JIm, I think you are dead right about the derailleurs contributing to the muck, especially gunking up the rear wheel and the chainstay and etc. etc. etc.! I prefer to have a nicely oiled chain which some may think is too oily, so it does (did!) tend to radiate outwards.
I went for the Raven for a few reasons. I have been cycling more regularly for a couple of years now and it was obvious that it was of great benefit to me both physically and mentally. I love getting out and about, you can cover more ground more quickly than walking and after the purchase of the bike the running costs are quite minimal compared to many hobbies - and it doesn't need to be filled up with bloody expensive petrol! For these reasons i have continued to enjoy riding for leisure and it is something i know i will continue to do for, hopefully, many years to come.
So, after a while i decided to bin my £20 steel mountain bike with slicks that had served me well and get a lightweight hybrid bike to zap about on. This suited me very well for a short time but wasn't built for comfort or modest load carrying and i soon started exploring the option of an all purpose touring bike so i could farther afield in an unhurried but comfortable fashion!
After lots of internet trawling, i was much impressed with Thorn owners opinions of the quality of their bikes and the service they received from SJSC. The Rohloff also appealed to me greatly (it is a superb piece of kit isn't it?!) and it was something different. So thinking long term i opted for a Raven Tour - my chosen bike for life! I have to mention that the first RT i came across on the net was Freddereds and it caught my eye because it was almost exactly what i would have (and subsequently have!) chosen for myself - and the enthusiasm for the bike that he conveyed. And this is where the big departure from the norm came - the price! I don't mind forking out for good quality stuff though, so i thought why not?
So yes, it was a departure from the norm but so far it has been nothing but brilliant. I have learnt a lot and discovered lots of like minded people using this forum. Actually the internet itself has been really useful. I would never have dreamt of joining a cycle club - i am much more comfortable in my own company. But i am now seriously considering entering an Audax event, just because of all the write-ups etc. that i have read on the net. Not at all what i had perceived them to be and the non-competitive aspect really appeals.
Basically, the process of searching for,discovering and purchasing a Thorn RT has had quite an impact on my life!
There.... Story time is over - apologies for blathering on but i am thoroughly enjoying my re-introduction to cycling!
Cheers
Gary.
