Help please - what bike do you recomend?

[j22jbl]

Hi,

I am reviewing my cycle needs and have a light problem in being spoilt for choice.

For background, I have enjoyed cycle tours around Scotland (including the inner and outer Hebrides)staying in B&Bs and youth hostels  on a Dawes Super Galaxy (since sold) and have also used Galaxy for cycle camping in the Costwolds with a light weight tent. However, I now have two boys, the youngest nearly five and cycle trips include the usual weekly canal tow path and trails with him in tow behind. I also had a Dawes Impulse road bike for speed and fitness training.

In the garage I now have a five year old or so Specialised Rock Hopper and a three year old unused Trek 1500. I think that I would like to consolodate and part of me hankers for a new Dawes Ultra Galaxy. I fondly recall the comfortable ride dynamics. However, in looking reviews on the Dawes, I came accross Thorn which is not a name I know. Having said that I only live 15 miles from Bridgwater the home of Thorn.

I like what I have seen on the Thorn reviews, but I am a little daunted by the choice of bikes available. 

Looking to the future, we are planning a trip back up to Scotland next year for some youth hosteling around the islands, and my youngest will still be in tow. So I need something capable of pulling a trailor bike and carrying a load. I cannot afford to run two bikes now, so will sell the Rockhopper and Trek. The new Thorn would need to be fun to take out on the road on summer evenings and practicle for a day ride with the family and for a once a year tour.

If you have any suggestions as to the bike and configuration, I would be gratefull for some advice. Budget I guess would be £1,500 ish!

Thanks in advance.

John

[julk]

A mid-week trip to Bridgwater is definitely in order to try some Thorn bikes out, see what appeals to you and get advice from the source.

A good starting point might be a Raven Tour with midweight rims and tyres.

[stutho]

Another vote for the Raven Tour.  The Tour is the consummate all rounder and as a bonus you can try it for 100 days risk free - you cant go wrong! 

[freddered]

Raven Tour.

It does everything but Race.  Track down my thread on this forum to see the 2 year history of mine.

My Bike

Going to SJSC in Bridgewater is dangerous.  Leave all money and credit cards at home.

[PH]

What's wrong with what you've got?  And why hasn't the Trek been used?
If I could only have one bike it would probably be a Raven, though in your case more likely the Sport than the Tour as you don't mention camping, it'll be a better trailer puller and probably more fun for fast evening rides.
It'd have to be some bike though to match the versatility of the two you've already got.  I've got a few bikes and I wouldn't swap any two for one, however good that one was.

[stutho]

[Grin mode on] Is this going to be a another RT RST shoot out!!!  [grin mode off] 
In all seriousness both are excellent bikes. I can't imaging ever selling my RST, however the RST is over budget @ £1649