81
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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82
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.
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.
83
Thorn General / Re: Which Thorn for lightly loaded day/overnight riding.
« Last post by Peejay on November 14, 2025, 03:43:01 PM »Mercury all the way.
Pete.
Pete.
84
Wanted / Re: Wanted: 26” disc or rim fork
« Last post by Andyb1 on November 12, 2025, 07:31:17 AM »I have a good Raven fork that might do the job, can you send me a PM? It is the twin bridge type
Also a Ridgeback Expedition fork for disc brake.
Andy
Also a Ridgeback Expedition fork for disc brake.
Andy
85
Wanted / Wanted: 26” disc or rim fork
« Last post by Willcol on November 11, 2025, 08:01:04 PM »Hello all,
I’m after a 26” fork - something like a Raven fork or something, 1 1/8”, QR, long steerer, 395-410 axle to crown. Not fussy about colour or condition, as long as they aren’t bent.
Posted to West Sussex
Let me know what you have! Thanks
I’m after a 26” fork - something like a Raven fork or something, 1 1/8”, QR, long steerer, 395-410 axle to crown. Not fussy about colour or condition, as long as they aren’t bent.
Posted to West Sussex
Let me know what you have! Thanks
86
Bike Bits / Accessories For Sale / Re: Thorn fork, 531 steel, 26in, 1 1/8in.
« Last post by Willcol on November 10, 2025, 09:51:47 PM »DM sent
87
Bikes For Sale / Thorne Audax Mk3 bicycle (small/medium) Dunbar, East Lothian £650
« Last post by macspud on November 10, 2025, 06:52:37 PM »Thorne Audax Mk3 bicycle (small/medium)
Dunbar, East Lothian
£650
Not mine.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/thorne-audax-mk3-bicycle-smallmedium/1506001316?lid=ut81oyznr6tl&utm_source=braze&utm_campaign=searchalert&utm_content=Single%20SA%20Email%20(VIP)&utm_medium=email
Dunbar, East Lothian
£650
Not mine.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/thorne-audax-mk3-bicycle-smallmedium/1506001316?lid=ut81oyznr6tl&utm_source=braze&utm_campaign=searchalert&utm_content=Single%20SA%20Email%20(VIP)&utm_medium=email
88
Thorn General / Re: Mid 1990's Club Tour Frame Size and date identification
« Last post by John Saxby on November 10, 2025, 06:36:48 PM »Thanks, Adrian. I do remember going along the B3157 in a rental car and descending the Abbotsbury Hill, and thinking..."Jeez, climbing this'd be a handful on a bike."
Lovely countryside -- I get all weepy & sentimental seeing the Google photos...
Enjoy, in any case!
Lovely countryside -- I get all weepy & sentimental seeing the Google photos...
Enjoy, in any case!
89
Thorn General / Re: Mid 1990's Club Tour Frame Size and date identification
« Last post by AdrianStone on November 10, 2025, 05:02:43 PM »Thorn’s present frame numbering system is a comparatively recent innovation. Adrians Club Tour dates from a time when frames were still being hand brazed in the UK.
I think May 1995 could well be correct. As far as I can discern, the frame number of my own CT is 01477. That’s a little speculative because the numbers are difficult to read due to the thickness of paint. If correct it would indicate April 200I, frame number 77, which is in good agreement with the Shimano date codes.
For comparison here’s a picture of my bike: https://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=12508.0
Thank you for the photo, it's good to see another of similar vintage. I've not found the stamp on the bottom bracket, I assume from your comment that that's likely to be due to the paint!
90
Thorn General / Re: Mid 1990's Club Tour Frame Size and date identification
« Last post by AdrianStone on November 10, 2025, 05:00:03 PM »QuoteJust to explore our area (Dorset) more and go camping on a bike.
Welcome, Adrian!
Trust the comments by Andyb1 and B Cereus will help you date your spiffy bike
On other matters, where are you in Dorset? I have fond memories of the Isle of Purbeck -- was born in Swanage, & came to consciousness in Corfe. (My dad was with the Tanks, based in Bovington.) And, I spent happy times over the years with a favourite aunt, who lived in Charmouth just east of Lyme. Too long since I last visited...
Cheers, John
(dialling in from Ottawa, Canada)
Hello John, thanks for the reply, Purbeck is lovely. I'm in Litton Cheney, a bit further west, a village in the Dorchester/Bridport/Weymouth triangle... sort of not close to anything other than big hills and the sea! If travelling from Dorchester to Bridport it's a one mile drop at 20% in places from the A35 to the village! It'll be a while before I can tackle that!
Adrian