Thorn Rohloff EXP Touring Bicycle

Garry brought his touring bicycle, a Thorn Rohloff EXP, now called Passepartout, from SJS Cycles in Bridgwater, Somerset, in May 2008. It was hand-built for Garry by the renowned frame builder Kevin Sayles.

Why Passepartout? In the Jules Verne novel “Around the World in Eighty Days”, Phileas Fogg’s manservant is Passepartout. And as a manservant, he would have helped carry Phileas Fogg’s bags around the world. And as Garry’s bike had carried his bags across the globe on his world tour, it felt fitting to Garry.

Garry’s original touring bike was his old Marin mountain bike, which he had converted into a hybrid bike by adding front and rear racks. But after deciding to cycle from Spain to England, Garry decided he needed a new bike. And after a little research, decided to buy a Thorn, one of the best touring bikes going.

Garry’s Thorn has now covered more than 40,000 miles. In 30 countries across five continents. As of July 2015.

Thorn Rohloff EXP Components List

• Frame; Thorn Rohloff EXP
• Handlebars; Thorn 6061 Straight bars with anatomic grips & zoom alloy ski bar ends
• Gears; Rohloff Speadhub 500/14 in black
• Wheels; Tungsten black carbide
• Tyres; Schwalbe Marathon 26 x 1.75
• Brakes; Shimano XTR V-Brakes with Swiss top blue brake pads
• Mudguards; SKS chromo plastic in black
• Chainring; Thorn 110mm 5 Arm Reversible Single ring – Black 42T
• Chainset; Thorn170mm 5 arm cranks (73mm shell)
• Saddle; Brooks B17 Standard leather saddle
• Front Rack; Thorn MkV low loader in black powder
• Racks; Thorn Expedition Steel Rack in black powder
• Dynamo; Schmidt 28 dyno hub 32 hole in black
• Front Light; Busch & Muller Lumotec
• Rear Light; Cateye LD1100
• Pedals; MKS mtn-lite with Zefal easy clip mini strapless toe clips
• Computer; Cateye CC-MT 400 Mity 8 cycle computer

Follow Garry’s Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to Garry’s blog and follow Garry as he travels around on his bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow Garry on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. Garry is also on Flickr, where you can view photos from this tour, along with pictures from all his bike rides. Garry also publishes a monthly photo update.

If you want to find out if Garry’s away touring at the moment and check his location, visit the Where’s Garry page.

Garry started bicycle touring using his Marin Palisades Trail, mountain bike. Which he brought in 1992. Garry had always been a keen cyclist. But family life and work commitments, prevented Garry from cycling as much as he would have liked.

In 2002, Garry gave up smoking, after being a smoker for much of his life! And being a heavy smoker, smoking 40/60 cigarettes a day, it was a struggle!

Now Garry was riding his bike a lot more, he added a rear rack and some panniers. Making it more of a hybrid bike. After making these modifications, Garry went on his first long-distance cycle ride. An 80-mile bike ride, along the south coast of England.

After this first ride, Garry found he had a real taste for long-distance riding and cycle-touring. And soon added a front rack and panniers to his bike. Now Garry’s Marin was fully converted to a hybrid bike, he would get away as often as possible. Which wasn’t very often!

Unfortunately, in 2007 Garry lost his wife to breast cancer. After his sad lose, Garry decided to go on a long bicycle ride! From Spain to England! Unfortunately, Garry’s Marin Palisades Trail was now 17 years old, and bike technology had moved on. And as much as Garry would have loved to have ridden his Marin from Spain, back home. He decided it was probably better to get a new bike.

Although Garry doesn’t use his Marin for touring anymore, he still rides it every day.