Three month trek on my Thorn Raven
By Jan Starling



Take a 55 year old woman out of her comfort zone in Perth, Australia and put her on a touring bicycle for three months during summer of 2006 in the UK. A recipe for disaster, some may say... and some did!
But I’m here to tell you I had the best time imaginable. It helped too that I had the full support and encouragement of my family… and a great bike.

What lay ahead starting mid June… was a rough plan to ride some of the flatter areas of England with a particular interest in the canal paths. I needed a strong bike, as my gear included a tent and all the necessary equipment for camping. I also had a laptop, mobile, small radio and the relevant chargers! Oh yes-and an electric hook-up. (But I cut off most of the cord leaving just 3 metres)
Most importantly I needed to feel comfortable on the bike as I had heard some horror stories of tourers having to give up due to their painful bodies.

After much research while still in Perth, I settled on the Thorn Raven Stepthrough Touring bike fitted with a Rohloff hub and steel pannier racks, front and back.
What a bike. It’s black, sturdy and soon came to be affectionately known as the ‘The Black Beast’. Whether fully loaded or just out cruising, it rides like a dream. Even after a full day in the saddle, I was never sore. Changing gears was effortless. I lost count of the number of people who came up to chat about the outfit. A couple of seasoned cyclists went for a quick spin and loved the feel of it.
Occasionally when riding on soft sand I thought I might hit the dust, (A short cut seemed such a good idea at the time.) but ‘the beast’ always held firm, even along the canal paths, some of which were pretty rough but great fun to cycle on.
I rode through Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Oxfordshire, Kent and Holland often staying in one place for a week or so. By doing this, I could really explore the surrounding areas each day, get to know the local people better and importantly… found out where the best coffee shops and pubs were! Occasionally I would catch the train to my next chosen spot if I felt the roads were just too busy or conversely, if I didn’t feel like coping with the isolation of a back road.
I stayed at some great campsites where I met some very interesting people. At the end of each day I would return ‘home’ and loved sitting around listening to their stories and recounting where I had cycled.
When I was ready to move on to my next adventure, many were totally intrigued, as everything was packed and put back on the bike. One elderly chap in Kessingland came up to me just as I was rolling everything up. “So you’re off now I see and you think you’ll get all that stuff on the bike then!” he said. “Well I guess so” I told him. “It was all there when I came, and will be when I leave.”
Disbelieving, he sat down on the grass chatting away as I pulled it all together. “Minor miracle,” he muttered as I tightened the final strap. When I told him I was about to ride on the dreaded A12 for a few miles to get to Southwold, he thought another miracle would be needed!
But I hear that more and more cycle paths are being built now and hopefully, in the near future cycling in the UK will be as safe as I found Holland to be.
In the middle of September, I packed the bike for the last time… and bade another sad farewell to some more new-found friends. The nights were getting too cold and damp for camping. My trip was over.
I felt fit, healthy, confident and very pleased at how well it all went.
Cycling solo did of course produce its lonely moments, but the biggest plus from that, was my eagerness and need to meet new people. I am still in contact with many of them and hope to remain so.
We made a great team… the bike and I and it didn’t let me down once. I would love to do it all again next summer… maybe France and Belgium. I’m staying in the UK over the winter and will make a decision early next year.
‘The Black Beast’ is definitely up for it!

Jan Starling.