Do I need to service Sherpa

[bikerta]

The start of my JOGLE is now looming ever closer and the training is going reasonably well, or as much as my lifestyle will allow anyway. I am riding around the 100 miles a week, occasionally nearer the 130 mark. For the last week, I have been riding loaded up, though not with quite as much weight as it will be, just to get used to riding the bike loaded.

I was shocked at how slow it seemed to begin with, especially coming to any sort of incline. However once I got into the mindset that I was not out to break any speed records and the main objective was to just cover the distance, not complete it in under an hour, then I started to enjoy the riding again. When I compare the times over my evening 10 mile ride, it is actually not as slow as I thought, with the time only being around 6 minutes slower. That means a 40 mile day would only be 24 minutes longer (although I know it would really work out more than this due to the legs getting tired much quicker) 

What I was pleased with however, was how stable the bike was loaded up. I did find the Dawes a little twitchy at the front end when loaded, but I didn't have front panniers then which would probably have helped steady this. The Sherpa felt solid and was still just as easy to ride.

My main question now though, is should I get the Sherpa serviced before I set out on my trip?   I have covered 750 miles on the bike and will cover another 300 or so before I leave, so totalling around the 1,000 miles. Is there anything in particular I should be looking at before I go and should I take any spares with me (I have inner tubes and a couple of KMC quick links for the chain)

I also wanted to say another big thank you to you lovely people who sponsored me for this event. The support I have received for the trip, now means that I have raised just over £800 so far with more promised in the next couple of weeks, so I am now very hopeful of reaching my target of £1,000. This is amazing and far more than I expected to get and certainly gives you the motivation to get out on the training runs when it's a bit wet and windy. At least this has made me realise how much colder you get when you are wet and I have to re-think my wet weather gear a bit.

Will try and get pictures up of the bike in it's loaded state.   

[lewis noble]

My experience (in the 3 Thorn bikes I have purchased) has been that they have been well built, brakes set up well etc. - so I doubt if much needs doing.

Are the wheels still running true?  You have done enough miles to show up problems if any are likely to arise.  And I have recently, foujnd, on my Ripio, which has a Thorn rear rack, that closing the rear QR in a certain position moves the wheel slightly, as the QR lever touches on the LH bottom rack fitting and lifts it marginally - but enough to put the brakes out.  Moving the lwever round ensures it seats better. Whether the same happens on the Sherpa I do not know - but check - it explains why I have had such trouble getting my rear brake set up properly!! 

I am not much of a bike mechanic, re-learning skills I last used 45 yrs ago, but I would do a couple of things -

1)  Lubricate chain thoroughly - and take some lube with you.  I would not degrease as the original grease will still be in their and probably doing a good job.  Lots of different views on this!!

2) I would consider dismantling and regreasing / resetting the hub bearings thoroughly.  I don't know what sort you have on your Sherpa, but the guy in my local bike shop strongly recommended that on even good quality hubs / bearings, as he considered that the factories tended to be very sparing with grease, and they tend to bed in in the first few hundred miles.

I'm sure no harm would come if you do not do that, but anything you can do to keep things rolling sweetly along will help.

I reckon many forum users would echo your comments about speed, inclines etc.  In reality, Thorns tend to be faster than you think they are, and on a long trek, the ability to plod on feeling safe and secure is worth a lot.

Lewis

[mickeg]

I generally try to avoid doing too much bike service before a trip, if you do not get something properly tightened, you might inadvertently create a problem that otherwise might not have happened.  That said, Shimano has often been too sparing in the amount of grease they put in new front hubs.  I now add grease to every new front hub when I build up a set of wheels.

Bring spare brake and derailleur inner cables.  Odds of needing them is tiny but they weigh almost nothing.  Also bring a patch kit.  I assume you have a good pump already.

Braking with a load takes getting used to, but you probably already figured that out.  Try the bike fully loaded which might mean also a handlebar bag and try at all anticiapted speeds to see if there might be a resonance or shimmy.  If so, best to deal with that now instead of later.

[jags]

you know the auld saying jackie,
if it aint broke dont fix it
as the lads said just take lube with you andmaybe brake blocks but even then you should be fine
if theres anything rattling tighten it no more than that

best of luck with the tour ssssssssssure hope its a cracker slow and easy jackie and enjoy every pedal stroke.

dont forget the camera.

anto.

[julk]

As the others say, a Thorn bike will go a long way before needing attention.

If you are camping on this trip then I would recommend a practice overnight camp in the back garden using the fully laden bike with all the gear you plan to take.
It is a quick way to find what is surplus or missing…and there is still time to make adjustments.
julk.