Bought in August 2017 direct from Thorn as a bare frame, built up with the detailed spec below, including Shimano Di2 electronic gears. The S&S couplings mean the frame can be separated and boxed small enough to avoid extra airline charges.

The bike is in excellent condition and used only for one tour of 1,220 km in Thailand in 2018, and another of 809 km in France in 2019.  It had less than 100 miles of bedding-in rides in the UK, in dry weather only.

Electronic gears were chosen to take pressure off my arthritic thumbs and worked superbly but as my arthritis has progressed I’ve been unable to ride it more recently.   

Can be fitted with straight, curved or drop handlebars to suit the buyer.

PRICE: £1,600 ovno plus delivery. Or collect. The parts for the Di2 gears alone cost £1,120 and the S & S couplings £700 (2017 prices). Picture below and more available on request: email mail@cathyhowieson.co.uk. 


The frame size is 475M for 52cm forks, reckoned by Thorn to be suitable for men or women from 1.49 to 1.57 m tall in bare feet (4'11" to 5'2"). BUT Thorn also recommended it for my 5ft 4in height. The 'stand-over height' is approx. 71.5cm (2'4"). If you can get to the Edinburgh or Kinross areas, you can have a trial fit on an indoor trainer and/or a trial ride.

The frame is Thorn 969 double-butted, seamless, heat-treated, cold-drawn, Cro-Mo steel, with not a chip or other mark on the paintwork anywhere, even underneath the bottom bracket, chainstay.  The blue paint on either side of the top tube is very faintly yellowed and so is barely visible in the photos, however it’s only fair to mention it here.


COLLECTION / DELIVERY: if you cannot collect the bike, it will be sent by a courier service. If so, the bike will be supplied partly dismantled in a bike box (wheels off, pedals off, handlebar twisted round, or off, etc) If you live within about 100 miles or so of Edinburgh, we will be happy to deliver it, fully built-up, for cost of fuel only.

Security: as this is a valuable bike, it has a hidden, non-removable RFI 'Immobitag' which means if lost or stolen, police can trace its registered owner - registration will be transferred free of charge to the new owner. If sent by courier, a tracker will also be placed in the box.

Detailed specification:

frame & fork:
Thorn Sherpa MK3 Frame - blue - 475M for 52 mm forks - in 969 double-butted, seamless, heat-treated, cold-drawn, Cro-Mo steel.  Frame number SH475M1603
Frame fitted with S&S couplers, special spanner included.  Rear brake cable fitted with JTek cable splitter/coupler to facilitate disassembly and reassembly of the frame.
26" Thorn ST26 steel fork - blue - 52 mm offset

wheels:
26"/ 559 aluminium 36-hole rims in black: front MX Mach 1 Evo2 with Shimano Deore hub; rear KC Comp on KX hub
tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Supreme HS382 Folding Tyre - 26 x 1.60 Inch , 42-559

drivetrain:
3x11 speed ultra-wide gearing, 165 mm cranks, giving a huge overall range of approximately 17 to 108 gear-inches, more details below
KMC 11 speed chain with “missing link” connector, near-new and less than 1.5% wear (see picture)
Shimano XT CS-M8000 11 Speed Cassette - 11-40T
Spa Cycles 104/64 PCD triple crankset, silver, forged alloy 165mm cranks, 48/38/30T
bottom bracket: 68mm shell English thread sealed cartridge taper spindle

di2 electronic gear system:
Shimano SW-R671 TT shifters, chosen as they are easily operated with fingers, mounted on custom brackets and readily re-positioned to suit rider
Shimano FD-M9050 front derailleur, mounted on Shimano SM-FD905-H high clamp adapter
Shimano RD-M9050 rear derailleur, mounted on Wolftooth Roadlink to extend cassette capacity
Shimano DN-110A battery, mounted inside downtube just above lower S&S joint
Shimano SC-MT800 information display, handlebar mounted, shows selected gear, enables choice of synchro shift 1, synchro shift 2, or manual shift, plus wireless connection, battery charging port, derailleur adjustment etc
Shimano 4-port di2 junction B, mounted inside downtube just below lower S&S joint
Shimano di2 wires throughout, routed internally where possible, with extra protection for external cables (“spirowrap”)
Shimano SM-BCR2 battery charging adapter and PC link interface – mains powered, USB socket for charging lead or connection to windows PC (leads included)
Shimano TL-EW02 wire connection/disconnection tool

brakes:
Shimano ST-MC12 mechanical brake levers, right and left, with mechanical gear-shifters removed
Shimano Altus cantilever brakes, front and rear, with Aztec brake blocks
SKS chromoplastic Mudguards - 26 Inch - P55 – Silver (a bit weathered but not cracked or split)

rear pannier: Blackburn alloy rack in black

saddle:
new Terry Butterfly Gel woman’s

handlebar:
traditional swept back horizontal style. But you can choose one of the alternative handlebars I have (drop, bullhorn, Dutch) and my partner will fit before sale, NO cost for the fitting.

WorldTourer's advice to always use a liner and avoid washing is good.

However, I would hate to throw out a still useable bag, so I have washed my 1978 vintage 3 season down bag once. The washing part is easy with the appropriate soap product, it was a long time ago so I have forgotten the brand. Drying is more difficult.

An example of up to date instructions for washing and drying a down bag here:
https://www.mountain-equipment.com/pages/caring-for-down-sleeping-bags

I didn't notice any appreciable difference after washing the down bag, which for a long time was my only sleeping bag. I used it with a lightweight cotton liner until I got a thermal liner.

About 15 years ago I got a lightweight synthetic bag, which is better for me for summer use as it is cooler. I now have two sleeping bags, a quilt and a thermal liner:

- LightLine 3-season down bag. 880g and the bulkiest. For cool weather camping.
- Lightweight synthetic bag. 520g and less bulky. For warmer weather camping and indoors if not too hot.
- Gramexpert synthetic quilt. 352g, packs very small. When it is too hot for the synthetic bag. Also good if sleeping on a camping mattress inside a building.
- Sea To Summit Thermolite Reactor inner liner. 250g, packs very small. This is warmer than a cotton liner and easier to wash/dry, in really hot weather, this is often enough on its own, but I always have at least the quilt in case I need it.

Nowadays I always take the Thermolite liner. Depending on expected conditions I add one of the sleeping bags and/or the quilt. The quilt can be used without a sleeping bag, or as an extra layer over one of the sleeping bags. I haven't yet needed it over the down bag.

Liner, quilt and synthetic bag is about the same weight and overall bulk as liner and down bag, but is more versatile so long as it doesn't get really cold.

Hi folks.
Time to check out my camping kit in prep for a few mini Summer trips.

I have a Robens Down Lite 500 sleeping bag. UK purchased.

11+ years old. First used on my Pamir trip 2015 and subsequent UK trips.
No issues with the bag; zip still zips!

It looks in good shape and has been stored open in a dry area.
I think it's time for a clean rather than an airing.
The wash guide has faded away but I can see ' Duck Down 80%'.

Any thoughts? Dry clean or hand wash with a special detergent?

Matt

Thanks very much for this heads up!

These DIY clickbait videos usually involve extracting free energy, perpetual motion, or wifi from thin air and almost always use electrical tape, hot glue, heat from a torch or lighter and a spark plug to do so.

This clever fellow's effort will never work...he's missing the spark plug!

Best, Dan.