Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Member's Gallery => Topic started by: Joe B on February 07, 2014, 07:34:03 pm
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I’ve been away from this forum for a short while but I thought I’d post a couple of photos of my two Thorns.
I picked up the Audax Classic second-hand on ebay in 2009. I’d been looking out for one for a while and when this one came along it was a perfect size and very nicely equipped, best of all I got it for just £360
The tandem was a chance buy last year from another Tandem Club member and again I got it for a terrific price.
Why post these photo’s now? Well both frames have just been re-sprayed by Bob Jackson cycles.
The paint on the Audax was in a bad way when I bought it; at the time I couldn’t afford a top class re-spray so I had a local car body shop blast and powdercoat it for just £20 by way of a temporary preservation job.
Although the tandem looks good in the photo there was some terrible rust, the forks, bottom brackets and bottom tube were particularly badly affected.
Both frames are now finished and ready to be sent back to me. It might be a while before I can post photos of them both together and rebuilt as I work away a lot and won’t be able to spend much time at home over the course of the next few weeks. They will look lovely though, matching blue paint and Thorn details, the tandem a simple single colour, the Audax with some extra detailing on the head tube, seat tube and lugs.
I big thank you to the good folk at SJS. I know that all of us here already know how good their customer service is however I was particularly impressed when less than 24 hours after enquiring whether a new head tube badge was available one was popped though my letterbox completely free of charge.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8550243452_03e9e453a7_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/8550243452/)
2013-01-20 16.08.20 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/8550243452/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2806/12369037653_bbe082f457_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12369037653/)
2013-05-25 21.30.02 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12369037653/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8549144289_2c749e4be9_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/8549144289/)
2013-01-20 15.58.15 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/8549144289/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3734/12369355914_44ffbabf45_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12369355914/)
P1020490 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12369355914/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5349/9566633167_aaab96029e_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/9566633167/)
2013-05-05 10.23.50 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/9566633167/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
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Awesome. Great pictures and locations. I love looking at folks shiny new bikes but one that has been resurrected like your audax has a special 'depth' to it.
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excellent a family on bikes nothing better,love that audax.
jags.
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Thanks for the complements to the Audax folks, it is a terrific bike and I can’t imagine ever getting rid of it. The powdercoat put on nearly four years ago served its purpose however rust has started to develop on the fork so I decided that now was the time to give it the treatment it deserves. The reception of Bob Jackson was cyclists porn shop. The frames hanging from the walls, (some their own others not) were a thing of real beauty. The guy I who looked after me there thought that my Raven Twin had probably been in their workshop before Thorn tend to send them frames for the fitting of S&S couplings. I’ve ordered a set of Nitto Randonneur Handlebars which look lovely and are reportedly very comfortable, a rack for the Carrdice bag is also on the way.
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Hi Joe!
My, what a lovely pair of bikes, and very nice to have you back again.
I remember you'd thought about respraying the Audax in red, but the blue is just stunning and couldn't have come out better. It is just a gorgeous bike and looks every inch the thoroughbred.
I can't wait to see photos of the matching tandem, now it has been resprayed as well. They just came out beautifully!
Equally nice is the stunning backdrop for the Audax; you've some very nice photos there, Joe.
Best,
Dan.
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What a stunning backdrop for your second photo - I'd love to ride my Thorn up and down those roads.
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What a stunning backdrop for your second photo - I'd love to ride my Thorn up and down those roads.
Looks like the Rest & Be Thankful road here in Scotland, between Arrochar and Inverary.
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Great pictures Joe, I agree with rual, in fact I think all the audax pics look like they're taken in the wilds of Scotland.
You've certainly got a couple of bargains there, just goes to show that patience has its rewards.
Can't wait to see more pictures when the bikes are rebuilt.
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Hi Dan, the blue colour on the Audax is just the matt powdercoat I had done a few years ago as a temporary preservation measure. Hopefully I'll have photos of the newly sprayed and rebuilt bike by this time next week.
Well done for spotting the Rest and Be Thankful. The other photos are taken on the side of Loch Long near Cove and overlooking the Gareloch and Faslane Naval Base.
The last ride I did on the Audax was from Helensburgh to Oban with a return train ride. Not a ride I'd fancy doing again as the traffic and standard of driving was awful.
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The blue audax is a beauty. I look forward to seeing the new paint job, but I'd be happy with it the way it is in the pics!!!
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Hi Paulson
The powder coat doesn't looks fine in the pictures but on close up inspection there is corrosion developing on the forks and the seat stays. I figure that the Bob Jackson enamelling will last a very long time and be worth every penny.
The funny thing is around the same time that the Audax was powder-coated I had my old mid 90's Trek MTB done. This is my every day knock-around on bike and see more use and abuse than the Thorn yet the powder-coating on it has not failed at all. That said it has a much courser finish so I suspect a thicker coat, were as with the Thorn they produced a much smoother coat, perhaps at the expense of durability.
Insistently I recall reading your excellent posts about your red Mk3 a few years ago, they certainly helped nudge me towards buying my Thorn.
Ok, not a Thorn but here's a photo of the Trek I had powder-coated with the Audax a few years ago. Not a bad job for £20.
I've had this bike for 18 years but one day (don't know when) it will be replaced, not completely sure yet what bike will replace it however is spite of surveying a wide section of the market I keep coming back to the Raven Tour. It occurred to me a last year when I picked up the Raven Twin that I could actually cut the cost of a Raven Tour quite considerably by having the Tandem & solo Ravens share a set of wheels until I can afford to get the Raven Tour a set of its own :)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/12405677673_9a900439cc_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12405677673/)
P1030078 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12405677673/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5511/12406032254_e78e74ccff_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12406032254/)
P1030080 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12406032254/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
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my god a trek on the thorn forum and heres me trying to get my raleigh on this past 10 years :'(
only joking it looks great looking forward to viewing the new look Audax.
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my god a trek on the thorn forum and heres me trying to get my raleigh on this past 10 years :'(
only joking it looks great looking forward to viewing the new look Audax.
I think this one might be allowed. look closely at the logo on the bars ;)
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;D ;D ;D very good joe no thorn logo on my raleigh but everything on it came from sjs cycles ;D ;D well near enough.
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That blue Audax does look good, almost stealth like against the water backdrop as it blends in so well. Talking of water; I'd watch your glove next time, see Dan's Nomad thread ;D.
Sorry Dan, couldn't resist!
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Talking of water; I'd watch your glove next time, see Dan's Nomad thread Grin.
Sorry Dan, couldn't resist!
No worries, Chris; a good cautionary tale to avoid glove-boating! :D
Best,
Dan. (...who figures it has now made it to open sea and will wash up on Japanese shores in a few years)
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Hi Joe
I have the same bike as your Audax and was just wondering what tyres you are running on there. I currently have 28 Gatorskins but are finding them somewhat wooden to ride. My other bike is running 1.75 Marathons so I am not expecting miracles
Cheers
Andy
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schwalble kojak's or supreams 8) totally change the feel of the bike max pressure.
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Hi Andy
In the photo’s the Audax is shod with good old Panaracer Pasela’s folding version in the 28 width.
These have been terrific, very comfortable and superb winter grip. However I’ve had problems with the sidewalls of these tyres, they are very prone to splitting. I also run these tyres in 26x1.5 and 26x1.75 on other bikes with no problems at all. Take a look on the CTC forum where the repeated failures of 700x28 Pasela’s had been extensively discussed.
I’m now trying Vittoria Rubino Pro Folding, again 28’s (not available at SJS so used Ribble). So far I’m not too sure about these, I’ve had a fall and a few slide’s on frosty or wet roads which I’m pretty sure would not have happened with the Pasela’s.
I’ll stick with the Rubino’s for now but I’m not sure what to do next winter, while I love the ride on the Pasela’s I’m not paying that sort of money for a tyre that fails so frequently.
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=69542
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/panaracer-panaracer-pasela-tour-guard-folding-clincher-tyre-700-%28622%29-prod9398/
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Hi Joe!
Though I've had no experience with them myself (too expensive!), I continue to hear good things about the Grand Bois Cerf tire in 700x29C: http://www.compasscycle.com/tires_gb_700_29.html
It is a Pasela made with extra care, and perhaps the sidewall issue has been resolved. it'd be awfully expensive to find out if it hasn't.
Narrower and wider versions here: http://www.compasscycle.com/tires.html
Best,
Dan.
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Hi from sunny Lanzarote (21 degrees), 8)
I have the Grand Bois Cerfs 29 mm and love them. Previously I rode 28 mm Gator skins and the Cerfs are so much better. Much more comfortable, smoother and I think faster. They are expensive though.
I have a pair of 32mm (says 30mm on the packet) waiting for the Club Tour when it arrives!!!
Steve
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ah steve you've gotta post a photo,when ever i get my club tour hopefully in the next few months ,it will be decked in a set of those grand bios.i always rode tubs when i could go fast ::)and they reckon the grand bios is every bit as good as the best tubs great grip even on wet tarmac and fast.
jags.
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It seems that nobody who has taken the plunge and forked out for a set of Grand Bois tyres regrets it, the reputation is superb. I am never the less quite put off by the price.
One other thing too; cleaning. Amber walled tyres are a blooming nightmare to clean.
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I agree about the cleaning, they get very dirty in
My drive chain is lucky to get a clean but my tyres ........
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Well, I arrived home last night after the wife and kids were all fast asleep to fined a large bike box in the house.
So here they are. The finish on both bikes is superb but I'm espesialy impresed with the Audax.
I'll have a photo of the Audax rebuilt by the end of the weekend, might take me a bit longer to have get the Raven Twin done though.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7331/12517114863_00aefd4c40_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12517114863/)
SANY0268 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12517114863/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/12517110653_02411edfd7_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12517110653/)
SANY0265 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12517110653/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3698/12517115993_59a801de86_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12517115993/)
SANY0261 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12517115993/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7334/12517461464_6bd954db0c_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12517461464/)
SANY0260 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12517461464/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/12516998345_70afffa82d_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12516998345/)
SANY0266 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12516998345/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
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Oh WOW that is a fantastic bit of painting really class job he even lined it as well very tasty. exactly what colour is that can i ask how much for the audax. ;)
anyway enjoy you certainly have the best looking bike ive seen in years love it.
jags.
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Not cheep. £450 for them both, that including all the work plus freight costs.
I don't have a full breakdown of the various charges however as you can see more has been spent on the Audax. Worth it though, both frames needed re-preservation, in the case of the bottom brackets on the tandem quite urgently.
I love the job done on the Audax, I now have something quite unique with a finish that I'm confident will last through quite a number of winters.
The wife's due home from work at around 1530 so at that point I might go and get started in the garage.
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The colour is Flambouyant Petrol Blue.
Price list here:
http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/resprays_pl.php
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Your Audax is just looking fantastic Joe, it is worth every penny to get a nice steel frame with lugs properly renovated.
I'm sure you'll have a massive smile on your face riding the Audax for many years to come, congratulations.
Jim
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They both looks stunning Joe, I particularly like the colours on your Audax, very stylish and tasteful, it will never date. Considering you bought your Audax at a great price I think you've still grabbed a bargain considering the price of a brand new one even after the cost of that beautiful respray.
Looking forward to seeing the fully built up bikes,
Neil.
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strange website i dialled in the colour sceme and size on the bob jackson world tour, but there no option to get a price on it.what am i doing wrong.
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W :o W!
They both glow!
Fantastic! ;D ;D ;D
Best,
Dan.
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Back for a
second third look, Joe; these are just gorgeous! All congratulations your way on a "value-added" investment that will last for decades and look beautiful throughout.
A quick question: Did they mask the crown race seat, or will you be using a cutter to prep the seat for fitting? Just curious, because they are often painted over here, then prepped After.
(Fourth look): That lining is sublime and the decals...well, just beautiful, Joe!
Best,
Dan.
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Ah Dan i'm way ahead of you been drooling over that audax this past 2 hours its feckin CLASS.
what a pity Thorn dont do a choice of painted bikes .
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Absolutely stunning !
Regards, Alfie
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The colour is Flamboyant Petrol Blue
Flamboyant for sure, Joe -- but I'd call it Electrifying Blue. Brilliant!
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Stunning frames. I also like the audax job with the detailing on the lugs. Some companies overdo the number of colours in the same frame, I much prefer the solid blue you've gone for. Silver or black components?
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I also got a Thorn audax resprayed from Bob Jackson, and posted the below review.
I really like the white panel on the seat tube, can I ask where you got the stickers and badge ? I assume from Thorn. They set it off really nicely. Mine was done in orange, a flat enamel, the shiney flamboyant looks fantastic. Nicely captured on the pics. My pics here....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24775321@N02/sets/72157634002221738/
It was £170 I think. For this I
1. Had to strip all parts off, including b/b and headset.
2. Package it in a framebox I got from my local bike shop
3. Specified orange frame and black forks, also black headtube.
What I liked about this service from Bob Jackson Cycles is
1. The did the lug work on headtube without being asked
2. The preserved the headtube badge without being asked (no charge)
3. Their collection / delivery was spot on.
4. They strip it back to bare metal. Their website gives details of the process.
Its a very nice job, not perfect in a few places that only the owner would spot. I had no problem with the 4 weeks it took start to finish.
Highly recommended.
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Superbe!
John
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Hi Dan, There was a little Paint on the race seat but the bottom race went on with a little persuasion.
SG, I was admiring your Audax a few months ago on YACF, I was very, very tempted to copy it. The badges were all made up by Bob Jackson, I beleive that they work directly for Thorn anyway.
Here are a couple of photos of my efforts so far. I've only managed a couple of hours in the workshop today and tomorrow I'm having a day out with the kids before going away again so it's going to be slow progress.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3718/12545780534_1a195fc859_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12545780534/)
Photo0024 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12545780534/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/12545779294_7cc2988229_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12545779294/)
Photo0025 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12545779294/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
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Brilliant, Joe!
It's looking fine, fine!
Can't wait to see it complete. Good fun with the kids, then safe travel your way.
Best,
Dan.
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SG, Just had another look at your Audax Classic. I really like the double chainset, I've been considering switching to an alpine double, something like a 28-42. I think Spa can supply custom chainsets, the trouble is I'd have to swap the lovely Royce Titanium ISO bottom bracket (that came with the bike) for a JIS one.
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Joe you gonna kill me for saying this but why didn't you get the seatpost painted as well,either that or use a nice carbon one it will look fantastic.sorry the negative comment but i certainly would not be using that seatpost of such a stunning bike. ::)
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And for the finishing touch: What colour bar tape?
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The seat post does let it down. I've been trying to keep costs down by not replacing serviceable components. I have replaced the bars though. I think I'd quite like a new saddle, the B17 narrow has not been as comfortable as the standard B17's I have on two other bikes.
I've got some black tape for the bars, I think the brown lether tape with matching saddle looks terrific and this might be a future upgrade.
I might get an hour or two in the workshop tomorrow, if so I'll post an up to date photo.
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Looking good Joe, yes I reckon a nice honey Brooks Team Pro (titanium railed) saddle with matching bar tape would finish your bike off beautifully. Love your shallow drop bars and I too would be reluctant to get rid of the Royce BB.
Looking forward to the updates,
Neil.
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Well, I'm nearly there with the Audax however I'm away from home for a few days again now so I won't get any further. I managed to get the guards and cables on on Sunday during a short session in the work shop but that's all. I seem to have lost my cassette removal tool so the new 12-30 cassette and chain didn't get fitted.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2816/12586590603_25fa16882c_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12586590603/)
P1030142 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12586590603/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
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class.
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That really does look the business. Can I ask what the cable ties are for on the chainstay?
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It is holding down the Shark-Fin chain stay protector. The thicker middle zip-tie will go, it's only there while the adhesive bonds.
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Finally finished the Audax. It might be a while before I get the Tandem completed but as my stoker is currently hobbling about on crutches I don't suppose that will matter.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/12682867924_a77fc15231_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12682867924/)
P1030147 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12682867924/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7408/12682395325_53c2811ae3_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12682395325/)
P1030149 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12682395325/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/12682396435_8a52087dfd_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12682396435/)
P1030150 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/12682396435/) by Joe.Audax (http://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
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Well, Joe, your Audax just turned out magnificently. It looks every bit the new bike -- but even better for being fully sorted.
It just looks gorgeous, especially in the outside lighting.
Sure hope your stoker is feeling better soon and can leave the crutches behind to serve once again on active duty as "Rear Admiral" on the soon-to-be-complete matching blue tandem.
A real treat to see; thanks for the photos!
Best,
Dan. (...who sees the chain is on the go-fast Big Chainring, eager to fly)
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aye, no bad…..
Like the handlebars and stem. The frame looks fantastic. Kind of with Id gone for a flamboyant, maybe next time
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Kind of with Id gone for a flamboyant...
Dunno, Steve. That orange looks fantastic, especially with the black for contrast.
Best,
Dan. (...who would be terribly torn between the blue and the orange if he had to choose)
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Here is a photo of the Audax taken about a week ago, finally complete and on the maiden voyage of her post refit second commission.
The journey was a very fine 4 mile ride to Newcastle Central Station in glorious late afternoon spring sunshine. Followed by a 30 Miler ride from Glasgow Central Station to where I'm based, in persistent heavy rain. She wasn't very shiny and new looking once I'd arrived.
The only change to the bike apart from the paint were new bars and a 12-30 cassette, (replacing a 12-25). I had been worried as to whether I'd miss the close ratios of the 12-25 but so far (admittedly not many miles as yet) I'm liking the 12-30.
The new bars are Nitto Randonneurs, they seem to have a further forward throw than my old ones and might take a little tweaking to get right. That said for the last few months I've been riding round solely on my other bike fitted with Thorn Comfort Bars so any drops would probably have felt a little odd.
I'll be finishing and test riding the tandem tomorrow, I've had a bit of a delay with it on account of losing one to the stepped ferrules for the S&S couplings. SJS were out of stock at time and it took me a while to find anyone else who even had the foggiest idea what I was asking for.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3742/13200258615_0be749b4dd_b.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/13200258615/)
Photo0034 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/13200258615/) by Joe.Audax (https://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
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joe can i ask please what brakes have you on that beauti.
jags.
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Hi Jags,
I think they are an older version of these.
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tektro-tektro-r539-long-drop-caliper-brake-set-prod24458/
I won't be able to take a look until Friday, if they are not the Tektro 539's I'll re-post stating what they actually are.
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After much confusion with the Rohloff shifter cables I finally have a ride-able Tandem again.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/13274828395_295da51c49_b.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/13274828395/)
Photo0051 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/13274828395/) by Joe.Audax (https://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7265/13275158694_4591c69d7c_b.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/13275158694/)
Photo0047 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/13275158694/) by Joe.Audax (https://www.flickr.com/people/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
Unfortunately she won't be getting any use for a little while, due to the nature of my work I'm about to vanish from civilisation for a couple of months soon.
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Simply breathtaking, Joe -- as beautiful in its own way as your refurbished Audax.
Wow.
What a stunner!
Fantastic job of (re)assembly, too. So hope you can get out on it 'soon as work permits.
Best,
Dan.
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Thanks Joe i reckon they will do me fine.
jags.
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Great looking machine. Was the paintwork on the tandem bad pre-respray ? It's very similar to mine, but the paints quite good on mine. Mind you mine has shamefully few miles on it.
I find it's a lovely bike to ride slowly on, it's a bit too upright for my wife on the back to do longer rides on.
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Hi Steve,
I’ve just been looking at your ‘Rose between two Thorns’ post. I thought I was looking at my tandem for a second. When I bought mine last year the original yellow paint was in a terrible state, a respray to preserve the frame was essential.
The colour was chosen by my 4 year old son when we were dropping the fames off at Bob Jackson. Good choice I think.
Looking at your Rose and Raven they look as though they both have their tyres in very similar widths. What is your impression of the 700c versus 26”? I’m trying to figure out what my dream touring bike will be (when I can afford it) and I keep getting stuck on the question of 26” or wide seven-hundreds.
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hi there - On the wheel pref, I can't say I notice any difference really. Tyre choice and frames influence ride quality far more than wheel size. The Rose has 700*35's and my Thorn RST has 26*1.6 both are schwalbe marathon supremes. The Thorn is a slower and much more comfortable ride. I think 700's "look better" for what its worth. 700's give a better choice of fast race tyres, but for touring / commuting 700 and 26 have the same choices.
On the tandems, I traded our old triplet (Me n'u2) for the raven twin to use with the boys. We still had our old discovery tandem, which although cosmetically is a bit shabby, its a better fit for my wife and I, and its this bike I have hopes to use more this year to rekindle our tandem mojo. The shabiness of it and the amount of riding we actually do on it this year will determine whether I send that off for a BJ respray next. (and the finances of course)
Incidentally, how often have you found you use the S&S couplers ? I spec'd them on the raven twin, but have used them loads LESS than I imagined. Its a really nice feature but if we're en-famille the bikes are on the roof. Its only if I went with 1 son to a remote ride and then I'd put it inside the car. Prob used less than 10 times
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Not at all yet Steve. We haven't yet had the Raven Twin for a full year yet though. My daughter and I are planning to do the Northern England C2C later in the year and this tour will probably see the coupling used for the first time as we head to the West Coast by train.
We have a Fiat Scudo van which is terrific for transporting the tandems, with one of the rear seats removed we can easily get both tandems in as well as tons of camping gear. The down side is that on 95% of journeys its too big and uneconomical. When the fiat eventually becomes uneconomical to keep on the road we might go back to a medium estate with the bikes on the roof and camping gear in a trailer.
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I haven't posted here for a little while while but I do enjoy seen photo's of touring bike and most especially Thorn's so here's a recent pic of our Raven tandem.
She's was faultless last year on our family tour through Germany and the Netherlands but has seen little use since as my wife's Circe Helios tandem is a better fit for our son.
That said he's now big enough to manage rides of around 25-30 miles own his own bike, (so long as its not to hilly) so the Raven is now set up for 2 adults and the missus and I get to ride tandem again, for the shorter rides at least:)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1927/44452662044_01e7346ec8_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aJ8vHE)IMG_20181007_141137274 (https://flic.kr/p/2aJ8vHE) by Joe B (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
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Absolutely stunning brace of Thorns there, Joe. I'm in love with your tandem!
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[This gallery topic diverged as a result of some questions so I split it in two, keeping this gallery intact while moving the tangential queries and replies to a separate post here:
http://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=13137.0 ]
Best,
Dan.
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Dave Whittle's request elsewhere on this forum for good quality photos of Thorn's out in the wild got me looking through some old photo's. Some of my Audax Classic photographs are pretty good so I thought I'd post them here.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8608/15995672083_5e7f28ef79_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qnu12H)Photo0183 (https://flic.kr/p/qnu12H) by Joe B (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1446/25114297175_f081798542_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/EggkzH)Audax & Lightning (https://flic.kr/p/EggkzH) by Joe B (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1443/26316522442_f941395048_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/G6v4gy)Todays ride, quite a climb. Watch out for suicidal goats coming down. (https://flic.kr/p/G6v4gy) by Joe B (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1693/25766582034_a731a59aae_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FfUt9o)20160409_144643 (https://flic.kr/p/FfUt9o) by Joe B (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858164@N02/), on Flickr