Ok, I know, the name is a bit weird, but for now that’s how I like to call my Sherpa build. Once covid is over I will probably change her name, but the nickname will stick in my memory as a reminder to "carpe diem", and to tour/cycle while I can. Most importantly, building this bike has allowed me to distract my mind and maintain a certain level of mental sanity
I built my Sherpa in my bike shed, hidden from my wife (I didn’t want to tell her I bought “yet another bike”!). Sarah from SJS cycles has been extremely helpful in guiding me through the choice of the frame and fighting my initial (unfunded) doubts that the frame was too small for me. This is my first experience building a bicycle. Quite scary at the beginning, but exciting!
I did not want to spend too much money, so I order the frame, and built the bike using a few components from a 50 Euros broken mountain bike that I found in a charity shop. The tires (26x2.0 Supremes) and a few other components (Ergon Grips, stem T-shaped support, etc.) I bought from SJS. The beauty of a simple bike is that it works well and is reliable also with inexpensive components!
I love my Sherpa. It rides beautifully, just as many people say. I have never ridden a bicycle so comfortable. I owe also a fast road bike, a Canyon Endurace, but I currently prefer to ride with the Sherpa. The fact that it allows me to carry luggage, even on day rides, is key. I wanted a bike that I can use for night rides, also in cold weather. A bike that I can also use to carry groceries (or my little daughter), and to do cycle touring - possibly with camping - when needed.
The comparison with the light (less than 9 kgs) Canyon road bike is interesting. While with the road bike I can definitely ride faster (reaching 30-35 km/h is not that difficult), on rides lasting several hours the average speed is not very different between the two bikes; at least in the flat roads of the Netherlands, where I live. I would say that the Sherpa with 26x2.0 Supremes is typically 10-15% slower than my 700ccx25 road bike on my comfort level of cycling power. But on a long ride these reduce to nothing, particularly if I ride often through urban areas, because with a more confident and comfortable bicycle I end up making fewer stops.
Non-standard components I am pretty happy about (in addition to the usual GP5 Ergon grips and B17 Brooks saddle), are the lock and the rear rack bag. The lock is a AXA foldable 1000, visible in one of the attached pics. It weights a lot, almost 2kgs, but it is compact, it fits very neatly and securely in its support on the frame, and is long enough to wrap around most fixed like street lamp poles. I chose the 1000 version because it has such a high level of security that the bike with the lock can be covered by bicycle insurance (and in the Netherlands bicycle theft is a national sport..). There are lighter versions, but those cannot be insured. I might also try with a permanently attached “ring lock”, very popular here in the Netherlands.
The bag is a Topeak MTX Trunkbag. I fixed it to the rack through a plastic support (~14 Euros) presenting a sort of slide connector that allows the bag to be removed very easily. The bag has small lateral panniers that can fit inside the bag. When the panniers are not needed, these can be just lifted up and enclosed in neat lateral pockets with zips. The bag is made of sturdy material and I find the organisation of space very practical. I use the bag also on my road bike: the bag can be used with a Topeak saddle supported rack – I think this option might be useful for people that own a touring bike and a road/Audax bike and don’t want to spend money on two bags (I suspect there are many in this forum).
My dream is to use my Sherpa to cycle from the Netherlands to Northern Italy to visit my parents after the covid situation has become more manageable. I don’t think the full ride is going to happen any time soon because I cannot take too many days off for a solo ride– I have a 4 years old child and would not want my wife to carry the burden of childcare all by herself while I am away enjoying life. But maybe I will travel by train until somewhere midway, for example Munich, and then cross the Alps.
I just wanted to present my bike and share my joy of having built my first bike from scratch. I have learned a lot from this forum! Actually this forum is one of the reasons why I chose Thorn over other brands..
Lorenzo
P.S. I will work towards keeping the Sherpa myth alive
