Commute - which Thorn

[avdave]

I've started to commute again after a break of 10 years and reckon Rohloff is the way to go. I'm currently using my Marin full suspension rig which is fine if I take the off road route to work but not so great when I use the road route. So I'm unsure whether to go for the Raven Sport Tour just for road days or go for the Catalyst with the rigid fork which would still cope with the off road option and allow for mudguards and a hub dynamo for the road option in winter. Basically I want something that will work everyday in all weather conditions with the minimum of maintenance and without the hassle of keeping batteries charged for lighting. Distances are quite short, a 12 mile round trip off road and 15 miles on road. Looking at what I've written I think I may have described the Raven Tour, although it doesn't appear to be availiable in as many sizes as the Sport.
Any opinions and advice would be welcome.

[PH]

Choices, choices, choices...

I bought a Raven Tour mainly for commuting. 31 mile round trip, on a route including ex railway track, canal path, country roads and duel carriageway.  It has coped well with all of it plus everything else I've used it for.  Off road it's not as manoeuvrable as a MTB, I could take it just about anywhere, but it would take more care and be a bit slower.  Also mud tends to collect under the full mudguards, a few times I've had to stop and clear it. I'm not sure about the different sizes between the Sport and Tour, it doesn't matter how many they do as long as one of them is right for you.  I'm a fan of hub dynamos, I have two, one in each wheel size.  However off road I'd always supplement them with a rechargeable, sometimes when I need the most light is when I'm going slowest.

For me, in your position, the deciding factors would be how often I take the off road option, how technical it is and surface type, what else I want to do with the bike and if I was keeping the MTB. If I was doing mostly on road, I'd get the sport and keep the MTB for occasional off road.  If I wanted to use just one bike and the off road was reasonable surface and not too technical I'd get the Tour.  If one bike and muddy/technical off road the Catalyst.

Whichever you get, you'll have 100 days to change your mind.  I think they're all good bikes, if I could afford it I'd have one of each!

[stutho]

If it's any help I use a Raven Sport Tour For my daily 15 mile hilly commute.  I cycle in all weathers except heavy snow or ice.  I normally stick to the road but occasionally use some rough farm tracks.  

I would thing either the Catalyst or the Sport tour would suit you well.  In the end it might come down to one decision - do you want drop handlebars.  Drops were a must for me, therefor I went for the Sport Tour with the short top tube.  I also stick to roads most of the time.  

Don’t forget That you can always change you mind in the first 100 days.

[avdave]

Thanks for the advice. I went to Bridgwater yesterday and now I've got a 4 week wait for a Catalyst. I think the looks swung it and the fact that it will, with a few quick and easy modifications do anything I might ever want it to. It's going to be a long 4 weeks!

[stutho]

Congratulation let us know how you get on.

[avdave]

Catalyst arrived yesterday and first impressions are good.I've a small problem with the Lumotec front light in that with the Thorn bracket it only lights the front mudguard but I'm hopeful that SJSC can sort that out for me. The noise in all the gears apart from 7 seems fine although freewheeling is very noisy. However as long as you keep your legs moving it isn't a problem. The only real dissapointment is the discovery of what has happened to the road surfaces while I've been riding full suspension mountain bikes with 30 psi tyres. Even with a steel frame and carbon forks, bars and seatpost it's pretty rough, what are my taxes being spent on? Still I went for the Catalyst to have the option of converting to a hard tail mtb if and when the Marin dies. First ride to work on Monday so I'll give my impressions after that.

[frog]

Get a suspension seat post.  They're God's gift to bottoms  [8D]