazine, finished PBP on a bike that looked at least 50/60 years old, dressed in striped top, beret and carrying onion strings. When I met him, he'd just been to France to collect a bike that he thought may well participated in the original TDF in 1904(?), and had the original receipt to prove the date at least. I'm just wondering if he completed it on that bike!!!? He'd also previously completed PBP testing out a Thorn tandem!
I'm finally gearing up to do some Audax events myself, and am hoping that the trusty RST will excel itself yet again!
-
quote:
Originally posted by Fred A-M
John
My bike is better than yours, nah nah nah nah nah! ;-)
How old are you (rhetorical question!)?
And you wonder why I find your posts comical!? [:D]
No response required in this instance.
John.
-
quote:
Originally posted by Fred A-M
AH
I met a guy called Drew Buck on the way back from Britanny in June, who judging from a recent photo in Arrivee magazine, finished PBP on a bike that looked at least 50/60 years old, dressed in striped top, beret and carrying onion strings. When I met him, he'd just been to France to collect a bike that he thought may well participated in the original TDF in 1904(?), and had the original receipt to prove the date at least. I'm just wondering if he completed it on that bike!!!? He'd also previously completed PBP testing out a Thorn tandem!
By chance, Drew was behind me at the start of PBP...
(http://img4011.photobox.co.uk/097707960d66226e648d5e93a132183802900d7ae9c8f44f20fe9e8d0d2c09dba0195db2.jpg)
-
And here is Drew's bicycle...
(http://img4011.photobox.co.uk/99043753acbf192ba59b7fb64c72ce655a730c541cc55021165db621db0fcbb3cb9e37a9.jpg)
-
Small world indeed, I did wonder whether you might have crossed his path!
Now that I've seen a side view of the bike, I don't think that is his TDF original. Looks about 40/50 years old at a guess?
-
I enjoy 99% of the comments on this website, and find John's observations no sillier than lots of other peoples'. Keep them coming, John, and let's all enjoy cycling.
Lewis
-
quote:
Originally posted by lewisjnoble
...let's all enjoy cycling.
Lewis
Amen to that, brother. 'Tis a good forecast Saturday too.
-
Incidentally Alf, it is perfectly possible to run a Cyclosortif with Panaracer 700x25c tyres with mudguards fitted - that's my standard setup for Audax. You might find it a bit more responsive than the Mk3 (I don't know, I haven't tried the latter).
I did have an Audax 853 but much prefer the handling and responsiveness of the Cyclosportif, and can live without the option of 28c tyres. Apart from anything else I lost confidence in the 853 geometry after a very scary shimmy descending Cader Idris on the Bryan Chapman a couple of years ago.
-
quote:
Originally posted by rhebarker
Incidentally Alf, it is perfectly possible to run a Cyclosortif with Panaracer 700x25c tyres with mudguards fitted - that's my standard setup for Audax. You might find it a bit more responsive than the Mk3 (I don't know, I haven't tried the latter).
I did have an Audax 853 but much prefer the handling and responsiveness of the Cyclosportif, and can live without the option of 28c tyres. Apart from anything else I lost confidence in the 853 geometry after a very scary shimmy descending Cader Idris on the Bryan Chapman a couple of years ago.
Hello,
I am very very surprised that you had shimmy with the Audax 853. I think it must have been down to some load imbalance as the Audax 853 I own is glued to the road at all times even downhill at 35 miles per hour.
My Club Tour (Winter bike) yesterday stayed true on a fast downhill at over 30 mph and satisfied my desire fully.
I often feel that other factors require looking into when shimmy occurs particularly with Thorn bikes.
I did have serious shimmy at the same speeds mentioned above and on the same downhill road, on a Dawes Galaxy! It was very unusual with that bike did not happen again and remained a mystery. I no longer of course own that bike.
The Mk 3 Audax is surely a Brevet in disguise but different sizes as I for one cannot get a size which equates to any of my present Thorns.
John.
www.pbase.com/john28july
-
quote:
Originally posted by bobs
John's bike does look the business have to admit.
Bobs,
Thank you.
John.
-
quote:
Originally posted by rhebarker
Incidentally Alf, it is perfectly possible to run a Cyclosortif with Panaracer 700x25c tyres with mudguards fitted - that's my standard setup for Audax. You might find it a bit more responsive than the Mk3 (I don't know, I haven't tried the latter).
Not on my Cyclosportif you can't! I've tried using 24mm Vittoria Open Pave tyres and the front was OK but there was mudguard rub at the rear, perhaps the Panaracers have a different profile. Now that I've got an Audax Mk.3 with mudguards fitted my Cyclosportif will be my Sunday best ('dry miles only' as they say on ebay).
The Cyclosportif is a bit more responsive than the Audax Mk.3 due (IMHO) to the ovalised tubing on the top tube and especially the down tube at the bottom bracket area. I had a custom built Jeff Bruce Columbus Max tubed frame that was exactly the same and they really do surge when you stamp on the pedals.
-
I think the Panaracers are quite slimline for a 25c tyre - I like a racey feel though so they suit me. Have you tried mudguards as flush to the frame as possible? I seem to remember having to play about a bit to get them to work but there's plenty of clearance now. Well, i don't suffer from annoying rubbing sounds anyway (from the mudgurads or anywhere else!)
John - I'm not sure many bikes would shimmy at 35mph - this was probaly more like 50. I don't necessarily blame the frame; shimmy seems to be a fairly random occurrance and dependent on rider weight, position, front/rear weight bias, tyre type and pressure and so on and so on. When the system starts to resonate it's difficult to stop it. You do lose your confidence in a frame when it happens, however illogical that may be. (Load was a small firmly fixed under-saddle pouch and large rear jersey pockets btw - I'm not quite as minimalist on 600s these days but I believe in carrying the minimum necessary on audax rides!)