Reluctantly selling my Thorn Nomad Mk3 58L Rohloff, custom built by SJS Cycles in 2024.

This is a high-specification expedition/touring bike with 2,537.8 km on the clock — according to Garmin!. It was built specifically for me by Thorn and the original invoice total was £4,138.61.

I'm selling because recent marriage has curtailed my long-disance touring career 

Specification

* Size 58L
* Colour Red Imron
* Rear wheel: Ryde Rival 650b 32h disc Rohloff 14spd CC Disc Hub, 17T sprocket (QR)
* Front wheel: Ryde Rival 650b 32h disc SON dynamo hub (thru axle) — (dynamo supplied by me and has done a further 7000 km)
* Chainring: Thorn 42T
* Brakes: Shimano Deore XT BR-M8100
* Crankset: Thorn 104/64 PCD Triple Crankset MK2 - Black - 170mm
* Handlebar: Surly Moloko 735mm handlebars with cork tape with cork flecks and gel backing and Ergon GC1 grips
* Brakes: Shimano CUES hydraulic 2-pot disc brakes with 180mm rotors
* Saddle: Brooks B17 black leather with rain cover
* Chain: KMC E1 Rohloff-compatible chain
* Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Almotion EVO 27.5 x 2.15
* Mudguards: SKS Chromoplastic (not fitted in photos)
* Lights: Sinewave beacon front light (supplied by me and has done a further 7000+ km) / SON rear light
* No pedals

As indicated above, the SON dynamo hub and front light were supplied by me rather than being new components. They had previously done around 7000 km.

Condition

The bike has covered a little over 2,500 km and is mechanically in perfect working order. However, I want to be completely upfront about the cosmetics.

There are a number of scratches and marks on the frame and forks from riding and from air transport. There is also a small dent in the downtube. I have had the dent assessed and have been quoted £60 to repair it, unpainted, by Argos Racing Cycles in Bristol, a company recommended by Thorn.

I've deliberately not had the dent repaired before selling the bike. I'd rather the buyer sees the bike exactly as it is rather than having a repair carried out immediately before sale. I'll provide clear photographs of all the scratches and the dent, so there will be no surprises for the buyer.

Size

58L, suitable for a taller rider. The bike was built for me at 186 cm / 6'1" tall.

The SJS build sheet records:

* Height: 1860mm
* Barefoot saddle-over-height: 850mm
* Arm length: 1885mm

Documentation

Original SJS Cycles invoice and build specification included.

Frame number: N580L23008

Fork number: 480623

The original invoice records the complete build and a total paid of £4,138.61.  The purchase of the dynamo hub and front light are not included in that price.

Location

Nottingham, UK

I'd prefer collection so that the buyer can inspect and ride the bike before committing to purchase, but will consider delivery at buyer's expense.

Price

£2,600 ono

I'm not looking for silly offers, but I'm happy to have a sensible discussion with someone who is genuinely interested.

I can provide plenty of photographs and answer any questions about the build, condition or sizing.

I guess that unless an emergency situation arose any sort of ad hoc/ thought-fart solution should be considered very carefully. What's that thing about the law of unintended consequence? Owing to a very inconvenient  slow flat ( aren't they all!)  I had to transfer my loaded rear panniers on to my front rack for a sort of get me home solution. I tried riding with it for a very short distance but it was so unbalanced and unnerving I got off and walked the rest of the way.

PS Currently posting from Chiang Mai and wishing I had my Nomad with me. Next time!

I'm almost loath to pass this along and in no way endorse it, but...

An increasingly popular method for attaching cargo cages to fork blades in the bikepacking world involves placing some light padding on the fork (i.e. a strip of old innertube) and then wrapping the cage, padding, and fork in a really thick layer of adhesive-backed tape(!).

I can imagine firsthand the carnage if a cage got loose and twisted between fork blade and spokes after once seeing a female uni student's shoulder bag wedge between fork and wheel. In a surreal moment, she and the bike rotated around the suddenly stationary front wheel before her head hit the pavement. I was first responder on the scene and it sure wasn't pretty. Some related tape links...
https://www.reddit.com/r/bikepacking/comments/8ljezi/dont_have_fork_or_down_tube_cage_mounts_try_using/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWJ0mVgpvzM (starts at 3m 30s)
https://bikepacking.com/gear/bikepacking-hacks/
https://www.reddit.com/r/bikepacking/comments/11i83kl/securing_cargo_cages_around_the_fork_with_hose/

A variety of alternate suggestions are offered here...
https://bikepacking.com/index/add-cage-mounts-bike/

Best, Dan.

A few possibilities here of lightweight fork racks/cages to take strapped on dry bags, with the versatility of slotted fixing holes which should allow utilisation of the non standard spacing between the uppermost and lower mounts on the Nomad fork. Though some adaption might be needed to take the slightly larger diameter M6 screws (as opposed to the usual M5) needed for those two mounting points. The racks are aluminium so, if necessary, it should be an easy matter to lengthen the slots to accommodate the non standard distance between the upper and lower rack mounts on the Mk2 Nomad fork.
As Dan has already indicated, because those mounting points are on different sides of the fork, it might be necessary to use stand-off washers to clear the outside of the fork. Also you’d need to be sure  the rack lower shelf structure doesn’t interfere with the axle nuts. The Acid rack looks like it might be a good bet especially as the blurb says it’s ok to mount to just two mounting points whereas I think the others need 3 mounting points to get the full benefit of their recommended  weight carrying capacity. Hope this helps. Ive not tried any of these cages on my Nomad, incidentally! Hope you find what you’re looking for.
 The more expensive option of course would be to swap out the dedicated Nomad fork for a bike packing fork with the standard three mounting points in each fork.



Aluminium Bike Fork Rack for Bikepacking and Extra Storage -ROCKBROS


https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/accessories/bags-luggage/acid-front-carrier-fork-cage-in-black__99512?currency=GBP&chosenAttribute=93995&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=14598581429&gbraid=0AAAAADKiiCJSf1WkGuMrdB58_8PWid2Oe&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqL3rudOClwMVWJNQBh2RVwGzEAQYEyABEgKRHvD_BwE

Thanks again Mick.
Yes, something I have been considering.
The sales team at Thorn forwarded me a link to a youtube video with a guy strapping cargo cages to his mounting point-less forks, here it is: https://youtu.be/hTpfr6JMnuA?si=Lntm1Jd2YlNpN-Xs

One other thought, a gal I know used some plastic mounts that attached to her fork with zip ties and adhesive, her carbon fork had no mounting points on it so that was her only option.

I do not know the brand, but an internet search might find them.  She had a bit of a problem with it shifting in position, the adhesive did not grip it well enough.  But a Nomad fork is likely something that could use a better strap than a thick zip tie.