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Cycle Tours / Re: Hokkaido, Japan
« Last post by in4 on Today at 03:30:57 AM »
That looks like a lot of fun, Ron. Thanks for sharing.
What chain ring & sprocket combination did you use? I was taking a closer look and noticed your chain looks quite loose.
TIA
Ian
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Luggage / Re: Rear rack
« Last post by PH on December 15, 2025, 09:50:10 PM »
If you don't like the patina that all the mild steel racks develop, but want something posher than the standard aluminium offering, have a took at Tubus's titanium and stainless steel versions.  The Ti ones were always expensive but now ridiculously so, I notice the range has shrunk, maybe they've priced themselves out of the market.  Could be a rack for life though, my 9yo one still looks like new. I also had a SS Cosmo for a few years and the finish was a better match for a ti frame than the ti one! I part exchanged that for a ti Logo, the owner didn't like it because of the narrow top mickeg mentions. If that suits you anyway, they're currently on sale with the SS version not much more than the mild steel one. There are a few other ti and SS racks, but I've rarely seen one.
I also like the lower rail, it's not just lower, you can also put the pannier further back and the extra frame protects a rear light. My small Ortlieb rollers don't really need the frame to keep them out of the spokes, but I've had some panniers that do.
As  mickeg says Tubus maximum weights have changed, but the website says which have been tested to 40kg, not all retailers have caught up, SJS have the Cosmos at 26kg and the Logo at 40kg, but on the Tubus website they're the same.

EDIT
Quote from: deejayen on December 15, 2025, 03:32:58 PM
the Rivendell\Nitto 'Big Back Rack'. 
I've just had a look at that, it's a thing of beauty, as it should be for the price, but it doesn't fit in the normal way so it'll look a bodge.   
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Luggage / Re: Rear rack
« Last post by mickeg on December 15, 2025, 06:29:59 PM »
I really like the lower rails on the racks I use for touring to mount the panniers lower for a lower center of gravity. 

On my Nomad Mk II or my Sherpa, I use the Tubus Logo EVO.  Solid steel rack, very stiff.  But, if you do not have panniers mounted, this rack top platform is quite narrow.  I only use this rack for touring, not for riding around near home.  For riding without panniers, I want a wider platform, use other racks for that.

And on my Lynskey Backroad I use the Racktime Addit which I believe is now discontinued, this rack is aluminum but still quite solid and stiff.

I use black fingernail polish to touch up wear spots, but for touring I put some plastic hose on the racks to prevent chaffing.

First attached photo, the Logo on my Sherpa.  No hose is shown on this rack, this was on a tour in 2012 before I started using the hose.

Second photo, I have one pannier on the Nomad with the Logo, you can see how the lower rail lowers the pannier nicely.  The plastic hose is quite apparant.

Third photo, the Racktime on my Lynskey. 

FOurth photo, I do not have a photo of the Racktime with only one pannier like the photo of my Logo, this is a photo from behind the bike.

My Logo is marked as rated for 40kg, the Racktime at 30kg. 

It is my understanding that they now have much lower ratings, as apparently the companies did not want their racks used for child carriers, and to do that they lowered the weight ratings to the point that they are not allowed for carrying child seats.
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Cycle Tours / Re: Hokkaido, Japan
« Last post by John Saxby on December 15, 2025, 04:56:23 PM »
Wonderful, Ron!

And on the matter of weather & the right gear for it:

Yes, that Not Just Bikes vid is a good one.  And i does make a difference when there's cycling infrastructure for the winter. 

Just checked the weather in Tampere, however: 5 and cloudy.  Only similarity with us right now is the "cloudy".  We have -10 at noon, windchill of -18, with 25 - 30 cms of snow on the ground.

Snow-plowing-and-salting has been Ok on the main arterial roads, but I avoid them even in the spring-summer-fall; and only yesterday did we have the first plow this season on our street.

I can visualize cycling, but that's about it... ;)

Cheers, mate.
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Luggage / Rear rack
« Last post by deejayen on December 15, 2025, 03:32:58 PM »
I need a rear rack for an old Overbury's mountain bike with 26" wheels.  I have a pair of Arkel T42 panniers.  I'd be using them for overnight camping trips - I imagine the total load, including panniers, would weigh around 25lbs (11kg).

I had a Thorn Expedition on an old bike, and that was fine other than the finish quickly became a bit tatty with rust and scrapes etc.  I never had any problems with it, and I remember it felt sturdy.   However, I'm wondering if there are better options considering I won't be loading it up to capacity.  Some rear racks have a pair of pannier rails which are lower than the top rails, which could make it easier to load\unload panniers when a drybag is strapped to the top of the rack.  Also, some racks have side frames which cover more of the rear wheel - so perhaps there's a risk of panniers flexing into the spokes with the Thorn rack.

Other racks I'm considering are the Old Man Mountain Divide rack, and the Rivendell\Nitto 'Big Back Rack'.  However, I think I may struggle to find one of these in the UK as the one place which sells them has sold out.  I'm looking to get the rack before the Christmas holidays!

I may still go for another Thorn rack, but I'm just wondering if there are better options nowadays.

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Thorn General / Re: Thorn C2 853 fork for Raven / Sherpa
« Last post by Andyb1 on December 14, 2025, 07:17:07 PM »
Don’t Thorn still sell a 52mm fork?
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Thorn General / Thorn C2 853 fork for Raven / Sherpa
« Last post by Swedish Ant on December 14, 2025, 07:06:15 PM »
I have been riding a Sherpa the last 10:ish years with a lighter C2 853 fork for everyday commuting and I loved it. It unfortunately met its demise under a truck. I can find a sherpa in my size but I struggle to find a lighter C2 853 fork that fits the frame (I need 52mm version). Can I buy a 46mm version and "re-rake" it? I have been riding it every day for more than 10 years and I want the same  :'(
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Wanted / Thorn C2 853 fork for Sherpa (52mm version).
« Last post by Swedish Ant on December 14, 2025, 07:01:40 PM »
I have been riding a Sherpa for 10:ish years with a 853 fork for every day and with the regular ST fork for the touring rounds. My frame has met it's demise under a truck including my light C2 853 fork. I can still get a frame with the regular touring ST fork that fits me but I stuggle to find a 52mm C2 853 fork that is needed. Anyone has a Raven / Sherpa C2 (853 fork) 52mm that you want to get rid of? 
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General Technical / Re: 2 snapped spokes with rim buckled - safe to ride?
« Last post by swayzak on December 13, 2025, 02:40:29 PM »
It woz the rim wot dunnit (not spokes)

New wheel in-coming!
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General Technical / Re: 2 snapped spokes with rim buckled - safe to ride?
« Last post by swayzak on December 13, 2025, 12:03:14 PM »
Quote from: UKTony on December 13, 2025, 10:29:19 AM
Fingers crossed the bike is still there when you go to pick it up, two broken spokes and a buckled wheel ought to be a good anti-theft deterrent!

It's locked up inside so should be ok!
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