Do it all road bike?

NorwegianBlue

I'm looking to buy a do it all bike. Something that can handle a little light touring, road work, commuting and the occasional audax. So it would need guards and be able to take a rack, but still be reasonably spritely. A tall order.

The problem is I only have a budget of around £500.

A cursory glance around the web seems to show very little, but stretching the budget a little there's the Dawes Audax Sport at about £550.

Is there anything I'm missing? Does anybody have any experience of the Audax Sport?

Please don't make suggestions like: "If you can stretch to it £700 will buy you a...." because I can't stretch to it.

TIA.

alan_sherman

Ribble winter trainer - max tyres are 700x23 with guards but sounds like it fits your needs and budget.

acorn_user

You can fit mudguards onto Giants SCR range. They have quite a raised riding position. You could also look at Tourers like the Dawes Horizon or Raleigh Venture.

Tom Butcher

Don't know if they are any good but the Claud Butler range have a few with long reach brakes and rack and mudguard capability - well under your budget.

PHcp

Where abouts in West Yorks are you?
If you can get over to Harrogate, Spa cycles are worth a visit. They have several suitable bikes in your price range including the Dawes Audax Sport for £440. I've only bought a couple of bits from them over the internet, they do have a good reputation for customer service.
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s21p0

Trek also do a bike that meets your criteria, the Pilot. The starter model 1.0 has a list price of £500, you might be able to find the next model up, 1.2, for not much more. I've had a test ride on one of these, first impressions were good.

NorwegianBlue

Thanks for the ideas guys.

Firstly 23c really is too narrow for even light touring, and one of the problems I've had looking at a lot of budget road bikes is that even the ones that do take guards will only take skinny tyres when they have guards fitted.

Another problem I've encountered is frames that only have one eyelet on the rear dropouts, so even if they will take a rack they won't take guards at the same time.

A high riding position is not that much of an issue. When bikes are built like that I find myself on the drops all the time anyway.

I need to get to a few shops this weekend and look at a few more bikes.

Greenbank

Test rode a Dawes Audax last year (before they introduced the Sport version) and it was a lovely bike. Didn't get it because I prefer Campag but I was willing to give it a go.

But I'd second the recommendation of the Audax Sport. I've seen a few on Audaxes and they come with recommendations from the owners. Try and find somewhere that'll give you a test ride of one.

acorn_user

From your tyre specs, it sounds like you'll need a bike with cantis or deep drop brakes if you want mudguards. Nothing really comes to mind other than the Dawes and Clauds.
Simoncini frames from Cycles Clements are pretty cheap. You might be able to sneak it in if you call them and ask nicely.

gkerr4

I'd look at a Trek Pilot too

I have one - the 1.2 model - and it fits the bill completely. From fast training rides, weekend longer journeys, commuting and even a coast-2-coast trip with rack and luggage in May.

The std pilot 1.0 model is £500

I have the 1.2 model which is a £700 bike,but paid £450 for it from buyabike in charnock richard. they may have some 2006 model 1.2's at that price still.

domtyler

I have the mudguards and rack attached to the same hole on my bike, the rack came with a long bolt for just this purpose.
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EXTREME VAPORIZER

JustRidecp

domtyler wrote:

I have the mudguards and rack attached to the same hole on my bike, the rack came with a long bolt for just this purpose.

Me too.

NorwegianBlue

The Trek looks interesting, unless I can find a bargain 1.2 in my size there's always the 1.0. The riding position does look rather high, but it seems to be mostly caused by the stem. So flipping the stem or fitting another stem might suit me better.

The Dawes is still attractive at the right price.

I'll have to try to find a dealer that stocks both.

edeverett

The Ribble bikes must be hard to beat for value for money at this range:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/details.a ... BBXRIB0598

NorwegianBlue

edeverett wrote:

The Ribble bikes must be hard to beat for value for money at this range:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/details.a ... BBXRIB0598

Interesting but a little thin on information. For example will it take a rack, will it take 28mm tyres? Pictures would have been kind of nice too. Good price though.

Actually I've just notice the Giant SCR. At a cursory glance they tick the right boxes and the 3.0 and 2.0 straddle my price point.

morrisje

I've been looking for a do it all road bike. There are a number of choices. Surosa do this one:-
http://www.surosa.co.uk/index.html?lang ... =d162.html

Dolan also do something similar.

I have gone for a Kinesis TK as I wanted mudguards, etc but also a slightly racey ride.. There is a Kinesis T on Ebay that would do it all.

http://www.surosa.co.uk/index.html?lang ... =d162.html

NorwegianBlue

Looks like I'm spoiled for choice.

I won't have the cash for a few weeks so I've got a while to compare and contrast. Unfortunately I'm only free for one weekend out of the next four so it will be fun finding time to visit dealers.

al_yrpal

I have a Giant SCR 3. I bought it for road and touring. Its a very light bike (10Kg), and pretty nippy. I see someone advertising them for £380 on the web. I bought it for touring and fitted mudguards and a pannier rack. With two 10Kg panniers it went into death rollls at any speed over 25mph downhill.

For light touring aluminium framed road bikes, unless they are chunky, or specifically built for it, are just not latterally stiff enough with a decent amount of weight on the back. If I had had much ess weight in just a saddlebag I think the Giant might be OK.

I am in the process of refurbing a cheap old Dawes Galaxy purchased on Ebay. Its bombproof steel frame will be the basis for a strong reliable tourer, albeit at the expense of more weight.

Best of luck in your search

Al

NorwegianBlue

Hmmm. You seem to disagree with most pundits on the subject of bike frames. Aluminium alloy frames are usually considered stiffer than steel, yet less resilient. Being stiffer it is also less compliant and therefore less comfortable. So that's two reasons why aluminium alloy is less suitable for touring than steel.

However aluminium is better for racing because it is stiffer than steel so you get better power transfer.

nmcgann

The Ambrosio Guido frame builds up into a good winter/audax bike. It takes guards and a rack. I use 23c tyres on mine (Stelvio plusses) and it's really comfy over long distances.

Neil