Bazwaldo's current dream Nomad spec!

[Barry Webber]

Thanks for all the comments.
Great link about the S&S couplers Jim, that looks to be a very neat solution with the solid case, still puzzled as to how he fits 27" wheels into a 26" box!
Dan and Andy I have already visited Thorn last September and had a look around the premises with Lisa who kindly allowed me to have a spin around the block on a Nomad.  I enjoyed this but was unable to try it on any hills as Bridgwater is pretty flat.
I live in Street which is only about 13 miles away, I cycled in on my Ebike.
Naturally I will need to go to Thorn again for the personal consultation and bike fitting.
Looking at the Nomad PDF I think I would need either the 540L or 565M frame as I am quite short at about 5'6" tall with a quite short inside leg.
Thorn give the choice of front brake either side what is best? My Ebike has the front brake on the right side.
They also have different length pedals shorter again I suppose for shorter people?
A lot of people including Andy Blance use SPD pedals, I have never used them but can see the benefits in preventing foot slippage.
Normally I use walking boots on my Ebike as they are waterproof.
What do you use? SPD or plain platform?
Can anyone recommend the best current GPS device available?
I would primarily want it for the map reading side of things and not for the cadence, heart monitoring type of stuff.

Barry.

[Andybg]

Hi

13 miles away! I am sure you will be the envy of many (me included) - I have been banned from spending more than 500ukp on a bike without riding it first.

Pertaining to the side you have the front brake lever on there is no option that is better. It is normal practice in the UK to have it on the right and it is normal practice in the US to have it on the left.

I think there is some benefit to be had in having the best (ie front brake) on the different side to the gear shifter as you may find occasionaly (I have this every time I go out because I live on a very steep hill) you want to change gear at the same time as braking hard. It is not a big issue to change it over if you find your riding style would prefer the other way round.

Do you meen different length cranks as opposed to pedals? I am 6' and run either a 175 or prefferably 170. I would suggest you would be fine with a 170mm crank but as well as being effected by height it is to an extent by personal preffrence.

Regarding spd cleats - it is a bit of a hot potato and you will get options from both sides.

  - they have their benefits and their drawbacks. I use normal shoes and strapless toecaps. I find these give me good location on the pedals but allows me to ride in any shoe. I ride most days and it can sometimes take a couple of days to dry shoes out so if I went to spd I would need a few pairs of cycling shoes. For my riding style the theoretical improved riding efficiency of spds doesnt really become practice.

Again it is an option you can easily play with for not a great investment.

For gps navigation I can nt help you much as I have not used one on a bike but Garmin seems to come up fairly often as a favorite when I have been looking

Hope some of this helps

Andy

[ians]

It is entirely crazy that a mere bicycle costs as much as a car.

Hi Barry - you're quite right.  Cars should be much more expensive.

But as I'm sure you appreciate - or you will after you've had your bike a while - it's not so much about cost as value.  A good bike like a Thorn requires little maintenance compared with a car.  And it will last far longer.  You won't get many services for the price of a Rolhoff hub.  So look on it as an investment.

Take your time especially as you live so close.  Go visit again.  Trust the good folks at Bridgewater - they get it right more often than wrong.  And as you've found there are some extremely knowledgable folks here too.  You have the 100 day guarantee to fall back on if you're not happy.

I hope your dream turns into reality.

best

ian

[Andre Jute]

You will find that when you're used to the Rohloff you change gears much more frequently than with derailleur setups, or even with 8 speed hub gears like the Nexus. It makes sense to have the front brake, used more often, on the other side from the Rohloff shift. Most people have the Rohloff rotary control on the right but it can be fitted on the left if you wish. The front brake then goes to the other side. There's no technical reason not to have the brake on the same side as the gearchange, except convenience. You might also discover that the length of the Rohloff rotary control distances the brake fitting so far from your hand that it is a bit of a reach, so that the brake on controlled by that brake lever is not very controllable, another reason to have the most-used and most-sensitive brake on the other side from the Rohloff gear control.

Andre Jute

[il padrone]

You might also discover that the length of the Rohloff rotary control distances the brake fitting so far from your hand that it is a bit of a reach, so that the brake on controlled by that brake lever is not very controllable, another reason to have the most-used and most-sensitive brake on the other side from the Rohloff gear control.

Ergon GP5 Rohloff-adapted grips solve this (or just cut your regular grip 2" shorter). I find I laways have my hand on the shifter and it is quite OK to brake (lightly) and change gears at the same time.

[Andre Jute]

Not talking about the length of the handlebar grip but the length of the Rohloff Rotary Control. The brake lever must be fitted behind the rotary control, on the far side from the grip, so the length of the brake lever is important. Two finger levers are just too short to reach, four finger levers reach so-so. You get used to it, but it cuts into fine control. So it is smarter to put your front brake on the other side from your Rohloff gear control, where you can modulate the lever properly.

Andre Jute

[il padrone]

Yes, but as the grip is shorter you just run your hand up over the shifter barrel. I have no worries grabbing my brake lever with this set-up. I don't use wee little two-finger levers though.

[NZPeterG]

Hi My bike is a 540L and I have build it up with the best of the best, "Tom" has to be the best Bicycle in the World 
It's Love 

http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=4418.0

Pete . .
 

[Barry Webber]

Nice one Pete,
I wish I had your level of knowledge and experience of components/parts.
I am trying to learn about these things that's why I am so happy to be able to benefit from everyone's kind help and suggestions here in the Forum.
Your bike is really special.
Cheers,
Barry.

[Slammin Sammy]

Il padrone,

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the rotary-looking ring on the inside of your left grip? For a moment, I was confused as to which side had the Rohloff shifter. (Reading on my iPad)

BTW, thanks to you all for your informed commentary on these threads. I'm planning a Nomad build or buy, and have been lurking around here soaking up your knowledge for some time. I too have been grappling with decisions like whether to S&S, and even whether to pre-build one of the two bikes I want to pick up from Bridgwater after the last Ashes test in London this August. Mine will also initially be used to tour the UK and the continent, but set up to be able to tackle the Ozzie outback when I get them home.

It's a very pleasant obsession, this... 
Sam

[Matt2matt2002]

Yes, but as the grip is shorter you just run your hand up over the shifter barrel. I have no worries grabbing my brake lever with this set-up. I don't use wee little two-finger levers though.

Looks like a Cateye Adventure on the bars? If so, please run through how to reset the accumulated altitude figure. I cannot make head nor tail of the instructions on this point. The few times I have tried, I end up resetting the whole flippin thing 

[Andybg]

Hi Sam

I think it is a rotary bell. It is discussed in a bit more depth in this topic :

http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=6173.0

 and is just another question for you to answer on you new bike build (to bell or not to bell)

Andy

[NZPeterG]

Hi Sam

I think it is a rotary bell. It is discussed in a bit more depth in this topic :

http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=6173.0

 and is just another question for you to answer on you new bike build (to bell or not to bell)

Andy

A Bell is a must.

Pete

[Slammin Sammy]

"To bell, or not to bell..."

Now THAT'S a question I hadn't even thought of asking! I usually just bellow! 

[Andybg]

I never bothered with a bell until I started riding in a country where I dont speak the local language that well and not sure what is the norm to say to get the reaction you are looking for. Possibly a situation if you are looking at touring abroad.

Andy