Lowering the bar

[ubert767]

My wife rides a sturdy Thorn Raven Nomad and is occasionally having difficulty dismounting during loaded touring due to fatigue and height of the top tube, our tours are mainly on good surfaces with occasional tracks. She is very fond of the bike, its stability and also the Rohloff so is reluctant to change. As a remedy, she is considering having the top tube/seat tube junction lowered into something akin to a step-through frame by someone, say Bob Jackson.
What would be the maximum practical reduction in the height of the junction, is the reduction suggested by the yellow line realistic? I realise that she may loose the use of one of the bottle cage mounts.

Any comments and advice would be welcome.

Thanks,
Rob

[gaz]

I suspect (if the modification can be done at all) it is going to require a new head tube and top tube.

Traditional mixte frames would have a lower top tube than you are proposing: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=122906&p=1244830#p1244830

[Mick F]

The best option would be to replace the frame. It's the frame that's wrong - nothing else.

Buy a suitable frame, then transfer all the components over, then sell the old frame.

[anniesboy]

My wife had exactly this issue with her Thorn xtc, I purchased a step through frame from Thorn.
I moved all components to the new frame and sold the xtc frame.
I am not sure if Thorns do a step through to accommodate a Roholff hub or one with couplings,give them a call.
The current frame should be easy to sell with its couplings.

[foxyrider]

Agree with MickF, its the frame that's the biggest issue. It appears to have an overly high BB so something with a more appropriate geometry would help.

If it's any consolation your wife isn't the only one to have such issues - one reason I like my Airnimal for touring is the open frame.

[pwa]

New frame. Even if it is possible, any modification to the frame will necessitate repainting and the whole thing will take you a good part of the way towards the cost of a new frame. And those frames are welded, not brazed, so taking a tube out is going to be messy. Why not see what Thorn have to offer?https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/frames/390s-thorn-raven-tour-st-step-through-frame-twin-plate-fork-traditional-british-racing-green-with-discrete-decals/

[Geoffroid]

There is not a lot of seatpost showing, but you could try a dropper post.

[scottg]

The S&S couplers make lowering the tube even more complicated,
and expensive, you may need need a new coupler.

Sell the frame.

[PH]

If it's any consolation your wife isn't the only one to have such issues - one reason I like my Airnimal for touring is the open frame.

+1 for an Airnimal, the Joey easily takes a Rohloff and the fold does away with the need for the couplers. Wide tyres make it comfortable enough for me, though it isn’t the fastest (Neither was my Raven)

[[XAP]Bob]

Just replace the frame... get one with similar geometry, but a lower top tube.

Any modification is going to really mess with the structure

[gregoryoftours]

No need for an expensive frame swap, she just needs to slip on a pair of these as she comes to a halt:

(Sorry)

[ubert767]

Just to complete the picture....................

Back in July of this year I asked the forum for its opinion on a frame modification to my wife's Thorn Nomad to reduce the height of the top tube. Several responses were offered, for which I was grateful, and the consensus was that it was best to replace the frame rather than modify. I did some searching around but couldn't find a satisfactory replacement Rohloff frame so decided to go ahead with my original plan.
Just received it back from Bob Jacksons and built it up today. I'm really pleased with the results, they did a lovely job using the original head tube and SS coupling.

Rob

[Mick F]

Excellent news!
Great colour too.

Well done!

[Mike_Ayling]

Just to complete the picture....................

Back in July of this year I asked the forum for its opinion on a frame modification to my wife's Thorn Nomad to reduce the height of the top tube. Several responses were offered, for which I was grateful, and the consensus was that it was best to replace the frame rather than modify. I did some searching around but couldn't find a satisfactory replacement Rohloff frame so decided to go ahead with my original plan.
Just received it back from Bob Jacksons and built it up today. I'm really pleased with the results, they did a lovely job using the original head tube and SS coupling.

Modified.JPG

Rob

Would you like to share with us what it cost?

Mike

[ubert767]

Just to complete the picture....................

Back in July of this year I asked the forum for its opinion on a frame modification to my wife's Thorn Nomad to reduce the height of the top tube. Several responses were offered, for which I was grateful, and the consensus was that it was best to replace the frame rather than modify. I did some searching around but couldn't find a satisfactory replacement Rohloff frame so decided to go ahead with my original plan.
Just received it back from Bob Jacksons and built it up today. I'm really pleased with the results, they did a lovely job using the original head tube and SS coupling.

Modified.JPG

Rob

Would you like to share with us what it cost?

Mike

Don't mind if I do, the total cost was £420 which includes dent removal, respray and collection & delivery.

Rob