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Non-Thorn Related / Re: Tyre pressure gauge
« Last post by mickeg on November 17, 2025, 09:41:41 PM »
...I think I used to be far more concerned with the ideal pressure when I was running narrower tyres, now I have nothing under 40mm I'm checking less often, maybe I've just become lazy!

For me, if it is a long ride, I am more likely to top up the tires.  I rode my errand bike to the gym and back today, 3 miles (~5km).  I can't remember the last time I added air to the tires on that bike, but it would not surprise me if they are down 20 psi.  But for that distance, who cares.

My Joe Blow pump gauge is spot on compared to a couple of digital gauges I have. 

I agree with you, the narrower tires, I am more careful to make sure I do not have them too low.
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Wanted / Re: Wanted: 26” disc or rim fork
« Last post by Andyb1 on November 17, 2025, 03:36:54 PM »
Got it!
Reply sent
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Wanted / Re: Wanted: 26” disc or rim fork
« Last post by Danneaux on November 17, 2025, 02:50:41 PM »
Quote
can’t find my sent messages box though

It isn't obvious at a glance!

Go to your messages window, then click on the Messages button. An option to see Sent Messages will open. Click on that and you will see them.

Best, Dan.
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Non-Thorn Related / Re: Tyre pressure gauge
« Last post by PH on November 17, 2025, 12:56:17 PM »
98 percent of the time I use a Toppeak Joe Blow pump.  Mine is at least a decade old.  That said, mine looks a lot like this and this says it is a new design.
https://www.topeak.com/us/en/product/1079-JOEBLOW-SPORT-III
There's a whole family of Joe Blow pumps, it does get confusing.  I have the Joe Blow Sprint (I have no idea why it's called that) I chose it because the gauge is at the top of the barrel which makes it easier to read, it also means the hose reaches high enough to inflate front tyres while they're stored vertically. I've never had a pump which had a truly accurate gauge, at least the one on my Joe Blow is reasonably consistent, I have a SKS digital gauge for when I can be bothered to use it.  I think I used to be far more concerned with the ideal pressure when I was running narrower tyres, now I have nothing under 40mm I'm checking less often, maybe I've just become lazy!
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Thorn General / Re: Which Thorn for lightly loaded day/overnight riding.
« Last post by PH on November 17, 2025, 12:36:07 PM »
Alternatively, a secondhand Audax may suit you, if you can live with the restrictions of caliper brakes and 28mm tyres. They have fallen out of fashion, to the extent that there's some real bargains available. 
 
If the above suits you and this is your size, you're unlikely to do better than this:
https://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?PHPSESSID=b7vs3ar4i82utg5b9itori6ul4&topic=15481.msg116109#msg116109
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Bikes For Sale / Thorn Audax for sale - 57cm
« Last post by andystain on November 17, 2025, 10:51:48 AM »
Audax bike in gunmetal grey, bought three years ago but very little usage. Have all the receipts and full document spec. I live in Holmfirth (West Yorkshire), bike costs £1900 and looking to sell for £800. The bike is a large frame
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Wanted / Re: Wanted: 26” disc or rim fork
« Last post by Willcol on November 17, 2025, 08:41:39 AM »
I think I’ve sent a DM, can’t find my sent messages box though.
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Thorn General / Re: Which Thorn for lightly loaded day/overnight riding.
« Last post by mickeg on November 16, 2025, 12:05:27 PM »
I know I should not say this on this forum that is sponsored by Thorn, but there are a lot of nice bikes by other brands that would work great for long day rides or an overnighter where you sleep indoors and do not need camping gear.  I am not going to suggest any brands, I am in USA where the brands and models vary greatly from the choices in the UK.

I own two Thorns, but if I was going to sleep overnight somewhere where all I needed was a change of clothing, toiletries, and potentially some rain gear, my choice would be either my road bike or my randonneuring bike.  For that, a Carradice saddle bag, along with my handlebar bag would work great.  The rando bike has fenders, 32mm tires, and wider gearing than my road bike with 28mm tires, so the anticipated road and weather conditions would drive my decision on which bike.


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Thorn General / Re: Which Thorn for lightly loaded day/overnight riding.
« Last post by Jags on November 16, 2025, 01:42:44 AM »
Have you tried the tyre Glider for taking off the tyres worns great.
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Thorn General / Re: Which Thorn for lightly loaded day/overnight riding.
« Last post by John Saxby on November 14, 2025, 04:17:47 PM »
Ian,

I've been very happy with my Mercury.  I've  done a number of short tours since I bought it in the spring of 2022 - overnights, and a weeklong tour over mixed terrain.

One consideration for me, which I didn't expect:  My Mercury came with a Ryde Rival rear rim, and a disc brake.  No problem with the disc, but the rim posed a big problem for changing tires -- my arthritic thumbs limit the tires I'm able to mount and remove.  If I'd known in 2022 what I now know, I'd have ordered rim brakes at the rear and a rim better suited to clincher tires.

I tried mounting Panaracer Gravelkings (650B x 48 mm) in late 2024, and it was just doable on the rear rim -- by that time, I'd changed the Ryde Rival to a DT Swiss 540G, recommended by Thorn. (No trouble mounting or removing those at the front -- that rim is a Thorn alloy rim.)  They were lovely tires, BUT in August this year, about to start an overnight, my TPU tube on the rear expired after just 500 kms. I was able to change the tube only with the help of my riding mate.  I realized then that I wouldn't be able to make a roadside repair by myself if I had to -- and that I might not be able to do so in my home workshop, either.

Now, I've shelved the Panaracers, and have my Marathon Supreme back on the front. At the rear, I've switched out the Supreme -- my thumbs prevented me from mounting it, even with the help of the Koolstop Tire Bead jack.  :(  What I have instead is what I was able to mount, despite my thumbs:  On the advice of Andrew, the very experienced owner of my LBS, I now have a Marathon Plus beaded tire on the rear wheel. ("Shocked and appalled!!" readers will say.  I was a bit hesitant, to be sure, but Practical Reality intervened.) Both F & R tires are 650B x 40 mm, 38mm actual inflated.  My Mercury now weighs a couple of hundred grams more than it did with Supremes fore and aft, but on an admittedly short 90-minute ride along the river and into the hills, I couldn't tell difference.

Take this FWIW,

Cheers,  John

A later PS:  Happy to share with you the specifics of my approach to loading the bike, if that's useful.  It's not the usual rearward pattern.
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