FAQ
We always welcome a phone call, but you may find the answer to your question here - please have a browse through.
Purchasing a Thorn bike
How soon can I get my bike?
Our lead time varies from 5 - 8 weeks depending on how busy we are and staff holidays etc. You can find out what the current lead time is by ringing 01278441505
How do I place my order?
You will need to refer to our Thorn Bike Bible or any of our other brochures found under the heading "Bikes" on our home page.
There are 3 options to place an order:
Make an appointment to discuss your order with Sarah, one of our specialised sales team here in Bridgwater. (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 08.00 - 16.00)Call us on 01278441521 and speak to Sarah who will guide you through placing your order. (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 08.00 - 16.00)By email: moc.selcycsjs%40harasWe will produce you a quote (valid for 7 days), detailing your personal specifications. All you need to do then is to agree the specification and pay a deposit of £100 and we will activate your order.What happens during a bike sales appointment?
First of all, we will discuss with you the type of riding you are planning on doing on your new bike to help you decide on the model of bike you wish to purchase.
Then we will measure you to assess the size of frame you require and determine which riding position you prefer.
Using these measurements, we will calculate the exact set up to achieve your preferred riding position on your new bike.
During the appointment, you will be able to ask as many questions as you like and will be guided personally through every aspect of your bike build, ensuring that you will end up with the perfect bike. You should allow 2 hours for this.
If you are purchasing a Rohloff equipped bike you may want to go for a test ride. Some people like to go for a short test ride which can be fitted into the allotted 2 hours, but others like to go for a longer ride and if you plan to go on a longer test ride, please inform us at the time of making your appointment.Can I test ride every model?
The short answer is; no!
The reason why we have test ride bikes is so that cyclists unfamiliar with the Rohloff 14 internal gear speed hub can understand what it is like to ride a Rohloff equipped bike, as it is still a relatively uncommon gearing system.
Our derailleur models do not go out of the showroom because everyone knows what it is like to ride a derailleur equipped bike, and, from the gear changing point of view, although our derailleur bikes are superb machines, they are no different in this respect to any other derailleur equipped bicycle.
If you do buy a Thorn derailleur equipped bike and you are not totally delighted with your new bike we offer a 14 day money back guarantee, which effectively means that you get to test ride your own bike, made to your exact size and specification, for a whole 2 weeks! If you decide you don’t like it, you can simply return it to us (see FAQ “What if I don’t like my bike?”) and we will refund you the purchase price of the bike, no questions asked!
Some of our Rohloff equipped bikes share the same (or similar) geometry as our derailleur models, and so by test riding one of these, you can get to know your size and the feel of the bike.Where can I buy a Thorn bike?
In the UK, you can only buy a new Thorn bike or Thorn frame directly from us here at Thorn or our sister company St John Street Cycles.
We do not have any UK dealerships.
Occasionally, you will find a Thorn bike being sold privately on eBay or through a private second hand sale.
Many people use the Thorn Cycles Forum to sell their bike so this is a good place to look if you know what you want.
We have sold hundreds of bikes from here in the UK and delivered them to customers all over the world so it is not necessary to be here in person.How will I know when my bike is finished?
As soon as your bike is complete we will contact you to either arrange a collection appointment, or ask you to make your final payment and arrange a convenient delivery date.
Deliveries and collection of Thorn bikes
How will my bike be delivered? (UK deliveries)
How will my bike be delivered? (UK deliveries)
If your bike is being delivered we will arrange a convenient date for delivery.
We use Parcelforce 48 large courier service. Parcels sent via Parcelforce 48 are trackable and you will be expected to be available to sign for your bike when it arrives. You will need to stay in all day as they cannot give a delivery time.
Please note: Occasionally Parcelforce are unable to deliver within the stated time frame. This is important if you have to take time off work to receive your bike as you may be disappointed.
If it is difficult for you to guarantee to be in to sign for your bike, it is possible to arrange with us in advance to have your bike delivered to another address as long as there will be someone in to sign for it. A contact number for the address is always required by the courier. This means you can ask for your bike to be delivered to a friendly neighbour, your place of work, a local shop or pub, or your granny’s house!
If none of these options are available to you, we can ask for your bike to be delivered to your local Parcelforce depot and then you can collect it from there.Can I collect my completed bike?
Yes, in fact we prefer you to come and collect your bike so that you can be set up optimally on it before you leave.
When you come to collect your new bike we like to allow plenty of time for you to spend with one of our mechanics. This allows them to make any final adjustments to your bike and to explain any technical questions you may have. Sometimes, these appointments can take between 1 and 2 hours - depending on the type of bike. On the other hand, you may wish to simply collect your bike and leave straight away and this is, of course, an option!
Visiting Thorn Cycles
How do I get to Thorn Cycles LTD?
By car
Exit the M5 at J23.
Take A39 Bridgwater A38 Glastonbury/Wells. Take 3rd exit A38 toward Minehead/Highbridge/Bristol. At roundabout take 1st exit onto Bristol Rd/A38. Continue to follow A38. Go through 2 roundabouts. Turn left into St John Street/A372.
We are on the left.
By rail
We are a 4 minute walk from Bridgwater Train Station. Leave the station and proceed South towards the town centre along Wellington Road. Go straight ahead into St John street.
You will find us on the right hand side of St John Street.
By bus
We are a 6 minute walk from Bridgwater bus station. Head west out of station towards New Road. Turn left onto New Road. Turn left onto Eastover. Cross at pedestrian crossing and proceed along St John Street. Thorn Cycles will be on your left.
SEE MAP
Customer Service
What if I don’t like my bike?
Rohloff equipped bikesIf you have bought a Thorn Rohloff equipped bike and you are not totally delighted we offer a 100 day money back guarantee. This means that, if you ride your bike for 100 days and decide you don’t like it, you can return it to us either in person or safely packaged in a Thorn bike box and we will refund you the purchase price of the bike including any or all of the items from our bike build menu.
This offer does not include pedals or accessories. This offer applies to complete bike builds and to EU customers ONLY.
Derailleur equipped bikesIf you have bought a Thorn derailleur equipped bike and you are not totally delighted we offer a 14 day money back guarantee. This means that, if you ride your bike for 14 days and decide you don’t like it, you can return it to us either in person or safely packaged in a Thorn bike box and we will refund you the purchase price of the bike including any or all of the items from our bike build menu.
This offer does not include pedals or accessories. This offer applies to complete bikes and to EU customers ONLY.What if there is a problem with my new bike?
If when you receive your bike there is a problem, we do our very best to sort it out for you. This can involve anything from us replacing parts to sometimes rebuilding the whole bike. What we want is for you to be 100% delighted with your bike and we will do everything we can to ensure you are.
What can I expect after I have bought a Thorn bike?
We are proud of our bikes and our name is now well deservedly famous across the world of cycle touring, and indeed, the world itself. We pride ourselves over our after sales customer service and we will gladly answer any questions you might have about any aspect of your bike, technical or otherwise.
Through our sister company St John Street Cycles, we are able to deliver spare parts all over the world. We are quick to answer our email enquiries; you can expect a reply usually within 12 hours of emailing us during a normal working week (Monday to Friday 8.30 – 17.00).
We are always willing to speak on the phone. We do our utmost to help you with any problems you might have including faulty equipment and technical advice. JUST ASK!!!
Technical Support
How do I realign my handlebars?
Loosen the stem bolt(s) that secure the handlebar stem to the steering column. Wiggle the stem from side to side to see that it is loose. Align the stem and the handlebars with the front wheel, and gently secure the top bolt. Stop when you feel the cap first contact the stem (or spacers). Secure the stem bolts. Check for play by pulling back and forth on the fork. A knocking sensation is called play. Turn the handlebars in different directions while checking for play. There may be play at this early setting…if there is, loosen the stem bolts. Turn the adjusting bolt in the centre cap 1/8th of a turn clockwise. Secure the stem bolts, check for play again. Repeat until play disappears. Remember to loosen the stem bolts before turning the adjusting bolt. Do not over tighten stem or handlebar bolts. There is usually a manufacturer’s torque setting on the stem.
NOTE: IF ANY HEADSET IS OVERTIGHTENED THE BEARINGS WILL BE PERMANENTLY DAMAGED. The degree of damage is directly proportional to the amount over tightened. If you are still unsure then watch this short video to see a qualified mechanic adjusting a headset.
VIEW VIDEOWhere can I get my Thorn bike serviced?
You can get your bike serviced at any local bike shop but many people want us do the service because of our specialist knowledge of our own bikes.
You will need to make an appointment to drop off your bike to us. Sorry, we cannot collect your bike from you (see FAQ “Can I have my bike collected/delivered for servicing or repairs?” below).
Your bike should be clean otherwise there will be a cleaning charge.
Our charges for servicing are as detailed here.
We will discuss with you what work you wish to be done on your bike and when you would need/want to collect it.
We must have a contact number so that we can contact you if we discover any issues with your bike that require us to do more work than discussed with you at the point of drop off. We usually agree a maximum spending limit with you beforehand so that we can judge the amount of work to be done.
When the bike arrives at our workshop we will make an initial inspection of the bike to assess it for all aspects of safety, and we will advise you of any work that we feel is necessary.
If you do not wish us to carry out the work we recommend, we reserve the right not to service it unless you sign a disclaimer saying that you understand the bike has some safety issues and that you are happy to take that risk.Can I have my bike collected/delivered for servicing or repairs?
Unfortunately, we insist that you bring your bike to us for a service.
We do not have insurance as it is prohibitively expensive and would inevitably serve only to make our charges higher. We do not wish to make our costs (or yours) any higher than they already are. If your bike were to be lost or damaged during transit it might need to be replaced or repaired and we would feel duty bound to do so. This of course would result in at least reducing any profit we might have made, and possibly cause us a loss of a considerable amount more (if we were required to replace a whole bike when all it came in for was an oil change, for example) and that is a risk we are not prepared to take.
Often our customers’ bikes are their most cherished possession and are ‘one offs’. To replace such a bike would be impossible. Packaging the bike takes an appreciable amount of time and effort which will also adds to the cost, making it even more expensive for the customer. There may be exceptions where there is absolutely no alternative, and in these situations there would have to be an agreement made in advance by the customer and Thorn Cycles whereby the customer would need to declare in writing, their OWN liability for loss or damage during transit. There will also be heavy surcharges for such transactions.When should I change the oil in my Rohloff hub?
We recommend that for best function the oil in the Rohloff hub should be changed every 12 months or every 5,000km whichever occurs first. To get expert guidance on changing the oil yourself watch the video.
You will need a complete oil change kit available from our sister company St John Street Cycles. - part number 12171
Alternatively, you can bring your bike to us here at Thorn Cycles and ask us to do the oil change for you; simply ring us to book your bike in for an oil change and leave it to us.
VIEW VIDEO ON ROHLOFF OIL CHANGEWhat is the best stand to use on my Thorn bike?
Here at Thorn Cycles we provide a lifetime warranty on our frames that are bought as part of a complete bike build. We do not fit kick stands to our bikes as a part of any build. If you insist that we fit a kick stand for you, or if you choose to fit one to your bike post build, we will not entertain any claims for damage arising from the use of or fitment of a prop/kickstand.
Damage can result in several ways:● Where the stand fits to the bike the clamp will inevitably damage the paint finish, this allows water to track under the finish and cause corrosion.● Where the stand fits to the bike on some models the thin gauge tubing used will be crushed, this may cause a stress fracture of the tube or weld area.● When on the stand you or a passer by may lean on the bicycle and your/their weight may cause the stand to break and the bicycle to fall or worse the tube where the stand fixes to be crushed or damaged.● The load most of our bikes are able to carry combined with the weight of the bicycle exceeds the max load of most commercially available stands, which may cause the stand to break or bend.
Instead, we recommend that a Click Stand is used, details of which can be found at www.click-stand.com. These are essentially a prop that your bike leans on, which does not become a part of your bike but rather a small, lightweight accessory carried as part of your luggage. Alternatively, you can adapt a fishing rod prop (available from your local fishing shop) to achieve the same result. Of course, you could find a convenient tree, fence or wall to prop your bike against (using your saddle), or even simply, gently lay your bike down on the ground!Removing a seized-in eccentric from a Thorn Rohloff equipped cycle
Because our alloy eccentric is anodised and because the inside of the shell is treated with rust inhibitor (as well as being greased prior to assembly) a seized–in eccentric is a very unlikely occurrence. However, if the bottom bracket is allowed to become submerged and active steps are not taken to drain the water out, it is possible that some oxidation will eventually occur… the longer this process is allowed to continue, before any chain adjustment is attempted, the more possible it becomes that seizure may occur.
The design of our eccentric is deliberately crude and simple but well engineered… this makes seizure unlikely in the first place and enables simple, easily sourced, “tools” to be used upon it if necessary.
If the eccentric will not turn, using the tools provided, the following procedures should be implemented.
1. Remove the eccentric bolts from (the underside of) the shell… they are stainless into stainless, so they would need to have long exposure to a strong corrosive agent (sea water) to become seized.2. A light tap with a soft mallet (or lump of wood) onto the centre of the left hand crank, may be enough to free the eccentric, otherwise place a drift (wooden dowel or section of pole/branch or whatever) against the alloy eccentric and attempt to drive the eccentric through the shell by striking it firmly with a mallet (hammer, stone, brick or lump of wood)… the bond (caused by the oxidation of the shell/eccentric) should be broken and the eccentric can then be adjusted. Proceed to step [9]. If this does not work, as it may not, because you will be unable to get a direct blow to the centre of the eccentric, proceed to step [4] If this procedure has been successful, it is wise to carry out steps [3], [4], [5], [8] and [9], as soon as practicable, afterwards.3. Remove the eccentric bolts from (the underside of) the shell.4. Remove the left hand crank. (You will need the appropriate tool, if you don’t have self-extracting cranks).5. Push the eccentric out or the shell and proceed to steps [8] and [9] If the eccentric is seized you will need to follow steps [6] through to [9].6. Remove the bottom bracket assembly. (This will involve removing the right hand crank and you will need the appropriate bottom bracket tool).7. Place the largest drift obtainable (as long as it is slightly smaller than the dia of the eccentric, because it will be going through the shell too!) against the eccentric and strike the drift heavily with a weighty object… the eccentric will move… but, if really tight, you may have to prevent the frame from moving during the process (Beware of frame damage). If the eccentric moves but becomes stuck again, strike it (and drift it out from) from the other side (I know from all the development work, when I was determining necessary tolerances, that a tight eccentric has a preference over which side it will most easily drift free from).8. When removed thoroughly clean and re-grease the eccentric, the shell and the threads for the screws. Now is a good time to consider a re-application of a product like “Wax Oyl” to the insides of the frame tubes…don’t forget to remove the seat post too.9. Re-grease threads on screws, then adjust the throw of the eccentric and tighten the screws.(8 – 10 Newton metres).What is the tubing Thorn bikes are made from?
THORN tubing is made from a billet of 4130 Cr-Mo steel which is then pierced (this is what makes the tubes seamless).
The billet is repeatedly cold drawn, until it becomes a tube. It is then pulled through a mandrel, which makes it double butted (a double butted tube is one that is thicker at the ends where it is joined to other tubes, but thinner in the middle). The tubes are then heat treated which vastly increases the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the steel, making them highly resistant to denting.
Reynolds use the same techniques to manufacture their highest quality tubing. As we all know Reynolds use numbers to name their tubing, but, these numbers no longer have any real significance. Once upon a time Reynolds 531 was given its name because it reflected the ratio of the secret alloying elements it was made from, that is 5:3:1. In later years, 531 was heat treated and it was re-named 753 and from this time onwards Reynolds’ numbers had no significance whatsoever! 853 was seen as a step up in quality from 753. In theory any of Reynolds’ tubes can be purchased in one of several different gauges (thicknesses)
We too use numbers to name our tubing. Our description of THORN tubing, for example 858, is an actual description of the thickness in mm of the wall of the three parts of the tube, ie.0.8mm at the end of the tube, 0.5mm in the middle of the tube and returning to 0.8mm at the other end of the tube. Experience has shown 0.8/0.5/0.8 is the thinnest gauge that can be built into a long-lasting frame.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no measurable difference in the weight of a specific volume of any of the types of steel. Higher quality steel is frequently used in thinner gauge which does give a weight saving.
We use our very high quality steel in a fairly thick gauge (969) for several of our frames, to give more strength and even more resistance to denting. Our frames are very strong for their given weight.Thorn Expedition steel rear carrier fitting instructions
Instructions for Thorn EX rear carrier.DOWNLOAD YOUR GUIDE HERE
Thorn Mk5 steel Lo-loader fitting instructions
Instructions for Thorn Mk 5 Lo-loading front carrier.DOWNLOAD YOUR GUIDE HERE
How to turn a Mountain Bike into a Touring Bike
THORN Mt.- Tura fork.
How to, in effect, own two different bikes for little more than the cost of one. We’ve considerable experience in making superbly handling, steelframed, touring bikes, with steel forks. We have also designed a fork, specifically to replace an 80 - 100mm travel suspension fork which turns a suitable mountain bike into a beautifully handling, rigid touring bike.Just £269.99