mattheus wrote:
..........- I'm amazed that 'roadie' types (99% of whom NEVER race) don't buy an "Audax" bike instead of their close-clearance, limited-luggage wannabe racer machines. The flexibilty of tourers works the other way. Take an audax bike, leave off the guards and rack, buy some cheap skinny wheels-n-tyres (or just the tyres) and you have a machine that would probably go OK in all but the highest level racing. A few more mudguards would make winter club-runs a more pleasant affair, and keep a few cafe owners happy. These bikes would then make great commuters, credit-card tourers, etc.
- Errr... I think everything else has been said!
M
I agree,I own a Thorn Audax Mk3 with Ultegra Gruppo,s/light triple c/set, DCR ST touring rims,and a Dawes 531st Horizon with XT kit on and Sputnik rims.
The Thorn runs rings around the Dawes for "lightweight" touring/day riding but if I load the Dawes upto capacity it will beat the Thorn hands down with the same weight on,as thats what it was designed for.
An Audax/lightouring bike is just that, a little lighter alround(mainly frame tubes but with similar angles as a full on tourer ie not as steep as a race bike and lighter wheels)because its made to carry light weights.