Thanks PH for the comments and suggestions.
The bike shop people were encouraging. At first they thought it would be too big. So I didn't have them pull it off the racks or try it or look at it again more "seriously" for 9 months... It sat there, and i couldn't help "wanting" it, everytime i came in.
One day, one of the bike shop people said, we won't know if we don't take it down and you try it...
An expert, and very helpful friend of theirs was there, also, a representative for Innova Bike Tires, and he helped me and was, exceedingly knowledgeable, and thought it worked for me, seeing me on it, adjusting seat height, and having me do various things.
I have test-ridden it 5 times and like it very much, like a child with his first bike, but the geometry is so odd compared to anything i've been on in the past, it's hard to judge. I ride it eveytime i make a payment on it.
I think I can standover it to my satisfaction.
obviously some extra inches of clearance would be nice, when getting on off in tricky situations.
there is not 3 or even 2 extra inches there though. 3/4 to one inch standover.
But i'm used to that on my mountain bike riding through intense inner city traffic with huge potholes, unexpected curbs, trucks driving you down, and no place to go, quite often, but THROUGH whatever obstacle appears...
I got the old mountain bike for free, though and couldn't chose a fitting. The standover is similar, and i'm also up on tippy toes when on the saddle on the mountian bike, just like the thorn...
there is an odd feeling on the Thorn that I'm higher up in the air. i don't know if this is cause it's so big, or that i'm not used to its geometry.
Yet the Thorn seems like a Lambourghini compared to my old mountain bike.
Ironic, yes?
Also the avid shorty brakes, while not being disc, or even the higher quality available, almost throw me over the handlebars if i don't watch out... (they can be adjusted to soften as there are no stuffed panniers and packs on the bike yet)...
Not known for being light, the Thorn Nomad, nevertheless, seems wildly responsive, almost too much so (i'll have to get used to it), but, of course it has no load on it yet, but my own body when riding.
The Innova Bike Tire rep who thought it was a bit suprising, but that not only did I seem to fit fine on the bike, in his opinon but :
he, totally unaware of Thorns,... remember this is L.A., kept being amazed looking at the quality of the construction of the bike... It was cool...
He kept saying "Wow, look at this. Look at the workmanship!" He had never seen a Thorn frame before. So I was delighted with his feedback, and that he thought it would work for me.
So, I certainly hope your criteria might be correct. Me being able to standover it to my satisfaction and enjoy riding it.
It's hard to evaluate as i'm not used to riding a "correct" sized bike of such different geometry.... I do love it.
I appreciate any and all other ideas and thoughts.
I've tried deciphering Peter White's formula before, (thanks for mentioning it. i had gone to his site many times to look at Atlantis bikes, etc.) but got overwhelmed at his "simple" formula. I love to ride, but am ignorant...
I'll try to take pictures of me ON the bike, next to it, straddling it, etc. and get them on the webpage i've been building on it :
Thank you PH.
sincerely, Procyon...
by the way, hasn't Thorn changed the geometry of the Nomad since building my bike ?
again i'll update the pictures soon :
http://www.charityadvantage.com/lampartproject/x.asp
