Vik's Sterling MTB

[vik]

My daughter's just finished a year at UBC - so she knows all about Canadian snow.

UBC...snow???....lmao...Vancouver gets a couple snow falls, but that's not even a mild Canadian winter compared to the rest of the country....damn dreary though!  I'll take cold and sunny over cool and glum...

What is she studying?

Am still fiddling around with the Sterling - have not made up my mind about sus forks yet so am using the steel ones (like those on the Nomad).  Gives it a retro look which I quite like.  Only problem is tyre size.  I'm running a cheap pair of Schwalbe Land Cruisers for now - not sure if I could fit a decent fat tyre in the those forks - any ideas?

Ian I don't know for certain, but I'd be shocked if a Thorn fork didn't have room for 2.0" XRs and fenders.

As for suspension forks - the only brand I can recommend is Fox...expensive, but well worth it.  You can rebuild their products and use them for as long as you care to.  Every time I've bought something other than Fox I've regretted it and wished I had just paid the extra $$$ for a quality product.

safe riding,

Vik
www.thelazyrando.com

[vik]

Shimano SLX disc brakes installed...



front caliper...





front lever with adjustable reach...



rear caliper...



Note Monkey Bone caliper adapter and the OEM2 torque arm fitting together under the caliper.



Rohloff, 8 spd chain, 36T x 16T ratio



a trusty set of Time ATAC pedals installed...

That's it so far....next up install the Rohloff shifter, cables, EX gear mech and saddle.

safe riding,

Vik
www.thelazyrando.com

[vik]

I got the Rohloff cabled in this AM and the bike is rolling.  I need to get some work done this afternoon, but hopefully I'll get her out for a test ride today...

safe riding,

Vik
www.thelazyrando.com

[jags]

im very impressed vik great job.

[vik]

im very impressed vik great job.

Thanks - clearly I'm not objective, but this bike is drop dead gorgeous....   A lot nicer than what I was expecting.

I didn't get a ride in on her today and I have an epic Pugsley ride planned in the Rockies for Saturday, but Sunday looks open for a Sterling test session...

safe riding,

Vik
www.thelazyrando.com

[ians]

What is she studying?

her degree was Environmental Science - she's landed a job as a trainee forecaster for the British Meteorological Office (pause for proud Dad bit).  Very handy right now.

Getting back to the Sterling - I see you went for the black finish - very nice.  They were out of stock when I ordered mine so went for the green.  Which I quite like as it's a bit different.  Now - I'd go for the black.  Probably.

I really like the Sterling - it turns a lot of heads around here - people can't quite make out what it is - and the Rohloff always confuses people - "is it a fixed?" - is it a Sturmey Archer?"

The only real drag with the forks is the need to deflate the tyres every time I want to remove the front wheel - even with the land cruisers which are not large tyres by any means.  The brakes are the limiting factor in wheel removal.

take care

ian

[vik]

her degree was Environmental Science - she's landed a job as a trainee forecaster for the British Meteorological Office (pause for proud Dad bit).  Very handy right now.

Congratulations - clearly excellent parenting.... I've tried to make my parents proud by being continually employed since I was 17years old and joining the army so they didn't have to pay for my schooling...lol...I hope they appreciated the number of trenches I had to dig to save them my university costs...

The black Sterling is a nice colour...I had a black Sherpa so I knew I would like it....I'm quite impressed with the quality of Thorn's powder coat.  My Nomad is probably the same green as your Sterling and I like that a lot as well....makes me feel like I'm riding an Army bike...I have a Swiss passport and have day dreamed about moving there and looking for a job with the bicycle mountain troops.  I've kind of had enough of the army, but getting to ride bicycles might be just the motivation I'd need to reconsider....

Speaking of tire clearance the Sterling with suspension fork and disc brakes eats up 2.4" tires without even a grumble. 

I have had a poke through the members gallery for some photos of your Sterling with no success - am I blind or are there none posted?

I did find these fine bikes:

http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=1459.0

http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=1786.0

safe riding,

Vik
www.thelazyrando.com

[ians]

The British Army used folding bikes during the WW2 - the matt green and stenciled decals is very reminiscent of those bikes.

You're not blind - I haven't posted a picture yet, am waiting until I shorten the steerer.  Maybe in the next week or so.

Have a good weekend.

ian