Audax/Road bike under £500

usumdelphini

Hi guys, I am new here, anyway I would like to ask you for advice, I am sure this will help to put order in my mind

I am going to buy a new road bike, but I would like a model which is versatile enough to do some light touring. My girlfriend found a great deal and bought a Trek SL1000http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-trek-sl1000-19927/
for £270! We put a rack and bigger tires on it and looks perfect also for touring, all for 330£ in total!

Now, I am looking for this kind of bargain. I have been testing and watching around the internet, but I am really confused. I wouldn't buy a bike from the internet without having tested it, but I guess it can be the case if I want to save some money.

I am mainly wondering whether it is convenient, with my budget (400-500£) to look for an Audax (it must be light and with carbon fork, also a good shifter is fundamental for me) or a Road Bike which I could easily turn into a Light Touring bike, by adding a rack and putting bigger tires and mudguards, etc.

I have seen, around, these:

- Trek Lexa http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/endurance_race/lexa/lexa_compact/#
- Roux Vercors R7 http://rouxbikes.co.uk/shop/vercors-r7/
- Roux Menthe http://www.evanscycles.com/products/roux/menthe-2013-road-bike-ec051742#BVRRWidgetID
- I heard good about Surosa Audax models, but I actually cannot find anything cheap on the internet.

Could you help me with this? I am quite disoriented XD

usumdelphini

up!

cycleclinic

I'd buy second hand at that price. £400 road bike that are light try looking at the end of that rainbow.

usumdelphini

up!

gabriel959

As suggested look second hand here in the forums, ebay, etc. There was a Kona Jake which went for little over £300 on ebay last week, so deals can be had...

usumdelphini

Thanks for the advice. I actually just saw this Boardman, it looks quite good as a deal, what do you think?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331132264069? ... fresh=true

gabriel959

It is a decent bike but it is more of a road bike than an audax bike or even for light touring.

usumdelphini

So you say it is not quite worth converting it to a light tourer. Sorry, if I bother so much, but it is really quite hard for me to judge a bike without testing it myself... how about this? [it's a little small for me but it's the only thing I find on ebay that could suit]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kinesis-Racel ... 3f30b7bba4

gabriel959

That looks good, if it fits, it is definitely it is a good bike, and I am 99% sure you can fit some panniers on that bike for touring.