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Advice: Audax recommendations for £1200 mark

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  • April 26, 2011 at 4:05 pm #13347
    simonpf

    Hi – I’m looking for advice/recommendations on an ‘audax’. By audax I mean a fast-ish bike that can accomodate 25s plus, a rear rack for light loads etc.

    I have up to £1,200, but no more. So far I have looked at the Dawes Centurty SE, Ribble Audax, Condor Agio. But would welcome some more experienced advice!

    thanks for any thoughts / suggestions
    Simon

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Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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  • May 3, 2011 at 12:36 pm #642919
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    simonpf

    wow – I have to say a big
    wow – I have to say a big thanks to everyone for sharing their thoughts on this. I’ve certainly got more from this than any other place I’ve sourced advice – it really is aa great community here.

    I only wish I had more time to review and test ride – but based on what people have said here, what I’ve owned in the past, and of the bikes I’ve test-ridden, I have gone for a 2010 Condor Fratello with 105. Steel is important to me and Condor are also my LBS too so good to support them. Plus it’s a fantastic ride and a healthy discount on the original 2010 price or 2011 model.

    May 3, 2011 at 12:13 pm #642917
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    joemmo

    also consider Kinesis
    also consider Kinesis Racelight T2 or TK2 – rack and mudguard eyelets, clearance for 28s + full length ‘proper’ mudguards.

    May 3, 2011 at 10:56 am #642915
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    vorsprung

    My budget for a new bike for
    My budget for a new bike for PBP was a little higher than you (“must be less than £2k”)

    I considered custom steel, Titanium off the pegs and Carbon

    In the end I got a Specialized Roubaix with a triple and put hand made wheels on it.

    The Specialized Secteur is a great bike with exactly the same geometry. As the Roubaix will take 25mm tyres with Crud Roadracers I’d guess that the Secteur will do the same.
    You could even get the Secteur with a carbon rear end within your budget. I doubt that you’d get a Roubaix, but it is not impossible. You could definitely get a second hand one.

    Other bikes/frames I considered that would be in your price range are the Tifosi CK7, Ridley Aeron TR and the Giant Defy

    May 1, 2011 at 10:47 pm #642913
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    x8swift9x

    Dolan multicross. Toured
    Dolan multicross. Toured france on mine last summer, using it as a CX bike this autumn.

    April 29, 2011 at 10:07 am #642911
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    The _Kaner

    If going for the likes of a
    If going for the likes of a Kona Jake…(extremely cheap for the 2010 model)..factor in changing the P2 fork for something a little more comfortable.perhaps something with disk capability if you have some touring in mind…

    April 28, 2011 at 5:16 pm #642909
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    handlebarcam

    Other options I considered
    Other options I considered when I was in the market for a similiar bike were the Surly Pacer and the Kinesis Gran Fondo, but in the end I opted for a Genesis Equilibrium. A year and a half later, I am very happy with my choice. I’m not sure if the other two can be bought at complete bikes or not, if that is what you want. The Equilibrium is now available in an even nicer dark red colour, plus a somewhat less distinctive but cheaper black option, and is made of a different, allegedly better grade of steel. Genesis also sell a cheaper aluminium bike/frame called the Aether with, I believe, the same geometry and tyre clearance as the Equilibrium.

    April 28, 2011 at 1:42 pm #642907
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    simonpf

    thanks all – appreciate the
    thanks all – appreciate the advice/thoughts.

    Going to have some test rides I think…should help my decision making.

    (Also considering a 2010 Condor Fratello or Agio – both have separate rear rack mounts which will be good for my purposes.)

    April 26, 2011 at 10:49 pm #642905
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    Tony Farrelly

    Good point Simon, although
    Good point Simon, although I’d have to say the Dawes is a fun bike to ride, I didn’t spend anything like as much time on our test bike as Rob, but I would have spent a lot more time on it if they hadn’t asked for it back :”(

    April 26, 2011 at 10:08 pm #642903
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    Simon E

    To be good for Audax rides
    To be good for Audax rides doesn’t mean it can’t also be fun.

    How about something a bit different e.g. the retro styled Kona Honky Tonk or its disc-equipped sibling Honky Inc?

    Or a CX bike, often cited as good all-rounders like the Genesis Croix de Fer, Kona Jake, P-X Uncle John, or even their Kaffenback…?

    Genesis road bikes get good reviews, and Ridgeback bikes appear understated but seem well designed.

    April 26, 2011 at 9:50 pm #642901
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    dave atkinson

    simonpf wrote:is the Ribble

    simonpf wrote:
    is the Ribble Audax worth considering or is it not quite up to the mark of the 3 dave mentions above? thanks

    i only didn’t mention it because we hadn’t tested it…

    April 26, 2011 at 9:23 pm #642899
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    Rob Simmonds

    I can’t recommend the Dawes
    I can’t recommend the Dawes highly enough. Superb bike. So good, I bought one. 😀

    April 26, 2011 at 8:05 pm #642897
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    simonpf

    is the Ribble Audax worth
    is the Ribble Audax worth considering or is it not quite up to the mark of the 3 dave mentions above? thanks

    April 26, 2011 at 8:01 pm #642895
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    simonpf

    great thanks Dave
    great thanks Dave

    April 26, 2011 at 4:30 pm #642893
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    dave atkinson

    in case you haven’t seen them
    in case you haven’t seen them on here:

    http://road.cc/node/33557 for the dawes
    http://road.cc/content/review/6378-condor-agio-tiagra for the condor

    I’d add the Genesis Equilibrium into that mix

    http://road.cc/content/review/15437-genesis-equilibrium

    the dawes and the genesis are both super bikes. the condor’s good too

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