meic wrote:I would make a distinction between an Audax and a light tourer.
The Audax would have max 28mm tyres and caliper brakes. The light tourer would have room for larger tyres and consequently a different type of brake.
This easy distinction has somewhat been torn up by the introduction of disk brakes.
Why does an audax bike have to be limited to 28mm tyres, it certainly wasn't back in the day?
My 2001 ridgeback day02 was a jack of all trades, racy geometry, caliper brakes but capable of taking a fairly wide tyre (32mm IIRC). Handling wise absolutely superb, 50mph no qualms at all, loaded touring or utility, no sweat. it also came with flat bars as std, so what is it, an audax bike, a tourer, a hybrid, a racer with braze ons for rack and guards or simply all of them?
There never was a distinction, just some people's rigid imaginations of what x type of bike should be, just like you insisting an audax bike is x and a light tourer (whatever that is) is y.
This is as much pushed by marketing people than any other group and those supposedly in the know telling others that's not a xxxx or you cant use that for xxxx.
As for the disc brake infusion, on road going bikes they are for mugs and the marketing people have done a grand job at pushing them onto the feeble minded.
They offer very little advantage over calipers (38mm is easy doable on dual pivots) so i guess if you want to ride with extremely wide road tyres theres the advantage) and none over v-brakes. They offer no safety enhancement whatsoever.
Anyway
Touring bike weight:
Airbourne Carpe Diem 54cm 1600g (1660 incl h/set cups and upper bearing)
Sintema 'mud' full carbon forks - alloy fork ends 240mm steerer 562g