16 The NEW RAVEN Issue 13 – AUTUMN 2012 Fiona and I love to go cycle camping in the mountains. We are really fortunate because each of us has a pair of superb heavy duty <strong>Thorn</strong> Rohloff equipped touring bikes . Our S&S coupled bikes go on the big trips and they have the heavy wheels, fat 2.25” tyres, super tough powder coat paint finish, comfort bars and suss forks. (See the Nomad Mk2 brochure) Our other bikes were prototypes and we have built up for more lightweight camping trips closer to home. As they travel on better roads (and tracks) they have lighter rims, “skinny” 1.75” tyres and straight bars with bar ends. I take great pride in our bikes’ strength and dependability. These bikes use the conventional Rohloff hub. Although these bikes are not <strong>Raven</strong> <strong>Tour</strong>s...they could easily have been, they are certainly not lighter weight bikes! Whilst you could never accuse them of being lightweight, I am convinced that our bikes weigh significantly less than any other bike of comparable strength! These bikes haven’t been on our big trips but we’ve certainly used them. We have had many long camping weekends in Wales and a couple of trips, catching the train to Cornwall and then cycle camping home . Cycle camping in the French Alps. In September 2009 we drove down to Grenoble, from where we embarked upon a self supported, cycle camping trip in the French Alps. We completed an 800Km circuit, taking in 14 big cols, including the Bonnet, Galibier and Izoard. It was truly a great adventure! The bikes were absolutely delightful. The French were as polite as ever. The scenery was stunning. The weather was mixed. But for me, the most enormous pleasure was in catching a group of French racing cyclists, who had sped past me, on the second part of the descent of the Croix de Fer. I was riding my Rohloff equipped touring bike (with 26 x 1.75” tyres) loaded with full camping kit. Whilst I was closing the gap on them, I was scanning the road below for approaching traffic and there was none. The group approached a left hand hairpin at speed and granddad out-braked their exotic carbon racing machines, cranked his bike over and then, using all the road, rode up the “inside” of them and plunged on down the descent. The look on their faces will stay with me for the rest of my life! (Obviously they sped off, into the distance, as soon as the road levelled out again). The advantages of camping. We like the freedom of finding a camping pitch for the night. We are constantly happy, that we don’t have to spend the end of the day searching for an hotel. We can stop when we want to stop cycling for the day, rather than having to ride on (or stop early!) because an hotel or pitch has been pre booked. If we ever need to, we can camp wild. Although camping means that we have to haul camping kit over mountains, we find that less stressful than having to maintain a schedule. When the snow unexpectedly closed the Bonnet to all traffic, we were able to alter our plans. We found a cheap hotel for 2 nights and we were able to ride up the Bonnet, with just our saddlebags, the next day. Camping is also considerably cheaper than supported rides and we couldn’t afford to travel as much as we do, if we didn’t camp! Why the bikes are so good. Having fairly long chainstays means that I can carry (almost) all of the load at the back and the weight still sits inside the bike’s wheelbase, which gives superb handling, with small loads, medium loads or very heavy loads. The long wheelbase allows massive but drama-free braking when required. Having a super stiff frame makes it easy for me to control the bike and the load, whether I’m flying down hill, or choosing the best line between obstacles, on steep climbs. When I stamp on the pedals... the bike responds. Unlike most “touring bikes”, my <strong>Thorn</strong> does not feel like a jelly, with big loads and out-of-the-saddle efforts. Despite being so stiff, the frame is super comfortable, resilient and compliant. In short these bikes inspire confidence, reward effort and exude quality! NEW THORN RAVEN White out! The final few Km on the ascent of the Bonnet were above the September snow line; the final 500m was un-rideable! But we did get to the top and quickly put some warm clothes on! 16
The NEW RAVEN Fi and I have even completed several hilly 200Km Audax rides on them. 17 Fiona cornering at speed, with a full camping load, in the French Alps. NEW THORN RAVEN Issue 13 – AUTUMN 2012 Does cycling get any better than this, in Europe? Answers on a postcard please! 17
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