A Thorny Question

[ubert767]

For the last ten years my wife ( 5" 1" in height) has had a Thorn Nomad with S & S couplings, a bike which as you will know is robustly built! It has served her well and she likes the convenience of the Rohloff hub and occasionally the couplings but time has marched on so is now looking for something a bit lighter. Day to day use and light touring is the aim.
Can anyone suggest a frame set to purchase which would accept the transfer of the Rohloff hub and other components, even a step-through perhaps? I'm aware of the Thorn Raven ST option, is there anything else out there, would a fresh start be better?
Thanks,
Rob

[PH]

There's a fair bit of choice, though not much of it available in the UK. One that is comes from Van Nicholas, Ti step through Amazon Rohloff (EDIT I thought this was 26" but maybe not, though I seem to recall seeing a 26" VN Rohloff)
http://www.cyclesense.co.uk/m1b0s633p16 ... hloff-2016
There's a list here of plenty of others, some may have UK dealers though it might not be something they stock
http://www.cyclingabout.com/a-complete- ... ugh-mixte/

I changed my Thorn Raven frame for a custom made Ti one some years ago. It's a different bike in many ways, wheel size and geometry, it worked well for me and was more suitable for my use, but the weight saving was insignificant. If saving weight is the primary goal, I'd look at where else it can go before the expense of changing the frame. IMO transferring everything to a frame that is just a bit lighter isn't going to make much difference. Also note what the above link says about step through frames and weight:

In order to achieve the same stiffness and strength, step-through frames often use heavier frame tubing; resulting in a heavier bike

[pwa]

Maybe just bite the bullet and get a nice little Thorn Audax with a wide range of conventional gears. That will really feel lighter on roads and smooth tracks.

[julk]

I ride a Thorn Rohloff, I am on my second.
The biggest difference to ride and feel of the bike has been a change to lighter tubes plus lighter and more flexible tyres, 2” width run at fairly low pressures.
Worth a try.

[Roadster]

Maybe just bite the bullet and get a nice little Thorn Audax with a wide range of conventional gears.

You mean, forget the whole silly Rohloff idea and go back to crude, filthy, high-maintenance derailleurs?

[pwa]

Maybe just bite the bullet and get a nice little Thorn Audax with a wide range of conventional gears.

You mean, forget the whole silly Rohloff idea and go back to crude, filthy, high-maintenance derailleurs?

Yep. I've got both and yes, if cleaning was the main concern I'd prefer the Rohloff. Likewise, if the occasional bit of maintenance is an issue. But for a bike used for occasional leisure rides those are not top of the list of factors. The OP will find it easier to finish up with a light, fun bike for a small cyclist if he forgets the Rohloff.

[Roadster]

if cleaning was the main concern I'd prefer the Rohloff. Likewise, if the occasional bit of maintenance is an issue. But for a bike used for occasional leisure rides those are not top of the list of factors.

But surely, nor is a bit of extra weight in the gear system...

Alfine is lighter than Rohloff, so weight could be saved in that way without abandoning the convenience of hub gears.

[rualexander]

Maybe just bite the bullet and get a nice little Thorn Audax with a wide range of conventional gears.

You mean, forget the whole silly Rohloff idea and go back to crude, filthy, high-maintenance derailleurs?

You can put a Rohloff on any bike, so it would work well on a Thorn Audax, you just need a Rohloff torque arm and probably a cable adjuster bracket as the v brake version wouldn't work without v brakes.
You don't need a chain tensioner if you choose your sprocket/chainring combo carefully.
I've been running an Alfine 8 hub on my Audax Mk3 for the past 2 years, would have been a Rohloff if I could justify buying another!

[pwa]

if cleaning was the main concern I'd prefer the Rohloff. Likewise, if the occasional bit of maintenance is an issue. But for a bike used for occasional leisure rides those are not top of the list of factors.

But surely, nor is a bit of extra weight in the gear system...

Alfine is lighter than Rohloff, so weight could be saved in that way without abandoning the convenience of hub gears.

No problem if that is what the lady wants. I've been changing gears "the normal way" for donkeys years and get on with it very well, so for me the advantages of Rohloff are small. The sluggishness bothers me a bit and I'd not opt for Rohloff or any other hub gear if I were looking for an easier time getting over hills. If I were looking for a low maintenance bike to get to work it would be a different story.

[chocjohn9]

The Amazon Rohloff is 700c, for sure. My wife has one
I don't think VN make a touring/Rohloff/26" now adays.

[Roadster]

I've been running an Alfine 8 hub... for the past 2 years, would have been a Rohloff if I could justify buying another!

After a lifetime of using derailleurs, so have I and find it well suited to recreational cycling. I too considered Rohloff but simply couldn't justify the additional expense. Besides, I don't need all those closely spaced ratios over that huge range and neither, I suspect, does the OP's wife.

It seems to me that if a lighter bike is the principal aim, weight needs to be saved over the whole machine to be worthwhile, not just the frame, the gear system or the wheels/tyres alone. This would mean a completely fresh start with, say, an Audax-type frame, Alfine 8 hub gears and narrower/lighter wheels/tyres, otherwise she may as well plug on with what she's already got.

[pwa]

I've been running an Alfine 8 hub... for the past 2 years, would have been a Rohloff if I could justify buying another!

After a lifetime of using derailleurs, so have I and find it well suited to recreational cycling. I too considered Rohloff but simply couldn't justify the additional expense. Besides, I don't need all those closely spaced ratios over that huge range and neither, I suspect, does the OP's wife.

It seems to me that if a lighter bike is the principal aim, weight needs to be saved over the whole machine to be worthwhile, not just the frame, the gear system or the wheels/tyres alone. This would mean a completely fresh start with, say, an Audax-type frame, Alfine 8 hub gears and narrower/lighter wheels/tyres, otherwise she may as well plug on with what she's already got.

A Rohloff does not quite have the range of gearing I would like on a touring bike. If you want a top gear of say 100 inches it limits how low you can go at the other end. An MTB based triple gives a little more range. But yes, it is a fine system and I quite like it on a lumbering tandem. That's how I use it. It does have a slight braking effect when you freewheel. You have to keep your legs going round if you are not trying to lose speed.

If the OP can afford it, I wonder about keeping the existing heavyweight tourer with its Rohloff and getting a light Audax as a contrast. With derailleurs unless a hub gear is a must.

[LollyKat]

What about a Thorn Mercury frame? You could have the Rohloff built into a a lighter 700c wheel and with lightweight tyres she would have a very different ride experience.

[pwa]

What about a Thorn Mercury frame? You could have the Rohloff built into a a lighter 700c wheel and with lightweight tyres she would have a very different ride experience.

I don't think they do them in very small sizes. Otherwise it would have been a very nice option.

[RickH]

Slightly left field (& I don't know if they do frame-only but do do custom builds), but Mrs H got a "Ladies Lightweight" from Temple Cycles in Bristol.

It is what it says - a (fairly) light weight, step through traditional design that seems well built with braze-ons for rear rack & front low riders. Horizontal rear dropouts too. Enough clearance too to swap the supplied 28mm tyres for 38mm Voyager Hypers (which I have a stock of ) .