Thorn Audax one part at a time

[nztony]

Insert Quote
If you are going to the UK Tony, why don't order it ahead, collect it personally and bring it home as accompanied luggage?

Graham

Good idea and I have contemplated that, but I'll already have my Nomad MK2 and all my touring gear, tent, sleeping bag, you name it, so I'll be paying extra baggage fees as it is, before adding extras.

Tony

[Vintagetourer]

Quite right that wouldn't work Tony. One too many bikes to carry!
I hope they give you a reasonable quote for freight. I can't imagine it will be much different to mine.
By the way, mine arrived remarkably fast. It was at the front door in about a week.

[nztony]

Graham

They gave me a better quote than you had by the looks of things, at £109.
They also steered me towards the Club Tour, describing it "as it is basically an Audax on steroids" as the upper weight limit for the Audax is 95kg and I better that by quite some way.

I  told the Thorn rep I wanted a faster bike for day rides and he advised me "the Club Tour will be a vast improvement on a day ride bike over a Nomad and it will be like a Land Rover Vs a Ferrari." I smiled at this reply as I have told many people, when the ask about my Nomad, that it is the "Land Rover Defender" of bicycles, so it was fascinating to see the Thorn rep using the same example.

Now that I have read the Club Tour pdf, I think it looks a very nice bike, so not at all concerned with the new recommendation.

Tony

[Vintagetourer]

Great... but Tony I suggest you think carefully about it, and get a few opinions on the comparative geometries of the two frames. It's a long way for a frame to go to NZ and not be quite right.

Personally I think the Club is more comparable to a light version of (say) a Surly 700c. That is, a more relaxed geometry and a bit heavier. I also looked at the Audax vs the Club Tour.

The Audax is tight, nippy but more elongated than a 'real' racing bike ... whatever that is. The rear wheel doesn't sit as close to the front wheel as it would in a real climbing bike. The Club is slightly more stretched, And a bit more robust.

I decided that if I need to carry four panniers, then I will take my Sherpa or Bike Friday. Anything less ie max. two panniers, the Audax would do the job.

Mine is very close to finished. As soon as I have a ride, I can tell you what it's capable of.

Gut feel? Get the Audax. But get a more opinions than mine!

[honesty]

where did you get the weight limit data for the audax? I'm 95kg butt naked first thing in the morning, and my audax handles me +10kg of luggage nicely.

[jags]

tony for faster day rides why not go for something like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnP3SeK3_jg
the nomad will do all your touring or loaded needs these bikes are basically speed machines.
just saying.

jags.

[David Simpson]

... I have told many people, when the ask about my Nomad, that it is the "Land Rover Defender" of bicycles, so it was fascinating to see the Thorn rep using the same example.

That is exactly how I have considered my Nomad.  I consider that "Nomad" vs "normal road bike" is like "Land Rover" vs "Lotus".  And I've always been a Land-Rover-kind-of-guy.

- Dave

[JimK]

Yeah Land Rover is my characterization too, but around here they look more luxury than tough. Thanks for dialing in the "Defender" model. That hits the target perfectly!

[David Simpson]

Yeah Land Rover is my characterization too, but around here they look more luxury than tough. Thanks for dialing in the "Defender" model. That hits the target perfectly!

Unless it's a Defender (or older model), I don't consider it to be a true Land Rover.   I used to own a Jeep CJ-7 (sold it to buy a ring), and anything with carpet on the floor is unnecessary luxury.

- Dave

[nztony]

Honesty

where did you get the weight limit data for the audax?

I am reluctant to paste the email I received from SJS here, but here is the main paragraph.
I say reluctant, as I don't want to embarrass or make it awkward for SJS by posting what the writer thought was a private email into a public forum. If the ''forum" thinks this isn't a good idea let me know and I will remove it, as I don't feel totally respectful doing this.

QUOTE
Unfortunately I do not agree with your proposal of an Audax frame due to the weight limit of the rider being 15 stone (95kg). I understand your point that you will not ride with luggage and you will be on sealed roads but I would still strongly advise against this and I would push the Club Tour on you as it is basically an Audax on steroids.. It can carry more which will help with the rider weight and it can take a larger tyre which can also be an advantage. I do not want to sound harsh but I really want to stress about the weight limit of the bike and we would have to sale that frame without a warranty knowing this.
UNQUOTE

I am quite amazed how we all seem to refer to our Nomads as Land Rovers.

Jags, I've watched your Youtube link, I'd be too scared to ride a carbon bike at my almost 130kg, I'd be scared of snapping it. Or are these carbon frames stronger than steel, so I have nothing to worry about? I've just assumed carbon isn't as strong as a steel frame. However it would be hard to beat the 499 pounds of the Club Tour I would guess (plus another 100 for the fork.)

Wheels are sorted from wheelworks.co.nz who built my Nomad wheels and have no concern building 700c wheels for my size:  White Ind T11 hubs. DT Swiss 585 rims, bladed DT Swiss Aerolite.

I really should be sensible and leave a faster bike for now, and keep saving for my UK trip!

Anyway got to go, off for a short-ish 35km ride on the Nomad. (Short as I've finished a 12 hour night shift and had 4 hours sleep, but if I had anymore I wouldn't sleep tonight)

Tony

[Andybg]

I have two Defenders (certainly of the utlilitarian type) but must me getting soft in my old age as I have just bought a Discovery. It has carpets and even air con - very Cushdy.

My main concern with running an Audax would be the limit on width of tyres and the pressure you would have to inflate them to; it could certainly limit the comfort factor of the bike.

Having said that if you have nice smooth roads I cannot see it being that much of an issue.

My last carbon framed bike I bought had a max rider limit of 85kg but I am sure thay do make carbon frames that would be strong enough.

I must say I am sold on wide tyres and am just waiting for a second hand xtc coming up in my size for a sportier alternative to the Nomad. Although I do keep looking at that R&B Tour with the 853 fork.

Andy

[Vintagetourer]

Tony having read the advice sent to you from Thorn, I'll back pedal on my earlier opinion and agree the Club is probably the right choice. To Thorn's credit they give good, frank advice by email. They have done a lot of customer and bike match-making so should know what they are talking about.

If you get the right size Club frame, then you can shop around for trick components on sale and build a speedy, light, fun bike that will encourage you to get out and hurtle around the backroads without the encumbrance of a load.

I'm about 80kg (depending on pie intake) and 5' 10" in the old currency.

[John Saxby]

And Tony, if you're looking at a Club Tour with slightly wider 700c tires, have a look at the new offerings by Grand Bois:  http://www.compasscycle.com/tires_700C.html

Have seen a few comments and they sound great for light touring/randonneuring/day rides.

Cheers,

John

[honesty]

Ah fair enough. I was told I was nearing the limit and not to go for the carbon forks when I ordered mine but was never actually told what the limit was. I went for the carbon forks anyway and they've been fine, though I am now changing these to the 853 ones.

[leftpoole]

Ah fair enough. I was told I was nearing the limit and not to go for the carbon forks when I ordered mine but was never actually told what the limit was. I went for the carbon forks anyway and they've been fine, though I am now changing these to the 853 ones.

Hello,
In my opinion Thorn are paranoid regarding carbon forks and indeed carbon in general.
I now have carbon forks on three bikes (steel on the Club Tour) and I ride fast over numerous cattle grids through the New Forest area with no problem.
Thorn warranty Thorn bike frames because they can as the costs to them would be low. Steel overbuilt bikes are great, but the carbon fork must (I admit) make a difference to the ride.
I see no reason why any limit is imposed as after all F1 cars are built in carbon and most Tour de France bikes also. Most of these emerge unscathed by falls etc?
Best regards,
John