Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Thorn General => Topic started by: Cambirder on July 20, 2011, 09:41:51 pm
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Back in February I decided that climbing hills on my Galaxy was getting harder and not much fun. Not the fault of the bike, but down to me eating to much junk and drinking to much beer resulting in the poor old bike having to carry a 105kg (16.5 stone) human load.
Something had to be done so as an incentive I promised to get a new bike once I had got rid of 25kg of excess blubber. Originally I was looking at at a RT but as the weight has come off I have felt fitter, am riding faster and now actually look forward to a nice climb so am now thinking a RST is the way to go (I only ride tarmac and good track and do nothing more adventurous than a long weekend tour).
The spec I have almost decided on includes Son hub and DT Swiss rims. A lot more than I was originally going to spend, but its cheaper than long term gym membership and hopefully will help me lose another 10kg and keep it off with some winter rides (may even take the plunge with a few audax rides next year).
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So have you taken the plunge yet? Hope it goes well. I remember being like a kid waiting for Christmas once I'd placed an order.
I too have a Galaxy (c1984) but went for a Mk3 Audax.
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Back in February I decided that climbing hills on my Galaxy was getting harder and not much fun. Not the fault of the bike, but down to me eating to much junk and drinking to much beer resulting in the poor old bike having to carry a 105kg (16.5 stone) human load.
Something had to be done so as an incentive I promised to get a new bike once I had got rid of 25kg of excess blubber. Originally I was looking at at a RT but as the weight has come off I have felt fitter, am riding faster and now actually look forward to a nice climb so am now thinking a RST is the way to go (I only ride tarmac and good track and do nothing more adventurous than a long weekend tour).
The spec I have almost decided on includes Son hub and DT Swiss rims. A lot more than I was originally going to spend, but its cheaper than long term gym membership and hopefully will help me lose another 10kg and keep it off with some winter rides (may even take the plunge with a few audax rides next year).
You won't regret your choice. If it is any help, I didi an article recently about my first year with an RST:
http://paulmor.wordpress.com/2011/06/17/thorn-raven-sport-tour-one-year-on/ (http://paulmor.wordpress.com/2011/06/17/thorn-raven-sport-tour-one-year-on/)
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With permission from the family "treasurer" I ordered last week ;D, so I should have it in time for a mini tour of Suffolk starting on the 8th Sept.
Like Paul I have gone for matt black so If you see one cruising the lanes around the coastal lanes of Suffolk in early September the rider's name is likely to be Paul.
Paul
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With permission from the family "treasurer" I ordered last week ;D, so I should have it in time for a mini tour of Suffolk starting on the 8th Sept.
Like Paul I have gone for matt black so If you see one cruising the lanes around the coastal lanes of Suffolk in early September the rider's name is likely to be Paul.
Paul
Paul, or, indeed, Paul!
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Drove down to Bridgwater to pick up my new RST today. Tomorrow it gets its first real ride will try and post some pics after the ride.
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And this is what she looked like this morning :)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f102/Cambirder/RST1.jpg)
Does not quite look the same now as that nice cool black frame is looking rather dusty after a some track riding. I've also swapped out that nice honey Brooks saddle to a broken in black flyer ready for 4 days of rides on the Suffolk / Norfolk coast later next week.
Only ridden 22 miles so far but love it, and am now looking forward to my 1st ever audax ride at the end of the month.
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That's a beauty!
With a broken-in saddle, I bet your Audax will go very well. I've been enjoying reading various stories from the PBP that just completed. The crazy bikes people used! Helps me to realize that little niggles about this or that feature are really beside the point. There is so much that is right about a bike like this - it is a great foundation for confident riding.
Happy trails!
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A lovely new RST and a mini tour all within a week, I'm jealous! ;)
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One of the guys I'm riding with next week did this years PBP so I'm looking forward to hearing all about the agony. Can't see myself ever doing something like that, I like a good nights sleep between bouts in the saddle. I know I can comfortably do 100k in the time limit and I'm pretty sure I can work up to a 200k ride next spring or summer but I can't see myself going beyond that.
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yeah me too i do like a shower and a good sleep after a long ride so these audex rides are for someone else certainly not for this kid ;D ;D
nice bike though ;)
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Dear Cambrider,
Is she 536L or 561L?
Thanks,
Cedric
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536L.
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What dynahub & lights please ?
Nice bike - shame 'bout the colour !! (mine's blue)
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The hub is a Schmidt SON 28 driving front and rear LED lights
Front Light - Busch + Müller Lumotec IQ Cyo RT Senso Plus LED with DRL
Rear light - Busch + Müller Toplight Flat S Plus LED
The lights came from Bike24 in Germany http://www.bike24.de/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;product=17510;page=1;menu=1000,5,66;mid=0;pgc=0 (http://www.bike24.de/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;product=17510;page=1;menu=1000,5,66;mid=0;pgc=0)
As for the colour I was going to go with red until I saw matt black in the flesh and thought it rather cool.
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I agree ref powder black Cambirder, I think it does look cool. You'll be pleased to know it's reasonably hard wearing - 5 years on my RST still looks good when clean, though there are a few scratches and patches of the frame where there's regular contact with the body have worn to a shine, but overall am very pleased.
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Dear Cambrider,
What gear is it? 46-48-50?
Thanks,
Cedric
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And rims, what kind are they ?
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Front ring is 44T rear 17T. I was going to go with a 46T but they were out of stock so I dropped to a 44T rather than wait for the bike.
Rims are DT Swiss XR425 with 1.75 Pasela Tour Guards. I did not realise just how fat a 1.75 tyre is so perhaps I will go with something a little narrower when these ware out.
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I've now completed 1000km on this bike, so I guess its just about run in now, changing gears has certainly got smoother. I'm certainly not regretting going for the sports version it really is fun to ride.
Completed my 1st audax ride last month (105km, 5hrs 29min) and I'm looking forward to working up to some longer audax rides in the spring, the bike is certainly up for it not so sure about my aging body though ;D.