Just bought a Thorn Club Tour on Ebay. Did I pay too much?

[Cool_Mint]

My first post on CycleChat.


I hope I didn't overbid too much, I'm not even sure the bike will fit me since the owner is 6' 1" and I'm 5' 10".
It's my first road (drop handlebars) bike BTW.

Ebay.. so many opportunities for dumb impulse buys!

Thorn Club Tour in need of some work - won for £565.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200451596589&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

So did I pay over the odds for a lemon or did I get a bargain?

 

[ufkacbln]

Retail for a fully equipped one is £1100 - £1600 so this is less than half price.

First looks do not show any major faults, is there anything that you can't sort or personalise?


Question is really whether you are happy with it... and the price

 

[dodgy]

59cm is a long top tube.

 

[Cool_Mint]

Retail for a fully equipped one is £1100 - £1600 so this is less than half price.

First looks do not show any major faults, is there anything that you can't sort or personalise?


Question is really whether you are happy with it... and the price

Hi Cunobelin.
I haven't seen the bike yet except in the photos so I'm not sure what to expect. I don't have much of a clue how much repairs will cost if it needs much doing to it; my bike maintenance experience only goes as far as regreasing bearings and changing tyres.

Having only ridden cheap-ish hybrids before (my last bike was a Ridgeback Comet) framesize wasn't so critical, I normally ride a 20" or 21" frame. My inseam - and I'm not sure if I measured it right - is about 32.5" or 83cm in barefeet. The bike has a 59cm top tube length - 56cm from bottom bracket to seat tube...

I get a horrible feeling I may have bought a bike that is too big.

 

[RedBike]

At 5'10" you're probably going to find a 59cm top bar somewhat long.

I'm also 5'10" and tend to go for a 55cm top tube.

Looks great though. At worst i'm sure you could resell it and get your money back.

 

[Tynan]

long top bar?

aren't tourers made long or something?

brave of to splash that much money on a bike without being certain of fit, good luck

 

[RedBike]

I thought tourers normally had shorter than normal top tubes, to give you a relaxed upright riding position?

 

[Cool_Mint]

Thanks all, I hope it fits me (maybe there's some way to adjust the stem?) but if not I'll just have to consider it a fix-up and resell project.

I'll post an update when I've collected the bike next week.

 

[Tynan]

long bike, short top tube?

 

[dodgy]

Tourers generally have a shorter top tube but perhaps a slightly longer wheelbase, so you get plent of space for mudguards and less chance of toe overlap.
A tourer with 59cm top tube is going to be quite a big bike, my carbon Dolan only has a 58cm top tube and I'm 6ft 2" and it feels stretched out (but comfortable) to me.

 

[dondare]

Nice bike, but could well be too big for you as it is.
But look at that seat stem (which isn't part of the package); it seems to be canted back. A normal straight one would decrease the reach. So would a change of bars and handlebar stem if you want to go to the trouble.

 

[Cool_Mint]

Good tip! Thanks Don.

 

[John the Monkey]

A tourer with 59cm top tube is going to be quite a big bike, my carbon Dolan only has a 58cm top tube and I'm 6ft 2" and it feels stretched out (but comfortable) to me.

I think my LHT has a top tube around that length, with a 110mm stem. (I'm 6'2").

Spacers under the stem & (I think) a slacker headtube angle make it feel more upright than my (compact framed) SCR2.0 though.

 

[mooseracer]

Small World - Big Bike

There was me searching for something completely unrelated and came across this forum, and in particular this thread.

I'm the seller of this bike and I share the poster's concerns about it being too big. I've contact him directly and hopefully we can sort this out - I'd gain nothing by trying to force the sale through.

With reference a reply about the angled seatpost - I didn't ride it with that post, simply put it in for the pictures and with hindsight wish I hadn't as a few people picked up on it.

Everything works on the bike except the front deraileur as the cable has stretched over time so this will need setting up properly again.

 

[ACS]

There was me searching for something completely unrelated and came across this forum, and in particular this thread.

I'm the seller of this bike and I share the poster's concerns about it being too big. I've contact him directly and hopefully we can sort this out - I'd gain nothing by trying to force the sale through.

With reference a reply about the angled seatpost - I didn't ride it with that post, simply put it in for the pictures and with hindsight wish I hadn't as a few people picked up on it.

Everything works on the bike except the front deraileur as the cable has stretched over time so this will need setting up properly again.

I think we will all commend you for your understanding. Welcome.