Cycling UK Forum

Can I call on your collective wisdom?

I'm having a bit of a fleet rationalisation and swap around and looking for a new Ti Audax frame to become my new fast(er) Audax bike and winter club run bike. No need to be able to take a rack, I'll get by with a bar bag or seatpack if necessary as will likely only be using this for <400k rides.

I've settled on Ti not because I think it's necessary or anything silly like that, but because It's a been a few years since I've had a Ti bike, and I miss it. I've got other steel and alu bikes as well so would be nice to have an alternative, and the paint/corrosion lack of worries is just a nice bonus, so lets just say I'm decided on Ti for my own reasons.

requirements are:

- Ti, because of above reasons
- Rim brake only, prefer DP but canti OK...
- 25mm with guards as an absolute minimum, but 28+ would be better. My Mercian can fit 32mm with guards and BR650 57mm drop brakes so I know it's possible
- threaded BB, no press-fit nonsense.
- 2x bottle cage mounts
- Mechanical routing, not Di2, and preferably externally routed cables but not a deal breaker
- under £1500 for a frame, ~£1000 or less would be even better!

Sizing wise I'm 5'7 with short legs so I'm a little awkward, On a traditional horizontal top tube bike I normally need ~50-52cm seat tube but 54cm top tube*, but I'm not a fan of the overly tall head tubes on some compact frames, so ~110-120mm head tube on anything that take external cups, ~130-140mm for integrated if it's sloping/compact geo. I'd also prefer something with <74deg seat angle if possible but can normally get by with a decent layback post.

Current list is:

- Spa Ti Audax
Probably current list leader, despite being the cheapest it looks nice (to me) from the ones I've seen in the flesh, geometry is right up my street and tyre clearance seems as good as it can be with DPs

- Dolan ADX
Looking good as decently priced, geo looks sensible and looks nice but I'm not sure tyre clearance is as good as it could be?

- Reilly Motive (can't work out if available frame only though?)
Only found online last night, looks lovely, no other knowledge yet..

- Van Nic Yukon (or maybe amazon?)
Kind of default choice? Yukon doesn't seem to have massive clearance though so possibly Amazon might be better choice?

- Sabbath September
Seems like a nice frame, but not really grabbing my attention over a VN or Spa, not sure why...


I'm not interested in anything from Lynsky, they don't seem to do it for me aesthetically and seem expensive by comparison to other options.
I'm also staying clear of Planet X, I simply don't trust them to be helpful if I have any warranty issue down the line.
I haven't ruled out Enigma but they seem a little pricey and seem to be moving towards discs for pretty much everything in their range.

Anything else I should be looking at or anyone got any glowing/scathing words about any of the above?

*although I do have a Singular Osprey which is much shorter TT and I fit it fine with a long stem and longer reach bars, but it's got a 60mm offset fork and slack head angle so a bit unconventional in other regards anyway.

I've got an Enigma Etape (non disc) and have used it on the sort of distances that you are looking at and can recommend. I sometimes use it with a titanium rack, and sometimes with a Carradice saddlebag.

I also have Soner Camino Ti, which I love and have toured on, but probably wouldn't want to do 400k on...and it's got disc brakes

I’m very happy with my September, an absolute joy over any distance. Meets your requirements in terms of spec, not sure on your geometry detail but their website has the relevant facts. Haven’t tried the others so I can’t compare, I do have a sister made bike to Van Nic (defunct US only brand called Flyte) not the Yukon or Amazon equivalent but a really clean frame and lovely ride too. As for Enigma, I’ve one of their steel frames, a really beautiful ride.


I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my iPad using hovercraft full of eels. Pro

I have had a Van Nicholas Yukon for 11 years and is my favourite bike. It still looks as good as new, to my eyes at least. I think it tallies with all of your requirements but you would need to check that they haven't changed the spec.

One "improvement" is that they now have integrated headsets.

I dithered for a long time between Amazon and Yukon and eventually chose the Amazon.
For what the OP wants I would choose the Yukon (out of that pair). Unless they weigh a seriously large amount and want to ride with 135mm OLN touring wheels (the Amazon was set at 132.5 and took both types).

I'm not fussed about internal headset or not, cartridge bearings last well for me and are a doddle to replace so no bother there.

I'm ~74kg so not heavy, not light, my query about the Amazon was more the possibility of running bigger tyres, but it's a bit more relaxed than the Yukon anyway so might not be such a great idea.

rotavator wrote:I have had a Van Nicholas Yukon for 11 years and is my favourite bike. It still looks as good as new, to my eyes at least. I think it tallies with all of your requirements but you would need to check that they haven't changed the spec.

Hopefully he will see this thread but I am pretty sure our forum colleague Paul S who was working with VN once told me that they did change the spec to the one he rides.

but it's a bit more relaxed than the Yukon anyway so might not be such a great idea.

Just for information and not to push the Amazon as a good choice but it comes in a less relaxed version too.
https://www.vannicholas.com/road-bikes/amazon-cross

It comes with discs but it also says for the frame "V-Brake and Disc Brake Systems Compatible" however anybody buying would be wise to check that.

I bought the Dolan Ti about a year ago. Chose it over the Spa (geometry) and Ribble (tyre clearance)
I only bought the frame and built up the rest. I'm very satisfied with it.
It has good mudguard clearance and I can run 28mm Gatorskins.

My Spa Ti Audax has good toe clearance, which I value, but it will only take 25mm tyres with guards, not 28mm. Very neat welds.

However, my y Spa Ti Audax happily takes 28mm tyres - Gatorskins, Rubino Pro's, Pasela TG etc

PS My Spa Ti Audax is a lovely frame which I have been riding for 5 years (frame no 000035). A smooth efficient comfortable ride around the Devon lanes. As noted above, no front overlap and an excellent climber. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another or recommend. Well worth a day out to Harrogate for an extended ride on one or their test bikes. I built mine up from a F&F set, 105 triple, Stronglight crankset, LX17 rims etc

Another one for the list is possible Linskey. I don't know what in the current range might suite, but I had a Planet X branded one for a couple of years, it wasn't really my sort of bike but it was nicely designed and made.
Having just suffered a crack on an 8 year old Ti frame, pretty much top of my list would be a lifetime guarantee. Mine was a cheap one, but I doubt any of the makes are immune. I know of a couple of Van Niks that have been replaced without fuss.

Another one for the list is possible Linskey. I don't know what in the current range might suite, but I had a Planet X branded one for a couple of years, it wasn't really my sort of bike but it was nicely designed and made.

I don't what to be 'that guy', but I was pretty clear in my original post that both those two are off the table.

Thanks for the extra info though guys, have started some discussion with Justin @Burls too as for some reason I'd completely forgotten about Burls when I started looking... but still keen on the Spa...

amediasatex wrote:

Another one for the list is possible Linskey. I don't know what in the current range might suite, but I had a Planet X branded one for a couple of years, it wasn't really my sort of bike but it was nicely designed and made.

I don't what to be 'that guy', but I was pretty clear in my original post that both those two are off the table.

Th

oops