Introducing my new Club Tour

[Chris M]

Hello All, I've finally finished building my new Club Tour, it took a bit longer than I expected but it's my first build so was learning along the way with much help from the forum.

I've used some parts from my old Trek; crankset, stem, shifters, seat post and tyres being reused. The new Marathon Supremes I ordered are still missing despite the courier having delivered them….somewhere! The rack has also come from my Trek. Everything else is new.
Full Shimano XT components, 26/36/48 chainset with an 11-34T cassette at the rear. The wheels are also brand new, hand built by DCR Wheels; DT Swiss TK540 Rims with XT hubs (36H rear, 32H front). All topped off with my new B17 Special sitting on a Thomson Elite Setback post
I've cut the steerer but left 40mm to play with while I make the necessary adjustments to fit etc.

I'd like to add a Carradice saddlebag but don't have much clearance with only 100mm to the top edge of the rack. I've got Ortlieb Back Rollers for my commute but they're a bit big for day rides. I might be able to squeeze in a Carradice Zipped Roll, I think the green one with honey straps would look good against the saddle.

Chris

[honesty]

Looks rather nice! Are those ergon gp5 grips? I've got GP4 ones on mine and was wondering what difference the little bit at the very top makes.

On the carridice bags, sounds like the opportunity to get a lowsaddle longflap bag

[Chris M]

Thanks honesty. The grips are GP5, that's what it said on the box they came in but printed on them is GC3, I'm pretty sure they are the same thing though. I've looked at the Carradice Low Saddle but it's got a height of 19cm and I'm not sure how much clearance it needs below the saddle, anyone know?

Cheers

Chris

[jags]

that's one cool looking bike great build first rate
I'm dead curious to know how it rides loaded up rear panniers,i have no doubt its a comfy ride but whats it like at high speed  like steep down hill, does it climb well, is the paint work good.
any hassle with the build .
sorry for so many questions but i can't make my mind up on that club tour or going for the Audax frameset,
i reckon i' will only be using rear panniers and barbag on whatever frame i go for.

anyway super looking bike enjoy every pedal stroke stay safe.

jags.

[John Saxby]

Nice bike, Chris -- well done!  Really like the dark green -- wisht there was such a colour available for my New Raven. (My preferred colours are dark green and midnight blue, but they're not so common, unfortunately.)  Happy & safe riding when the weather permits.

[Danneaux]

Hi Chris!

Another Thorn pride and joy, and deservedly so! You've done a wonderful job on the build and it looks fantastic, everything "just so". You can feel really proud of the bike and the work you've done.

So good to see a new Club Tour in the gallery; they're fine looking bikes, so versatile, and oh that lovely color!  

All congratulations your way; many happy journeys, Chris.

Best,

Dan.

[rualexander]

You could fit a Carradice Barley saddlebag on there easily enough, it would rest on the rack top but that would be ok,.

[Chris M]

Thanks for all the good comments.

jags; the paintwork seems to a really good standard, I found no flaws in it during the build, time will tell if it holds up but I've no reason to expect it not to. The only problem I had with the actual build was my lack of knowledge/experience and having the wrong derailleur etc. Once I'd sorted that out it was fairly straight forward. Surprisingly, I found the mud guards the most awkward to fit and get right. The Club Tour has the mounting bolt for the rear mud guard on a bridge under the seat, the hole points in an upwards direction, I had to fit the slide on bridge part of the mudguard and then bend the whole lot back on itself to fit it, covering the head of the bolt in the process. It's going to make removing them awkward  but not impossible.
The only other problem was fitting the brakes to the wrong levers, I had the front brake connected to the lever on the left side of the handlebar. I only noticed it late last night so got the stand out again to put it right.

As for the actual ride; I'll update you as I get to know the bike better. I haven't had it out yet (I'm nursing bruised ribs from quite a big 'off' the week before Xmas and haven't ridden since), I'm hoping to have the first ride tomorrow to make sure it's all running OK for my commute on Monday.

rualexander; thanks for the tip, I'll look into that. I've just come back from Condor Cycles with the Zipped Roll and it fits perfectly but would like something that would take all my commute gear during the week. The Zipped Roll seems perfect for a short ride with just tools and a lightweight jacket.

[Danneaux]

Surprisingly, I found the mud guards the most awkward to fit and get right. The Club Tour has the mounting bolt for the rear mud guard on a bridge under the seat, the hole points in an upwards direction...

Hi Chris! If you ever wish to, you can remove the clip and drill a hole in the mudguard to accept a bolt going straight through and into the mounting boss on the seatstay bridge, as Thorn do. To fill the gap, they use a nut or two and washers as needed. Makes a very secure assembly and easy removal and replacement if needed.

So sorry to hear about the "off"; hope the ribs feel better soonest!

Best,

Dan.

[Chris M]

Many thanks Dan, I hadn't considered that. At some point I'll definitely change it over and mount it that way as it looks a bit odd the way it is.

[Relayer]

Great looking bike Chris. I really like the British Racing Green, and the decals on the older Thorns - as opposed to the current decals.

You could always put a front pannier on the back for your commute.

Happy cycling.
Jim

[John Saxby]

Shimano XT components, 26/36/48 chainset with an 11-34T cassette at the rear

A further thought, Chris:  On my current Eclipse touring bike, I've used a variety of der's & chainsets over the past ten years, and currently have Shim Deore's fore and aft, 24-36-48 at the front and 12 - 36 at the rear.

The ratios on this current setup work quite well for me.  For example, the 24T small ring mated to the 36T cog at the rear (giving approx 18.3 gear-inches) allows me to pedal my loaded bike up some steep-ish hills (grade unknown, but I'd guess about 15%.)  Depending on your use, that may be a lower low than you need.  I've also found that the middle chainring at the front suits for about 90% of my riding unloaded, & about 80% when loaded.

I've had recurrent derailleur adjustment problems over the years, however, with both this and other setups--at the level of serious nuisance rather than catastrophe, happily, but enough to exhaust my patience with the device.  It's largely for that reason that I'm having a New Raven-with-Rohloff built this Jan/Feb (with gear ratios which give me a couple of gears below my current gear-inch low.)  The Eclipse will be "retired" to day rides, lightly loaded or unloaded.  Dan's generous and informed advice has helped me greatly to get a better adjustment on my rear der (the main source of irritation in the past).  And interestingly, Graham Smith in Australia (a Sherpa rider) has also observed that he's had no major problems with Shim products beginning with "X".  So, good luck with your XT setup!

[Andre Jute]

That bike looks really purposeful, just ready to pounce.

[Chris M]

Thanks Jim, the colour was a major selling point for me. Before deciding on the Thorn, I'd spent ages playing on the Mercian bike builder and always came back to the BRG. I didn't realise the graphics had changed, the box my frame came in says it is a 2008 model but I'm not sure what model (if any) that is.

John, like yourself; most of my riding only uses the middle chainring. I had considered the 44/32/22 set up but as I had the larger one already decided to keep that, more due to saving money than anything else. The 44/32/22 would be a better option for me though as I'd have more usable gear options. I'll keep my eye open for one though in the future as they are already being heavily discounted.  I've got faith in the XT set up especially after finding out that I'd run it for a couple of years with the wrong cage rear derailleur, it was hard to adjust but ran OK when set up.

I'm now waiting for a break in the rain, for some reason I don't want my first ride on it to be in the wet!

[nztony]

Chris, I've a new Thorn too, a Nomad MK2, and I don't want to get it wet either! It has been raining a lot here lately and it's our summer here in New Zealand, so I have been reverting back to my bush walks when it has been raining - I don't care if I get wet. So far I've been able to ride it 10 times since my first ride on December 19th for just over 300kms and in that time I have only been brave enough to take it out in some very very light drizzle once. Good luck with the weather and good luck for the first ride.