Thorn Cycles
Encyclopedia
Thorn Cycles is a British
manufacturer of bicycle
s based in Bridgwater
, Somerset
. They specialise in tandem
s, touring
and randonneuring
cycles.
They have recently become well known for their Raven series of cycles equipped with Rohloff hub gear
s. These include the Raven Tour expedition tourer, the Sport Tour fast tourer, Sterling mountain bikes and recently the Raven Twin tandem
.
The business began under the name St John Street Cycles in 1984 when Robin Thorn took over a traditional bicycle and toy shop in St John Street, Bridgwater. They began making their own cycles in the 1990s under the 'THORN' brand. Thorn Cycles Ltd was registered as a limited company
in 2000. St John Street Cycles remains as a trading name for the retail arm of the business.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
manufacturer of bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s based in Bridgwater
Bridgwater
Bridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is the administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. Bridgwater is located on the major communication routes through South West England...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. They specialise in tandem
Tandem bicycle
The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement , not the number of riders. A bike with two riders side-by-side is called a sociable.-History:Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the late 19th...
s, touring
Touring bicycle
A touring bicycle is a bicycle designed or modified to handle bicycle touring. To make the bikes sufficiently robust, comfortable and capable of carrying heavy loads, special features may include a long wheelbase , frame materials that favor flexibility over rigidity , heavy duty wheels , and...
and randonneuring
Randonneuring
Randonneuring is a long-distance cycling sport with its origins in audax cycling. In randonneuring, riders attempt courses of 200 km or more, passing through predetermined "controls" every few tens of kilometers...
cycles.
They have recently become well known for their Raven series of cycles equipped with Rohloff hub gear
Hub gear
A hub gear, internal-gear hub, or just gear hub is a gear ratio changing system commonly used on bicycles that is implemented with planetary or epicyclic gears. The gears and lubricants are sealed within the hub-shell of the bicycle's rear wheel, as opposed to derailleur gears, where the gears and...
s. These include the Raven Tour expedition tourer, the Sport Tour fast tourer, Sterling mountain bikes and recently the Raven Twin tandem
Tandem
Tandem is an arrangement where a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction....
.
The business began under the name St John Street Cycles in 1984 when Robin Thorn took over a traditional bicycle and toy shop in St John Street, Bridgwater. They began making their own cycles in the 1990s under the 'THORN' brand. Thorn Cycles Ltd was registered as a limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
in 2000. St John Street Cycles remains as a trading name for the retail arm of the business.