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91
Luggage / Re: Re Carradice saddlebags eg Longflap
« Last post by PH on April 13, 2025, 04:19:37 PM »
I like Carradice saddlebags, though I don't have a large one and even if I did I couldn't pack small enough to use it for camping without panniers. I can just about manage a non camping weekend away with a standard Nelson, but on;y if the weather is good.   My latest one, of three, is a Cambrian Audax, Cordura and plastic buckles instead of cotton and leather, I hardly use the other two since getting it, I never considered the straps an inconvenience till I didn't have to use them.  I'm undecided what to do with the other two, sell them or convert to plastic buckles.
92
Bikes For Sale / Re: ThornAudax Mk3
« Last post by PH on April 13, 2025, 04:08:29 PM »
That look an absolute bargain Lewis, if it was my size I'd be tempted, even though I have no use for it. Just a couple of things:
Quote
Cranks - 65mm
Either you have really short legs, or there's 100mm missing there  ;)
Quote
Tubus Ti rack
Those racks are currently an astonishing £320.  Unless you've already had an offer, I'd be tempted to take it off an sell it separately, they last forever, and mine still looks like new.  I think you'd get half price, £160, for it, yet it won't add that much to the value, unless someone particularly wanted one.
Good luck with the sale.
93
Bikes For Sale / Re: ThornAudax Mk3
« Last post by Danneaux on April 13, 2025, 03:31:53 PM »
[Drivetrain photos Dan-posted on Lewis' behalf]
94
Bikes For Sale / Re: ThornAudax Mk3
« Last post by Danneaux on April 13, 2025, 03:30:22 PM »
[Photos Dan-posted on Lewis' behalf]
95
Luggage / Re: Re Carradice saddlebags eg Longflap
« Last post by in4 on April 13, 2025, 03:26:16 PM »
Using another stem is a great idea. The saddlebag stays more horizontal and the coroplast creates some rigidity. I had been resting my CLF on a Thorn Exped' rear rack and securing it with male-female velcro straps. It has been an imperfect solution though and I find having the bag at the same angle as the seat post inconvenient.
Thanks for sharing this. I really appreciate it. Great ocean-view photos too.
Thanks also Dan, for your link. You've sure been defying the laws of physics , given the amount of gear you managed to squeeze into the CLF. Chapeau!
Getting a bit forensic on one of your photos: Did you attach your CLP to the supporting rack with anything or was securing it with the saddle loops ( or something similar ) adequate enough.
96
Bikes For Sale / Re: ThornAudax Mk3
« Last post by lewis noble on April 13, 2025, 03:17:54 PM »
Me again.  Thorn Audax Mk 3, size 555S.  Brit Racing Green.  Purchased new from Thorn 2017. All receipts available

I am 5'8" tall, 1740mm.  I find it an excellent fit and comfortable bike.  Current set-up relatively upright, long steerer tube gives plenty of opportunities for change.
Cranks - 65mm, Thorn Chainset.  Deore Cassette.  48/36/26   10 sp 11-36.  Will be sold without pedals, temporary pedals can be fitted
Frame 858 Thorn tubing, Reynolds 853 forks.  DT Swiss R460 wheels, Scwalbe One 28-700 tyres. 
Tubus Ti rack, pump on seat tube pegs.
Currently with bar end shifters, original brifters will be included.
Shimano BR-650 caliper brakes
New spare cassette available.

Pricing is difficult in current market, £500 ono?  Collection from Sheffield only, or meeting elsewhere by arrangement.

Reason for sale - getting older, now prefer Sherpa!  This bike has served me very well, never even a puncture, but needs a new home - hardly ridden it since pandemic.

Photos in preparation

Lewis
97
Luggage / Re: Re Carradice saddlebags eg Longflap
« Last post by mickeg on April 13, 2025, 12:34:41 PM »
I have a fifth photo I wanted to show.  I did not like these bags hitting my legs as I peddle, I wanted to push the bag back a bit more.  For that I have used a threadless stem with appropriate shim to fit the seatpost.  A short piece of wooden dowel (sprayed black), to push the bag further to the rear.

And the second photo is the same Pendle bag on a different bike.  This photo really shows how well that Coroplast in the bag gives it a much better shape than a partly empty sagging bag would be.

You can see how I use the Brooks Conquest springs as the saddle bag loops in these two photos.

Yes, I am aware of the different saddle bag support options supplied by Carradice, I chose not to use them.
98
Luggage / Re: Re Carradice saddlebags eg Longflap
« Last post by mickeg on April 13, 2025, 12:26:46 PM »
I am aware of a few people on the internet that use a Nelson Long Flap or a Camper Long Flap for credit card touring, where they bring no camping gear, they are sleeping indoors and eating in restaurants.

I am aware of one person that has used a Camper Long Flap and an extremely light weight tent and sleeping bag, he was primarily credit card touring but occasionally camped when he was unable to rent a room for the night.

I bought a Camper a few years ago to have for credit card touring, but have not used it.

I used my Nelson Long Flap on one tour, it was supported by my Ortlieb Back Rollers underneath it.  Photos attached.  I mostly used it for food on this tour.  It worked well because I could easily vary the amount of food in it.  To give it more structure to hold its shape, I put a piece of cardboard inside the Carradice bag.  The cardboard worked well enough that I later replaced it with a piece of Coroplast which essentially is a plastic based corrugated cardboard.

But, I have generally chosen to use a dry bag instead of the Carradice bag since that trip, the time to thread the leather straps through the saddle were much more time consuming than other options that now use.  On my touring bikes I use a Brooks Conquest (or on one bike a Brooks Pro).  These saddles lack saddle loops, but the conquest has springs and I can attach the Carradice bag straps to the saddle spring loops.

For several years I have used a Pendle on one of my bikes for day to day use.  I also have a piece of Coroplast in that, last attached photo, the Coroplast is white.  The Coroplast is not attached to the bag, it just sits in it loose.  The bag has a much better shape when not full with this to give it more structure. 

If you try something like this as a stiffener, I would suggest first trying paper based cardboard from a box you plan to discard to see if you are happy with it first.
99
Thorn General / Re: Raven Reach
« Last post by PH on April 13, 2025, 12:07:25 PM »
Congrats on the new bike. It might be worth phoning and asking the masters.
I don't know the answer, but if you have all the geometry you could upload it into a CAD program to draw one size on top of the other, I've used this one:
https://www.bikecad.ca/

TT length has to be considered alongside seat tube angle, if a steeper seat tube requires the saddle to be further back it effectively lengthens the virtual top tube. Head and seat tube angles also need to be considered, if not parallel. it can be a bit of a minefield!

Is the added reach too much to adjust with a different stem?  Or handlebar sweep? I might have just been lucky, but I've been able to find comfort on a range of sizes, as long as I can get the saddle in closely the same  position over the BB, I'm quite tolerant of bar position.
100
Thorn General / Re: Raven Reach
« Last post by mickeg on April 13, 2025, 12:00:24 PM »
I can't answer your question, but reach issues can often be solved with a different stem.  Handlebars also have varying reach.

I no longer try to judge bike size based on seat tube length (or effective seat tube length) alone.  I mostly focus on reach, and a secondary issue is making sure I have adequate stand over height.  That said, now in the era of sloping top tubes, stand over height is rarely an issue any more.

Starting a bit over a decade ago when I ordered my Nomad Mk II frame and fork, I based that almost exclusively on effective top tube length and stem length when I was assessing which frame to buy, I already had a couple bikes that fit me well so I could take measurements off of those to compare to what I wanted to buy.

And after I buy or build up a bike, I often do some fine tuning with different stems.
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