Thorn (on my side)

[fiveSixteenths]

Well, very pleased to now be the owner of an early Mk1 Thorn Nomad (big thanks to @PeterPerfect for putting in up for sale) as the next project.
Plans are for a lovely tourer, dynamos, racks, campagnolo drivetrain and am wavering between leaving as is or getting a fresh coat of paint…
More news once I’ve raided the parts bins this weekend.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Looks nice and should build up into a great ride.
Look forward to seeing it progress. Always good to see a tourer come together.

Jamie

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Selfish two hours in the sunshine this afternoon to see what fits / doesn’t / needed / could be bodged
Main issue is the drivetrain
I have a Chorus bb but it’s a 101 and I need a 111mm axle version
Then I need 9spd shifters (maybe bar end versions?), an fd - the 28.5mm bracket version, ideally Chorus (got Veloce, Mirage, Croce D’une lol) and a medium or long cage rd to match (I have half a dozen but they’re all short eights. I am an idiot collector.)
The seat tube is 27.2 but the black anodised one I have doesn’t fit. But the polished Laparade one does. WTF. Reaming might work it
The black ITM stem and drops are nice, going to try and make that work
Other bits and bobs for checking out so we’ll see
The tyres are nice but even at 40psi are cracking so will need to look at replacing them in due course
Overall, am happy and now getting a better idea of what’s going on here
But that front rack! Lol. Need a better bracket

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Coming along now
Have nearly all the parts
NIB 115.5 bb does the trick for triple clearance (phew)
Just waiting for the nice post people to drop off a fm clamp and a rm
Then rivnut-fix the boss I ruined : (

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Some progress
Sort of sorted the f*cked bottle boss, will need weldtite/araldide security but that’s ok
Am at the ‘offering up everything to see’ stage and the stack and reach seems ok when I’m sat in
The NIB bb is so buttery smooth
The triple clearance is perfect
Apologies for the spaghetti cable nonsense, need to tidy all that shit up
Now thinking, what about just rust-o-le-am gel on all the surface rusty chips and then nailpolish over in black?
I mean, it would reward / deserve a respray really?
Will try and get the brakes worked out tomorrow
Am under a deadline kind of as well to get everything sorted for a ride next month, yikes : )

 

[grantoury]

Its starting to look like a serious bike. A touring bicycle doesn't have to be pristine, I think.

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Its starting to look like a serious bike. A touring bicycle doesn't have to be pristine, I think.

Am thinking you’re right about not being too precious about the finish
Got some mudguards in the loft, touring bikes do mudguards don’t they?

 

[grantoury]

Am thinking you’re right about not being too precious about the finish
Got some mudguards in the loft, touring bikes do mudguards don’t they?

yeah

 

[fiveSixteenths]

yeah

Right, next job then

 

[fiveSixteenths]

So, we now have mudguards
Needed a bit of modification (because, well, mudguards) and they are ‘generously cut’ ha ha for loads of trail-crap clearance
Cable nonsense also now in hand
Can also confirm the back brake canti-brifter-combo actually works
Hopefully last few bits will arrive in the post tomorrow