Hello everyone!
I'm riding 5 weeks of the northern section of the GDMBR this year with my dad. I’m having a bit of a dilemma around my bike setup and wanted to ask for opinions from the community, as I’ve only ever done a long‑weekend bikepacking trip.
I’m currently planning on riding a Thorn Sherpa (Bike on left of photo) adventure touring bike. Some details about the bike below:
- Steel frame (approx. 15 years old)
- Brand new 26‑inch touring wheels (not tubeless compatible)
- Shimano Cues 11‑speed groupset (1 year old)
- Stuck seatpost (needs to be removed for airplane travel)
- Rim brakes
It’s the only bike I’ve known in my adult life, so I don’t have much to compare it to. I’ve ridden it on some pretty rough doubletrack here in Scotland, some singletrack, and through plenty of bogs and rivers!
My question is this: should I pay for a full service pre‑trip, the removal of the seatpost, and new Vittoria Mezcal tyres for the Thorn? Or should I cut my losses and buy a brand‑new bike with modern features/geometry? I have access to a Cycle to Work scheme (a government‑backed initiative allowing employees to save 25%–49% on new bikes through salary sacrifice).
If getting a new bike, I’d be looking at:
- Sonder Broken Road, 29er hardtail from the UK company Alpkit
- Kona Unit X
The other thing to mention is that my dad gave me my current bike when he upgraded to the more modern Thorn Mercury (bike on right of photo) with a Rohloff hub, larger wheels, disc brakes, etc. He will be riding this bike on the divide.
I was trying to avoid focusing too much on the bike and I think this bike would be capable, but I also want the ride to be as enjoyable as possible as it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Thanks for your help!
by Cecil-Cunninghammer