Spa Ti Audax
Spa Ti Audax
I am hoping to call into Spa Cycles next week to look at their titanium audax machine (n=n+1 )
I have completed a great deal of research, read articles etc. Are there any owners who can give me some user feedback?
I have completed a great deal of research, read articles etc. Are there any owners who can give me some user feedback?
Re: Spa Ti Audax
Hi there. I test rode one yesterday and ordered as a result. I have only been riding proer bikes again for a couple of years, so I'm comparing against a Cube Nature (hybrid) and a Cube Attempt (race bike). The difference for me was night and day - the Spa is very plush, stable, but still nice and lively. It immediately felt very familiar and almost welcoming. Build quality is excellent - the frames are Chinese in origin but are a Spa specific design (see chap with grey beard riding it in the photos - he's your designer and a lovely bloke too!). The welds are uniform and very tidy - and everything bolted to it is of a decent quality. Even the Passport Navigator saddle was excellent. Frame comes with a 10 year warranty. I rode the SRAM Apex equipped build and wasn't sure how I'd get along with it, having only used Shimano triple setups. It was great - no problems adapting to the setup and I found more usuable gears with a decent chainrun than I do ona triple. For the price it's a fantastic bargain - I priced up building the bike up myself and there was nothing in it. It was also a pleasure doing business with the Spa folk they were excellent, despite the chaos of the new shop!
Lovely bike. I should get mine in a week or so - can't wait.
Lovely bike. I should get mine in a week or so - can't wait.
Re: Spa Ti Audax
guzzimag wrote:Hi there. I test rode one yesterday and ordered as a result. I have only been riding proer bikes again for a couple of years, so I'm comparing against a Cube Nature (hybrid) and a Cube Attempt (race bike). The difference for me was night and day - the Spa is very plush, stable, but still nice and lively. It immediately felt very familiar and almost welcoming. Build quality is excellent - the frames are Chinese in origin but are a Spa specific design (see chap with grey beard riding it in the photos - he's your designer and a lovely bloke too!). The welds are uniform and very tidy - and everything bolted to it is of a decent quality. Even the Passport Navigator saddle was excellent. Frame comes with a 10 year warranty. I rode the SRAM Apex equipped build and wasn't sure how I'd get along with it, having only used Shimano triple setups. It was great - no problems adapting to the setup and I found more usuable gears with a decent chainrun than I do ona triple. For the price it's a fantastic bargain - I priced up building the bike up myself and there was nothing in it. It was also a pleasure doing business with the Spa folk they were excellent, despite the chaos of the new shop!
Lovely bike. I should get mine in a week or so - can't wait.
Guzzimag
Many thanks for this I am obliged. I hope you get many hours of enjoyment from your new bike.
Re: Spa Ti Audax
"very plush, stable, but still nice and lively" +10 having built my frame up with Pasela Tg 28 mm's
I similarly agree with the comments on Spa themselves
I similarly agree with the comments on Spa themselves
Re: Spa Ti Audax
tod28 wrote:"very plush, stable, but still nice and lively" +10 having built my frame up with Pasela Tg 28 mm's
I similarly agree with the comments on Spa themselves
Thank you for your reply.
Andy
Re: Spa Ti Audax
guzzimag wrote:Hi there. I test rode one yesterday and ordered as a result. I have only been riding proer bikes again for a couple of years, so I'm comparing against a Cube Nature (hybrid) and a Cube Attempt (race bike). The difference for me was night and day - the Spa is very plush, stable, but still nice and lively. It immediately felt very familiar and almost welcoming. Build quality is excellent - the frames are Chinese in origin but are a Spa specific design (see chap with grey beard riding it in the photos - he's your designer and a lovely bloke too!). The welds are uniform and very tidy - and everything bolted to it is of a decent quality. Even the Passport Navigator saddle was excellent. Frame comes with a 10 year warranty. I rode the SRAM Apex equipped build and wasn't sure how I'd get along with it, having only used Shimano triple setups. It was great - no problems adapting to the setup and I found more usuable gears with a decent chainrun than I do ona triple. For the price it's a fantastic bargain - I priced up building the bike up myself and there was nothing in it. It was also a pleasure doing business with the Spa folk they were excellent, despite the chaos of the new shop!
Lovely bike. I should get mine in a week or so - can't wait.
Just to round this off. I visited Spa Cycles this lunchtime. Took a 56cm Audax out for a 10 mile spin and loved it. If it had been a summers day I would have returned to the shop with flies in my teeth.
Got to echo what Guzzimag has said. Anyway ordered one and I'm having delivered in the next 2 weeks. Frame Number 91 is mine
Re: Spa Ti Audax
Is it possible to fit down-tube friction levers?
Re: Spa Ti Audax
JohnW wrote:Is it possible to fit down-tube friction levers?
It looks like they have bosses on the donwtube http://www.spacycles.co.uk/smsimg/uploa ... ometry.jpg
Remember folks 'A pessimist is just an optimist with experience!'
Re: Spa Ti Audax
JohnW wrote:Is it possible to fit down-tube friction levers?
Yes, it has standard downtube bosses.
Bike fitting D.I.Y. .....http://wheel-easy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/bike-set-up-2017a.pdf
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Re: Spa Ti Audax
Ah - that's worth noting and spreading about - and remembering.
Re: Spa Ti Audax
To follow up - I picked mine up on Friday last week, after a slight delay waiting for the right headset spacers. Still only took 2 weeks from ordering. I've put just short of 100 miles in it over the last few days and I LOVE IT. After riding 2 factory built Cubes for about 4000 miles of crashing through potholes and tooth rattling road buzz it's like a bloody rolls-royce. I deliberately aim for grate covers to try and provoke a crash or a rattle and it just sails over them in silence. Fantastic. The Spa chaps have done a perfect build - the wheels in particular are things of handbuilt loveliness.
I even love the plain jane looks, although I did go for silver rims/hubs to sex it up a bit
I even love the plain jane looks, although I did go for silver rims/hubs to sex it up a bit
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- Joined: 25 May 2010, 9:39pm
Re: Spa Ti Audax
guzzimag wrote:To follow up - I picked mine up on Friday last week,
So will it replace the Guzzi?
Re: Spa Ti Audax
Nope won't be replacing the Guzzi's!! My garage is a 2 wheels only zone - part from the little uns trike