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Bikes For Sale / Re: Thorn Nomad Mk 2 For Sale 620M
« Last post by burko on Today at 04:36:52 PM »
Quote from: cookrac on March 04, 2026, 03:29:52 PM
This is an immaculate model I purchased back in 2019 with the intention of cycling to Australia. Sadly, it managed only Lands End and Edgbaston for the cricket! It's been in dry storage ever since. The frame Geometry apparently suits someone in the 5'10'' to 6'5'' range.
It has very smooth 14 Speed Rohloff Hub gears, dynamo lights & a Brooks leather saddle. The front and back racks allow an ample load & there are lots of extras like crucial spare parts and front suspension forks if you wanted more 'off road'. SPD shoes thrown in if you're size 45. I'll possibly sell the Ortlieb panniers too. Photos should be attached hopefully.
I'm located just north of Bath in Malmesbury ( SN16 postcode ). 07500 657918. Offers close to £2000 considered.

I am interested to buy the bicycle ,could you please contact me by email or by phone buraksoyer@gmail.com and +393470085963
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Bikes For Sale / Re: Thorn Nomad Mk 2 For Sale 620M
« Last post by burko on Today at 03:28:30 PM »
Hi over there ,

I am interested buy the bicycle .Could you please advise if the bicycle is still available ?

Kind regards
Burak Soyer
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Thorn General / Re: Mercury 40
« Last post by Moronic on May 31, 2026, 11:41:17 PM »
Are you feeling clever to have got your Mk3 while you could, John? I'm certainly delighted that I stretched to the purchase of mine at a time when that needed some faith.

I've been stepping up the riding after having succumbed to various distractions, among them moving house (but not far). There's a lovely 40km (25 mile) cycle route (one way) that now begins pretty much at my door, and ends at a rustic outer suburb that offers several cafes. And a train that can bring me all the way back.

There was a time when I would cycle both directions, and I'm nearly back to that. Working my way up to it.

I've attached a few pics from the ride last week. The Merc really is a superb steed for this kind of going. You could argue that just about anything would be, but I would claim that not many other options would so effectively combine liveliness with comfort, and none with so little maintenance.

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Bikes For Sale / Thorn XTC Classic SWB, 525M Frame
« Last post by Obsidian on May 31, 2026, 04:45:25 PM »

Sadly it’s time to find a new home for my XTC. It’s been a brilliant bike, comfortable and fast, and the steel frame, 26” wheels and wide tyres (up to37mm) mean it is good on rougher surfaces and when loaded.
The XTC was Thorn’s top of the range lightweight steel tourer. The Classic was hand built in the UK (in approx 2000) with 725 conical tubing and 531C forks.
The 26” wheels of the XTC make this bike especially suitable for shorter riders (approx. 5’ 5” to 5’8”) because it allows for a comfortable reach without having to compromise on toe overlap or a high bottom bracket.

Frame size 525mm
Bottom bracket to top of seat tube 510mm
Top tube ctc 510mm
Reach 460mm
Standover at mid-tube 770mm

725 Reynolds conical tubing
Investment cast lugs
Ritchey dropouts
Forks 531C, uncut steerer

Overall length 1650mm

Shimano Ultegra triple flight deck levers
Thorn 80mm silver stem
FSC head set
Shimano Ultegra front mech
Ultegra cranks
Chainrings XT 52-42-30
Cassette 32-12
Shimano Deore XT rear mech
Sunrims CR18 26” alloy rim front
Sputnik alloy rim rear
Shimano STX HB-MC30 front hub
Tyres Panaracer Tourguard 26x1.5 (front), Schwalbe Marathon Plus 26x1.35 (rear)
Avid Shorty 6 cantilever brakes front and rear
Charge Spoon saddle
Thorn layback seat post 27.2mm
MKS GR-9 platform pedals
Full mudguards, rear reflector and Secula rear light
Tubus stainless steel carrier

This bike has been well-used over its life. It has not been ridden for a while and it needs some tlc. Most seriously, the handlebars have been bent (they are still rideable but someone knocked the bike over when it was loaded and one handlebar took the brunt of it). The rubber brake hoods need replacing, the plastic ‘Ultegra’ on the brake levers is missing (cosmetic only), the chain, transmission and cables all have wear and you should plan on replacing in due course. The front mech needs adjusting. There is surface rust on bolts etc. The front rim is the original and I don’t know how much wear is left in it (the back rim has had little use).
The frame has various chips and scuffs to the paintwork as seen, but the frame and forks are straight with no dings.

£250 ono

Location: Horsham, West Sussex

Collection preferred so you can see what you are buying. If you come by train, we are less than a mile from the station. Otherwise, I can box it up and send it on receipt of full payment for +£80.
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Thorn General / Re: Mercury 40
« Last post by John Saxby on May 29, 2026, 03:42:56 PM »
Following up on Moronic's comment,
Quote
I'm still really enjoying my Mercury Mk3 650B. Perfect for my use envelope of day rides and light touring, tar and gravel.

Yep.  Here, the only interference is from our inaptly named "spring weather": cool, wet, and windy, with occasional 30º days thrown in...
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Cycle Tours / Patagonia Tour to wet your appetite
« Last post by in4 on May 29, 2026, 03:07:09 PM »
https://bbc.com/travel/article/20260527-a-1400km-bike-ride-at-the-end-of-the-world-in-patagonia
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Cycle Tours / Re: Part Three, my tentative UK trip.
« Last post by mickeg on May 27, 2026, 11:59:54 AM »
Quote from: JohnR on May 26, 2026, 09:08:58 PM
...
I cycle in sandals throughout the summer. If it's warm then my feet get a patchy sun tan, if it's cool I use socks and if it's cold and wet I use waterproof socks. They eventually get wet through but still provide some warmth and are much easier to dry than soggy boots or cycling shoes.

I prefer SPD cleats over sandals on platform pedals.  That said, my last tour was planned to be in warmer weather, so I wore sandals in rain when it would be too hot for rain pants.  And it was warm enough that I wore sandals in the campsite too.  I used Shimano A530 pedals that had a large enough platform on one side that the sandals with a fairly stiff sole were comfortable and SPD cleats on the other side.

But I am already struggling to minimize too much weight, do not want to carry sandals, and bike shoes, and hiking shoes.  That along with some flip flops for shower shoes.

Photo attached from that tour, but the photo was taken after the rain had quit.  Yes, I am wearing socks with my sandals.

My bike shoes will be Keen Commuter 4 cycling shoes (discontinued).  They were sold as a sandal, but with a closed toe I consider them to be shoes.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/reviews/keen-mens-commuter-4-cycling-sandal
https://www.treefortbikes.com/Keen-Mens-Commuter-4-Sandal

They are slow to dry out but I have some cycling overshoe covers that I plan to wear with them when I wear rain pants that can overlap over the overshoes.  When too warm for rain pants, I will wear waterproof hiking shoes with waterproof gaiters.

Thanks.
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Cycle Tours / Re: Part Three, my tentative UK trip.
« Last post by JohnR on May 26, 2026, 09:08:58 PM »
Quote from: mickeg on May 25, 2026, 03:14:30 PM
Today it looks like London temp is 35 (C), same with tomorrow.  At that high an altitude, I can't figure out what is going on, but I hope things are closer to normal when I am there, if I wanted to go somewhere that hot, I can think of a lot of other places to go.  If things look like this just before I leave home in a week, I may bring a pair of shorts and a short sleeve shirt.  But I really hate to bring anything that I might only use once or twice for a month and a half long trip.
That's British weather! A week ago we were emerging from an unusually cold period. Now it's uncomfortably hot. It depends on the weather patterns. High pressure west of UK pulls down cold air from the north. The high pressure has moved eastwards so we are currently getting hot air from the south. The general forecasts are now fairly good up to about 5 days ahead and two days ahead are quite good in predicting what time of day it might rain. The general recommendation for clothing is lots of thin layers which can be put on or removed according to the temperature.

I cycle in sandals throughout the summer. If it's warm then my feet get a patchy sun tan, if it's cool I use socks and if it's cold and wet I use waterproof socks. They eventually get wet through but still provide some warmth and are much easier to dry than soggy boots or cycling shoes.
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Cycle Tours / Re: Part Three, my tentative UK trip.
« Last post by mickeg on May 26, 2026, 04:58:31 PM »
Quote from: in4 on May 26, 2026, 02:49:55 PM
Just back from 1000kms around Scotland George. Message/post if you want some ‘fresh out the blocks’ info. EG. There’s an electric bus company/app called Ember. For £2 they’ll take you between many bigger cities or towns with your bike and panniers in he luggage compartment. I used it and found it excellent.

Thank you.  I already have the Ember info in my phone, but seeing a reference such as yours makes it more likely that I would trust using them if I need a contingency.

The bicycling part of my trip starts in London, I expect to be in Glasgow by mid to late June.  Then have no specific plans until I have a hostel reservation on July 12 in Perth.  How many miles I do will depend on the weather and how I feel each day, but I will have several weeks to accomplish that.

I wanted to have my bike packed by yesterday, am behind schedule.  Packing the bike in an S&S case means I can't take full coverage fenders (mudguards), but I wanted more coverage than some of my past trips so I am fabricating some mounts for some cheap mini fenders, finished front last night, working on the rear today.
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Cycle Tours / Re: Part Three, my tentative UK trip.
« Last post by in4 on May 26, 2026, 02:49:55 PM »
Just back from 1000kms around Scotland George. Message/post if you want some ‘fresh out the blocks’ info. EG. There’s an electric bus company/app called Ember. For £2 they’ll take you between many bigger cities or towns with your bike and panniers in he luggage compartment. I used it and found it excellent.
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