BikeBuddha wrote:doodah wrote:
I read Tom Allen's book and he recommends, and helped design, the Oxford Bike Works Expedition model.
I also read Tom Allen's book, I also visited Oxford Bike Works. I bought a Thorn Raven!!
So why buy a Thorn Raven over an OBW? Why not a Thorn Nomad? And what brand of wellies do you recommend?
When I visited OBW he think he had only been in operation maybe 6 months - 1 year. I do not know for certain. What I did know was his MO didn't feel right to me. I asked myself 'How experienced is he? What will his after sales be like? How good will he be in getting me out a fix abroad?' I wasn't inspired with confidence to make a purchase. Things will obviously gave changed by now and good luck to him.
I immediately left there and went to SJS Cycles in Somerset - being the same day, mind you - where the ambience was totally different . I was measured for height, reach and asked enough questions to be able to return back yo York that night with a quote. I tweaked that quote over the next few days and placed my order.
I bought a Raven because at the time because I was thinking of cycling around Europe, mainly on tarmac roads and good quality trails. I have no regrets over my decision. However, if I was to decide on a RTW tour - which may well happen, subject to my house being sold - I would sell my Raven and buy a Nomad with Gates drive and all the bells and whistles.
When I sold my 1st Raven, I regretted it after a week, boy, did I regret it. A Spa Audax Titanium replaced it and it was fine, a bit too twitchy for me and it didn't put a smile on my face. I sold it and bought a dog of a bike, a Thorn Raven Sport see attached
I then stripped, resprayed and rebuilt this bike, see attached
This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The versatility of this wonderful machine is hard to believe. It will take a reasonably heavy load and has seen me tour France and Spain on it - camping and cooking to boot. I will never part with this. All said and done, I am one who believes in having the correct tools for the job and hates seeing a botch. I want to birch and flay anyone who bodges - no that's too good for them!! If a RTW tour presents itself, I will go once again to SJS Cycles and get duly measured, chew the fat with them over pro's and con's and leave there secure in the knowledge that I have done my best to find the steed that is fit for purpose.
I hope this answers your question - sorry for the long winded reply but some things are not so simple to answer - yes or no - or I dunno!
As regards the wellies, it may be prudent to park that topic now....but saying as how you asked..... definitely steel toe capped wellies and an apron for protection purposes with an appropriately cut out hole.I have no experience of bestiality and must bow to your superior experience based on 50 years of living on Skye. Let's leave that one there shall we?
Cheers
Doodah