Advice on a new Audax please
riddie
Posts: 7
I would welcome any advice on what bike I should get to keep up with my cycling pal, who after 2 months of cycling together to get fit, has turned Judas on me and spent £1000 on a Specialized road racer.
I have been using an old touring bike I used through Vietnam and Turkey 15 years ago and still (just) manage to keep up with him. I have caught the bug, and after a bit of reading, would like to spend IRO £1000 - £1400 on a light weight touring bike. It would mainly be for evening and weekend runs of up to 60 miles, but with the option of being able to tour with smallish rear panniers, as well as not get too worried about lightly gravelled tracks, living in Northern Scotland. I would like the option of being able to try a couple of sportives next year if I take panniers etc off, but also be able to have lights on it for winter use. I will never race cometitively- too old and fat!
I phoned a very pleasant lass at Thorns about a Mk 3 Aurax, but was disappointed they only have drop handlebars - I have a fused neck after an accident- and am keen to have butterfly bars that will allow mainly an upright position, but be able to bend down if I am feeling very brave or it is too windy.
I am not sure if a steel frame is needed (? Reynolds 853), but I would also like to keep it as light weight but versatile as possible.
I would really welcome any suggestions. Should I buy the frame and forks and build up, or (with the benefit of the "cycle to work" scheme), go for a made up one.
Lastly! Are disk brakes too much for road biking?
My mountain bike has hydraulic disks and they are a dream!
Many thanks
I have been using an old touring bike I used through Vietnam and Turkey 15 years ago and still (just) manage to keep up with him. I have caught the bug, and after a bit of reading, would like to spend IRO £1000 - £1400 on a light weight touring bike. It would mainly be for evening and weekend runs of up to 60 miles, but with the option of being able to tour with smallish rear panniers, as well as not get too worried about lightly gravelled tracks, living in Northern Scotland. I would like the option of being able to try a couple of sportives next year if I take panniers etc off, but also be able to have lights on it for winter use. I will never race cometitively- too old and fat!
I phoned a very pleasant lass at Thorns about a Mk 3 Aurax, but was disappointed they only have drop handlebars - I have a fused neck after an accident- and am keen to have butterfly bars that will allow mainly an upright position, but be able to bend down if I am feeling very brave or it is too windy.
I am not sure if a steel frame is needed (? Reynolds 853), but I would also like to keep it as light weight but versatile as possible.
I would really welcome any suggestions. Should I buy the frame and forks and build up, or (with the benefit of the "cycle to work" scheme), go for a made up one.
Lastly! Are disk brakes too much for road biking?
My mountain bike has hydraulic disks and they are a dream!
Many thanks
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Comments
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Admittedly I'm biased as this is what I have, but have you thought about a Condor Fratello? I use mine all year around for commuting and longer rides: steel framed, guards, braze-ins for a rear rack, up to 28c tyres can be fitted but still quite light and sporty.
Road Cycling UK thought highly of it when they reviewed it.
I haven't seen a Fratello with butterfly bars but Condor are usually pretty accommodating and will build the bike to your spec. There's a flat-barred Condor Heritage (more of a proper tourer) that I've seen a few times on my way to work and back.
Fratellos have normal brakes rather than disk brakes, but I've always found they stop me just fine!
With the price you're ralking about, you could get a decent group set - say Ultegra.
Condor do take C2W vouchers.Never be tempted to race against a Barclays Cycle Hire bike. If you do, there are only two outcomes. Of these, by far the better is that you now have the scalp of a Boris Bike.0
