My new Sterling

[bobs]

Hi,  I think the Sterling is a lighter frame with much less carrying capacity.

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

Thorn's Sterling brochure is available as a downloadable .PDF here:
http://www.sjscycles.com/thornpdf/Thorn_Sterling_hires.pdf
Page 7 tells what the bike "is" and "is not", agreeing with Bob's summary immediately above and adding some additional details.
I think it is very nice indeed, and Bob's build especially so!

Best,

Dan.

[ianshearin]

Aha, that was a useful link to the Sterling Dan, thanks.
After reading that brochure it looks like its the Nomad for me and not the Sterling as I was slowly coming round to.
Ian

[il padrone]

Yes, the 15 kg max. payload is severely limiting if you are planning to do any real touring.

[ianshearin]

Aye Padrone, also it says the weight of the rider is limiting as well, I am 100Kg so the max limit of 95Kg for the rider was too much to ignore.

[Andybg]

I dont think you will manage to mintain 100kg for long once you get touring!!!!!

I think comparing the Sterling to the Nomad is very similar to comparing the Ripio to the Sherpa. I have thought though you could probably realisticaly increase that load by 10-15kg using the mt tura fork on both

Andy

[bobs]

The Sterling with 10 kg up front and 15 kg is all I think i need. This keeps below the weight restrictions with the likes of Easyjet. Last 3 trips managed to keep it below 20 kg with camping gear. The more capacity you have the more your likely to use it. Its amazing what you don't need.
The Sterling is no longer made and the Nomad has taken over its role.

Bob

[ianshearin]

The Nomad is indeed the way to go, I was still eyeing up that Sterling that was up for sale last Month by Dave Whittle, havent seen any indication it has been sold.

With Suss forks and some addons the Nomad is gonna cost me 3k, thats a lot of dosh for a bike in my world..  

[Danneaux]

The Sterling is no longer made and the Nomad has taken over its role.

Perhaps the Nomad "X" is the Sterling's spiritual successor?

Remarkably light weights for your touring kit, Bob; well done! You're absolutely correct; if you have the capacity you will fill it, and very little gear is actually needed, as I am finding out with my SOL Kit for casual/unexpected camping: Bivy tent/footprint, lightweight down bag good to freezing, pad, meths stove and fuel, two nesting alu cups with lid, and a telescoping spoon. -- done! Just add some dehydrated soups, some dried meat, and several energy bars, and I'm set for back-to-back 300km days and local exploration at the midpoint. All fits in my rack-top pack and on my rear rack. Rain gear, tights, longsleeve wool jersey, wind jacket, and a hat fold nicely into the HB bag so I'm set for 3-seasons camping use at reasonable elevations, the Nomad still providing go-anywhere access on logging roads and such.

That said, I sure seem to find myself carrying more on longer trips (my chair, for example!)

The Nomad Mk2 is a heavier bike with a higher weight capacity, but can always be ridden lightly laden, as can any bike. We're fortunate Thorn provide so many choices!

[EDIT:

With Suss forks and some addons the Nomad is gonna cost me 3k, thats a lot of dosh for a bike in my world.

In DanneauxWorld, too! There is also the used market with aftermarket mods like the forks added After for some overall savings, or SJSC discounts on returned/demo/overstock bikes. When making purchases, I try to balance object/item/component/bike cost against trip cost. Less spent on one means more for the other.

A last note...rider weight is a factor in a given bike's overall payload capacity, so if one tends more toward Clydesdale than ectomorph, a frame with greater load capacity can be a real boon.]

All the best,

Dan.

[Joatamon]

Bobs, I wish you every success with your touring but my experience is that the Sterling is suitable for only the lightest of loads.   I bought one, save reason as you, medium frame and with that monster mt-tura front fork which seems even stiffer than a Nomad one.

First tour with it, all-up camping load including the bags themselves, under 19kg, about 6 of which on the front.  Plus water in the frame bottles but no bar bag.  I'm about 80 kg.   And I got shimmy!  Not really bad like Danneaux'  but enough to be very annoying.

Next tour I reverted to my RST, much better, and my son who came with me rode the Sterling with even less weight, in fact nothing on the front at all.  Different tyres.  He got shimmy too.

So, jus' sayin', be prepared to really cut your load to the bone.  Have a good loaded test ride first.

[bobs]

Will do a few runs before my next big trip in may. Never had a problem fully loaded with either a Sherpa or Raven Tour even at some silly speeds downhill.    I see the capacity for the RST  on the rear is 17 kg so there is not much difference really. 

Bob.

[ianshearin]

Aye Dan, I am keeping a sharp eye on any bargains that materialise.
I still have some Months before I need to get the bike, problem is, each day gets me more and more excited and eager to start putting the gear together.
My Brooks B17 is almost run in now and waiting for its new home 

[bobs]

Some photos off a recent trip Aviemore to Granton on Spey and back.

[jags]

Wow fantastic photos bob all that sunshine. so how's the bike your certainly putting it through the mill on that track did it preform well 

[bobs]

Hi Jags

It performed very well just like an old school rigid mountain bike.

Bob