fatboy wrote:I think that my ideal fleet would be Audax (Spa to replace my Dawes!), Ti tourer as nice bike and steel tourer as commuter (to replace my old Dawes Horizon). If I were to get an elan it might be instead of my audax bike.
Each to their own, but other than perhaps security issues, I don't see the point in two similar tourers. I use my tourer as my everyday bike, which is my main mode of transport, as such I'm more not less likely to keep it in good always ready to use condition. It's also obviously the one I'm most familiar with, a good thing when touring. I'm also lusting after a new bike and the Elan is well up on the shortlist. For complicated reasons I've ended up with too much overlap in my collection of three bikes (Plus folder which I don't count either ) and a new one could easily replace two. It's just inertia plus emotional and economic attachment that's stopping me.
Yep, ive been there lately, complicated by the fact that the elan is out of my initial budget but looks oh so nice.......but problem solved....my new bike will be........a new central heating system
Si wrote:Yep, ive been there lately, complicated by the fact that the elan is out of my initial budget but looks oh so nice.......but problem solved....my new bike will be........a new central heating system
This suggests you took too long to make the decision, a rookie’s mistake. Better luck next time.
I really didn't have enough disposable to sponsor a light Audax bike. A good thing really as it gave me time to do the research and figure out a way to pay for a bike that feels (if I'm honest) out of my league. The Elan was the dream bike which ticked all the boxes. The cash was the issue...
...so I got to work and lost a lot of sleep. Since my youngest daughter was born 7 and a half years ago, all my home brew equipment went into storage. I put the lot on eBay thinking no one would want it. The lot went in a flash!
I had a high spec canoe which really didn't get enough use, but I had very sentimental attachments. I hardened up and put it on eBay too. That went in a flash too. And I got a lot more than I expected. I also sold all the gubbins that went with it and got almost as much as the boat itself. Result.
I also sold some work machinery that was sitting around 'incase'. One mower went for almost as much as I paid new. I look after stuff and it pays for it in resale value. Not much of a shortfall to make the project a reality.
So the long and the short of it all is Spa sent me a shiny new Elan just in time for me to take it out on a short Audax down in Dorset this last weekend. I saved a smidge by asking them to leave the rack, mudguards and lights for me to fit.
I had only 20 miles on the clock so I was absolutely bricking it yesterday morning. The front wheel needed a little trueing by the end of last week, but yesterday morning my thoughts were: The whole thing could fall apart and I could be as uncomfortable as hell because I hadn't dialled it in yet. I was half right.
The headset came loose on the rough old roads, the headlight swivelled round, a bar end cap disappeared and my little route card holder fell off. The saddle was a smidge too high and a little too far forward and the new chain was sticky, then dry and just noisy. The gear cables needed a tweak early on and worst of all, descending those hills was a bit scary as the brake pads hadn't bedded in. I swapped the seat post clamp as the supplied one was sent back to Spa. Funny little thing with two thin straps, nothing more than wires. One went when I sat on the bike and I'm not exactly heavy.
All tiny little things you would expect on a new bike and that I'm well on my way to sorting out.
First impressions? Gurningly good fun! This is a bike that I expect will be comfy, fast enough for what I want it for (I'm 2kmh up on my average over 100km+). It is very adaptable and I could use it for all sorts. And if you really want to know; it's very easy on the eyes. It is a beauty.
@531colin, I think you have designed a legacy bike. Thank you.
EDIT: And I managed to strip the threads on the skewer when taking the front wheel off before I put the bike away for the journey home. It just went 'ping'. Honest. Luckily it happened when it did. The measurements confused me a little, hence another inane post I made earlier.
Last edited by Heltor Chasca on 10 Apr 2017, 5:17pm, edited 1 time in total.
You did a 100+ km audax on a brand new bicycle? Good man!
You’ll have to show some pictures when you’ve sorted out the teething problems.
This Elan interests me quite a bit, but if it was silly money for you it’s sillier for me. Besides, it would have to be a second bicycle for me and I’m unwilling to forsake my ‘one true bike’ mantra.
) and a new one could easily replace two. It's just inertia plus emotional and economic attachment that's stopping me.
