Cycling UK Forum

I had originally posted this on another forum, but taking their sage advice, it was suggested the wise and noble would be better advised on this forum. Spoilt for choice.

I have been looking around the net for reviews on Spa Cycle's Elan Ti in Shimano 105 flavour but there isn't much about. Does anyone on here own one and what are your thoughts?

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s21p3552 ... -triple%29

Primarily this would be an Audax bike and the Elan is at the top of the pile. I'm currently using my Surly DT which in my opinion is perfect for touring, but maybe not the best for quicker events. I love steel, but just fancied something different like Ti. Carbon just doesn't tickle my fancy.

The value of the Elan seems fantastic, but saying that I am not one who has much disposable and I don't like to use credit. So this won't be a whimsical purchase. A few things need to happen on my side first to fund this and that may take a little time.

Many thanks for any thoughts and advice.

Some info here if youve not yet read it:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=109407&hilit=Elan

Si wrote:Some info here if youve not yet read it:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=109407&hilit=Elan

Thanks Si. I had the usual short word/phrase error message when searching. I appreciate it.

531colin wrote:

fishfright wrote:I have doubts over super glue when used where it may get wet.

Superglue is not water soluble, but over time it does change causing it to go white and flaky and loose its adhesion.
Taken from a fly fishing forum.

Don't take this as expert advice but only as something to consider. If I can find the original article about SG and water with a chemical explanation i'll edit this post

Pardon?

Glue is not to be sniffed at.

Thanks Colin. Your fitting advice did wonders for my last Audax. Didn't feel a thing! (Except the pain of 1.5 AAA points on a handful of peanuts for lunch)

Has the Elan been reviewed in Cycle Magazine? If not, maybe it will be. Should be more useful than the BikeRadar review even though I wish Chris Juden was still involved in these reviews.

(Off topic: what is Juden up to these days?)

Samuel D wrote:Has the Elan been reviewed in Cycle Magazine? If not, maybe it will be. Should be more useful than the BikeRadar review even though I wish Chris Juden was still involved in these reviews.

(Off topic: what is Juden up to these days?)

I have been told the review in a magazine (not sure which) is exactly the same as the BikeRadar write up.

It'd be on my shortlist if I was in the market for a do it all sort of bike, though as you've already got a tourer I wonder if something more at the road end of the spectrum would mean less overlap. I think you ought to get yourself up to Yotkshire and try it out, maybe ride the Audax as well to get a feel for the differences.

Samuel D: I recommended the Spa Elan for review in Cycle Magazine a few months ago.

The "bike Radar" write up comes from Guy Kesteven's article in Cycling Plus (it says so at the top of the page)
The review was a rather mixed bag of titanium bikes, the spa was the cheapest despite them blinging it up with Ultegra etc. There was one bike that scored higher overall in their test.
for my use, I would have the lower-geared Spa triple with cable brakes; i would pay out for handbuilt wheels with either Archetype or their disc-specific rim, whichever gives easier tyre fitting for my arthritic thumbs.

531colin wrote:The "bike Radar" write up comes from Guy Kesteven's article in Cycling Plus (it says so at the top of the page)
The review was a rather mixed bag of titanium bikes, the spa was the cheapest despite them blinging it up with Ultegra etc. There was one bike that scored higher overall in their test.

It was a mixed bag, but not just of titanium bikes, the one that scored highest was aluminium and there was some steel in their as well.
Like all C+ reviews not many words are wasted on anything that's likely to be informative to me if I were choosing a bike. Even so it was an entertaining read and passed some time on a long train journey.

shows what my memory is like!
Like all reviews, its an opinion.....anybody wishing to form their own opinion can try a bike at the shop.

It looks a nice bike with good geometry. I'd certainly like to try one ?50cm? but it would take me over 10hours return by train to Harrogate and cost over £70 with the cheapest tickets.

MikeF wrote:It looks a nice bike with good geometry. I'd certainly like to try one ?50cm? but it would take me over 10hours return by train to Harrogate and cost over £70 with the cheapest tickets.

If I were thinking of spending two grand on a bike, £70 to make sure it was the right one would seem money well spent.
Alternatively, make a weekend of it and visit York Rally.

MikeF wrote:It looks a nice bike with good geometry. I'd certainly like to try one ?50cm? but it would take me over 10hours return by train to Harrogate and cost over £70 with the cheapest tickets.

If you are actually in the market for a bike, then £70 and a day out of your life doesn't strike me as too bad.....certainly less hassle than buying something that turns out to be not what you wanted.
If you are just curious, then you could be a bit more inventive.....treat Mrs Mike to a weekend in a hotel with a health spa (whatever that is).....have a touring holiday for a few days or a couple of weeks.....go to the York Rally......see the peregrines at Malham Cove, and the red squirrels at Snaizeholme....
....ah, PH has a similar idea...