Going from imron back to powercoat doesn't seem like such a step down in an era, when frame-protection tape is so common in the bicycle world. Primarily favored by bikepackers to avoid bag-rub, but it’s not as if there are any downsides to using it even if one doesn’t have such bags.

My Nomad Mk2 frame is powercoated and even unprotected by tape, and used now as a local-use bike in a wet climate. I can't say the paint seems particularly more vulnerable than my imron Nomad Mk3 frame.

Another contribution from someone with no experience of the Mercury 40, no obligation to read...

Quote from: Moronic on June 06, 2026, 02:45:30 AM

it appears the Mercury 40 is a Mercury Mk3 with a less durable finish, Thorn's own-brand high-spec tubing and a gate in the rear triangle. There is every chance it will be all but indistinguishable from a Mk3 to ride, and so some reflections from people who've owned Mk3s for a few years seemed more than tangentially relevant.

I am somewhat sceptical that a single frame can replace the Mercury, Club Tour and Audax models without there being some compromise. Only by riding would one know if that were correct and where such compromise might have been made.

Here are  my thoughts  as a Club Tour Mk4 owner .

Cost savings not withstanding, the new Mercury 40 looks to be a light touring frame and seems to have inherited most of it's DNA from its predecessors. I remain to be convinced that it can adequately replace the Audax Mk 3, it's possible that Thorn don't see a future for that model. Audax has moved on, I've got a couple of old style audax bikes, hand built steel frames, rim brakes and 28mm tyres with mudguards, which I very much enjoy riding, but the impression I get is that very few newer audax riders are choosing to ride this type of machine. Yes, you can build it up with disc brakes and fatter tyres, but it would always be a frame designed for light touring.

The Mercury as a replacement for the Club Tour is a much more realistic proposition, it's something that I've considered  myself. They are essentially very similar bikes but with different gear train options. That said I wonder how many buyers will choose the dérailleur build option. There's no shortage of competition in the dérailleur geared touring bike market, the problem for Thorn is that they have always been seen as a premium product, but with the Mercury 40 the gap has narrowed.

I suppose the bottom line is, would I buy the new Mercury? The answer is, probably not, but I might well buy a secondhand Mercury Mk 3.

The TLDR version is this: Make expectations clear from the outset

Exactly this, though sometimes even then someone is likely to have misunderstood what was agreed.
The only group (3 riders +) tours I've done have been with the CTC club group I regularly ride with, those tours are run very much like the regular day rides, there's a clear leader, you're expected to stay together OR you're free to go off and do your own thing but it's very much in or out and the leader isn't expected to accommodate you while you're off. Most of those tours have been for just a few days and have run exactly like the day rides, not that there isn't sometimes some minor issue, but nothing to cause a serious fall out. The couple I've done that lasted longer, 10 - 20 days, were showing some signs of strain by the end, though it was mitigated by having a couple of none moving on days were people were free to do their own thing, individually or in smaller groups.
I've had mixed experience on rides with one or two others and no obvious leader.  The riding pace is the least of it, that can be agreed and compromised on.  But it's hard to match personalities - I like to be up and away in the morning, anything the bike needed would have been done at the end of the previous days ride and I can't believe that people set out on tour with a poorly maintained bike! I like to get 20 miles in before breakfast and the bulk of the day's riding done before lunch, then the afternoons can be more relaxed. My idea of a photo stop is less than a minute and usually doesn't involve getting off the bike. I don't mind deviating from the route, but dislike changing the objectives and goals. I could go on, but you get the idea...
The shared touring that has worked well for me is what Moronic describes as the "individual ride together" and there's only one rider with whom that's meshed perfectly.  He's a much more powerful rider than me, but I'd likely be on the road an hour before him, he'd linger in a cafe and catch me up, or me him, he might shoot up a gratuitous hill to check the view while I stuck to the valley road. It was because we felt no obligation to stay together, that we enjoyed that time and often rode the bulk of the day together.   The mobile phone has made this sort of touring much easier. The other advantage is that you've had a different experience, you have something to talk about in the evening.
The sort of touring I've done where it's been more about the riding than the touring, A to B routes on a schedule, I'd rather do solo.  I don't think I could even agree a plan with myself!
Lastly, not really tour specific, it can sometimes feel that the rider shooting off into the distance is faster than they are. I get that on Audax quite a lot, some rider that passed an hour before is only a few places in front at the cafe!  Other riders are just incapable of pacing themselves, they'll set of on a 200 mile ride as if it's a 20 and be struggling in the second half, either needing longer breaks or simply crawling along.  There is an element of that with a tour, it isn't what you can do on day one that's important, but if you can still do it on day ten and twenty.

On a recent Scottish tour I met two ladies who were close friends. I saw them at the end of this particular tour and their dynamic was, er strained! Apart from the rigours of the ride and challenging weather I reasoned their respective levels of fitness had been an issue. One seemed much fitter than the other. I dare say they patched things up in due course. This is one of the reasons why I tour alone. I can curse my terrible hill climbing ( I must gear lower I think. 45 x 19 can be a cruel mistress) and do the downhill adrenaline rush without impacting upon anyone else!

Lest I give the impression of being a miserable cove I must emphasis how much I enjoy the campsite/coffee shop banter with the other cyclists and walkers I meet along the way.

Thanks for the responses so far. Interesting and helpful.

In particular, great to get your take Dan from so much experience.

"If others couldn't or wouldn't, then future rides together were a no-go unless we mutually agreed in advance it would be an "individual ride together" where each would be on the same route, meeting-up only at pre-arranged stops or the end."

Yes clear expectations are likely the key in my case, and I'd not thought to do that. Silly as that seems in hindsight. "Individual ride together" could also be adopted for the relatively short tours I tend to do, when required. With that clear then, for example, if I'm running behind and want to take in some point of interest that the leading rider has bypassed, I'm not messing up the program by electing to do that. We meet up at the day's agreed destination.

I'm not blessed with a big range of compatible riding companions, and this one is fun to talk to, competent, in most ways extremely considerate, and I've known him a long time and enjoy the overall trip experience. So that's a way to sustain and improve the partnership.