Wanted: Small Thorn Sherpa (bike or frame) for 5'1" lady!

[weeksbell]

Hello! I am new to this forum!

My husband and I are planning to cycle from Bristol to... India/ SE Asia/ Japan (destination tbc...) setting off in April.

We both need new bikes and I have got my heart set on a Thorn (or LHT) but can't afford to buy one new - can barely afford the trip so it will be done v much on a shoestring! 

Sadly, it seems most tourers are 6'+ as small second-hand decent tour bikes are hard to come!

I am 5'1" so looking for a 49 or 50cm frame I think (my bike of the last 12 years has been a 13inch specialised hardrock mountain bike)

If you know of anything suitable please send it my way!

Many thanks!

Ele Bell

[jags]

49or51 will be to big you need a 46.
best of luck with your hunt for one did u try ebay,ive never seen one posted here for sale  not in that size.
great trip btw good luck .


jags.

[jags]

now that i think of it sjs were selling a very small nomad unpainted at a great price ,u should check to se if they still have it ,buy it get it painted  your sorted.

jags

[in4]

Any good?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THORN-SHERPA-TOURING-EXPEDITION-BICYCLE-/252223529271?hash=item3ab9b1a137:g:~rwAAOSwHPlWeuXQ

Its a 52 I think.

[Danneaux]

That is a very nice example, and RED. 

Well found, Ian!

Best,

Dan.

[in4]

...and here's a screen grab of the Sherpa sizing matrix that might help. I'm not sure which frame size the advertised one is, or is closest to.

[jags]

gonna be to big.

[moodymac]

Hello weeksbell,

You did not say if the frame needed to be used.  If not, Thorn sells a very small diamond frame that may fit.  (I think it would be a little too big though).  What would fit is their step through frame.  They sell their frame and forks with the headset fitted.  It is a very strong frame and would do much more than your tour.  If you followed the build they offer you could get 16 to 99 inch gearing which is very good for loaded, mountain biking.  This is their Sherpa model and is not afraid of off road use.

Tom

[in4]

The seller seems either unable or unwilling to provide the serial/size no. on request. Make of that what you will.

[bikerta]

gonna be to big.

I agree with Jags on the sizing of this bike. I have a 500s Sherpa and I am 5'5 with 29" inside leg. The length of the top tube is also very important and the bike on Ebay has quite a long top tube at 56cm so would be too long a stretch unless you have very long arms for your height. I don't think I have seen one 500s Sherpa frame advertised in the last 2 years, (hence why I ended up buying a new one) but I have seen a couple of the smaller 475s for sale which I think is the size you would need.

[jags]

Cheers Jackie i'm glad someone agrees with me the 47 would be perfect for her.
if the top tube is not perfect your in big trouble ,much easier to fit a smaller frame only issue  would be heel clearence but a proper rack would sort that out.
used sherpa that size would be as rare as hen's teeth.


anto.

[diapason]

Took me a long time to find one in my size.  My ExxP - bought earlier this week - is perfect for me but would have been a tad big for the OP.  Worth asking SJSC to let her know if anything comes in.
Good luck!

N

[rualexander]

The top tube (virtual top tube measurement) is longer on the size 475m than on the 500s.

[bikerta]

You are right about the top tube length on the 475M size, but it just depends on the inside leg measurement of a 5'1" lady as to whether the stand over height would be too much on the 500S. It's fine for me with a 29" inside leg measurement, which I am pleased about as I had to have the short frame and straight bars due to a short arm length.