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Wanted / Re: Thorn silver Comfort Bars
« Last post by Andyb1 on Today at 10:46:15 AM »
Black comfort bars arrived today - PM sent
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Wanted / Re: Thorn silver Comfort Bars
« Last post by AdrianStone on Today at 07:21:51 AM »
Thank you
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Bikes For Sale / Thorn Raven steel touring bike with Rohloff hub – £600 ono
« Last post by MattPL on October 11, 2026, 11:58:41 AM »
Much-loved Black Thorn Raven touring bike, owned since 2008 and regularly ridden for many years. Steel frame with Rohloff 14-speed hub gears, carbon seatpost, carbon handlebars, Brooks saddle and Shimano brakes. Includes orginal SJS front and rear pannier racks.

Mechanically in good condition. The frame is generally good, but does have  some cosmetic scuffs from transport. Requires new tyres and inner tubes, plus a general service before use. it's been in the garage for a few years. As and I as I haven't managed to go out and do any touring, sadly.

The frame was made for me at 5 ft 6 in; .Viewing welcome. I'm happy to send photographs to anyone who's interested.

Collection from Kirdford, West Sussex, I also travel a lot for work in the south of England so it might be possible to meet somewhere. Or deliver the bike depending on where you are.
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Wanted / Re: Thorn silver Comfort Bars
« Last post by Andyb1 on October 10, 2026, 09:27:13 PM »
Maybe.   On another forum someone offered me a set for spares as they know I use them……nothing has arrived yet but if they do appear you would be welcome to them for the postage cost.   No idea if silver or black.
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Wanted / Thorn silver Comfort Bars
« Last post by AdrianStone on October 10, 2026, 07:51:37 AM »
Anyone have a pair of Thorn comfort 25.4mm clamp bars lurking unloved in a shed?
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General Technical / Re: North road type bars and integrated brake/gear levers
« Last post by GamblerGORD649 on October 09, 2026, 08:54:46 PM »
I'm 72 now and I also think butterfly bars are more awkward and useless than any drops. Especially levers are totally awfully placed.
NO grips sold now are any good, IMO. Both early model Ergons I bought turned into tar in short order. Even on a good day they feel like holding tires. Plus the ones without screwed caps are INSANELY tight. I cut them off my latest city bike. And they have grooves inlaid?? Try leaning on them more than half an hour. WTF.

I've had ZERO issues with using full 75d swept comfort chrome bars from 1970s roadster bikes. Mine are between 48 and 54 cm c/c. Contrary to popular LBS old wives tales, I have just as many grip positions as drops. My common position is right hand forward on or near the bend. The brake lever clamp has NO detriment to my hand. Going up hill I often have both hands forward. Yah I have the grip angled down to balance where weight goes. FAR less numbness than on stupid MTB bars with palms down pressure on the carpal tunnel. My shifters are out of the way on the top tube.
>>> I've been using perfectly smooth plastic/ vinyl? grips that have finger nubs, off two 1973 bikes. In 2021 I bought a 3rd bike and was switching between bikes. Then last year I finally figured out how to DIY make a pair. I melted bread bags one at a time around a 7/8" pipe. Added 9 or 10 layers then, pried it loose, cut to size and round the end. Added benefit is they are 1/4" longer and 1/32" thicker. Been using them near 3,000 miles already.
Two of my bars needed longer flats, so again I DIY made quill extensions from 7/8" solid round alu. Yah it takes all day without a drill press.. 
I've never used a helmet, drops or bar tape in my whole life.
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General Technical / Re: North road type bars and integrated brake/gear levers
« Last post by martinf on October 09, 2026, 04:05:49 PM »
An alternative to Ergon Grips that works for me is the ESI grips made from reasonably resistant foam. I use the thickest versions.

As they are the same thickness all round, they are easier to set up than Ergon grips.
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Bikes For Sale / Re: Thorn mercury mk3 52 L for sale price drop £725
« Last post by dsim on October 09, 2026, 08:47:36 AM »
Probably a longshot, but is this still available? Looking for a Mercury with discs, even if just the frameset
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General Technical / Re: North road type bars and integrated brake/gear levers
« Last post by AdrianStone on October 09, 2026, 08:25:51 AM »
Thank you both, and particularly Andre for the detailed reply, lots of really helpful stuff to consider. I'll think on it a bit more and try taking photos of me on the bike to get a better idea.
Thanks again
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A lizard and snakes, including a python*, came to look at the cyclist and decided they too would choose the gravel rather than the tarmac of the Grand Prix.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/cjr4yr3lv24lo

*I used to keep a Python natalensis which I caught as a 3ft teenager sluggish and sleeping on a rock after eating a lamb. When it was about 12ft long, weighing about 30kg, and started licking her when she was taking a nap, my mother had had enough and ordered me to donate it to the snake zoo in Port Elizabeth. They can grow to over 16ft and about 45-50kg. They're loosely related to the Malaysian Python in the story above, about the same size. It's all-muscle about 7in in diameter, so if you run over it with your bicycle, you'll go down and the constrictor will take it as an invitation to dinner. If you keep it as a pet, you have to watch it; if it gets affectionate, it's hungry, and wondering if you're lunch. I've gone off gravel since discovering that pythons (not to mention unidentified but likely venomous adders and bolshy lizards) are among the competitors.
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