Hi All,
I took delivery of my new Thorn Raven Tour last Thursday after two years of wondering whether to take the hub gear plunge. My excitement was immense. Excitement increased by a 4 week wait for delivery!!!!! I haven't felt this much like a kid waiting for Christmas since.........I was a kid waiting for Christmas.
I ride a round trip of 23 miles commute to work and have ridden derailleur bikes, mainly Dawes tourers for 20 years. My average yearly mileage around 6000 miles. My last bike was/is a Specialized Crossroads 50/40/30 chainrings with 9 speed 23 - 13 cassette. I loved the close ratios!!!!!!!! This bike was fast, carried a load well and fitted my body like a glove (after many a session fine tuning position and components). The only drag was general maintenance and the 6 monthly cost of new cassette and chain. Being a canny (but stupid Scot) I dragged the change of components to the point where either the chainskip drove me to distraction or on a hillclimb when the worn slack slappy chain would jump ship, i'd haul the bike in the air, keel sideward and hit the road. Haven't we all done this at some time?? So, what are my impressions after my first commute to work.......the first ride in anger as it were.
What a bike!!!!!!!!!! Stunning, the gears are liquid velvet, the comfort fabulous, the frame....fantastically responsive for a touring bike (reminder, I have the Thorn Raven, not the Sport Tour) and stability that inspires confidence. I carry two panniers with laptop and bag, a thick A4 diary, tools, change of clothes, sometimes a Canon G5 digital camera and a lead acid battery that powers my 10 watt halogen front light so am used to riding heavy. Todays ride is the most assured I've felt in years. I have nothing but praise on my first day for this beautiful machine. However, all is not rosy in the garden. A ride that normally takes me 42 - 45mins depending on wind took the the fuller part of 48 mins (both ways) today. I feel to gain the most from the Raven Tour, I am going to have to change my riding style. I felt like I was riding slightly too low a gear at a cadence higher than is normal for me. When I changed up a gear, riding up to the cadence I was using was not instinctive. I missed my close ratios. This I feel was the reason for the increased time. My Raven Tour has a 44/16 combination and I felt the difference the most between gears 10 & 11. Also easing the pressure on the pedals during a particularly steep climb to change gear is a skill that will require some practise.
So, on my first day in the saddle do I have any regrets........yes.......when are Rolhoff going to annihilate the Shimano/Campag opposition and design a closer ratio hub?
!!!!! Apart from that I am utterly thrilled with my new bike. I knew I was compromising on the ratios when I made the order but when I consider the 35 years I have owned derailleur equipped bikes I realise I have been living with compromise those 35 years, a compromise of hours and hours of maintenance, hundreds of pounds in chains, cassettes, chainrings and new derailleurs, the infuriating sound of a gear change that refuses on a heavy climb.......the list goes on!!
I am thrilled with my purchase. The design, quality of build, the thought thats gone in to every detail...I love the cable guides and the immense pleasure I get from knowing the intricacy of whats going on inside the hub make riding the Thorn worth every penny of hard earned cash. I hope to bring an update in the coming weeks.......I know that time will drop!!!!! I welcome your comments on riding styles.
Jim
