Cycling UK Forum

I'm looking for a lighter bike than my Dawes Galaxy for commuting. I was thinking of a road bike as nice and light, but a colleague suggested an Audax bike - What's the difference between them ?
Want a bike for commuting all year, 2 or 3 days per week - what would you recommend ? Thanks, Alastair

Moderate light Alu frame, with space for mudguards, lighting systems and possibly a pannier carrier... esp for those commutes..

I'd recommend a Dawes Galaxy. I'm not being facetious, regular commuting is hard on a bike and you want something reliable, particularly in Aberdeen where a lot of your commuting will be in the dark. I'd save my money on a new bike and get some good tyres, a hub dynamo, a decent rack and mudguards. Then I'd spend the rest on some top quality clothing and panniers. Some security skewers might be a good idea too.

There is a theory that the weight of your (bike + lock) is a constant. I.e. the fancier the bike, the heavier the lock.

Hi, THanks for your replies. I still want to try something lighter than the Galaxy. The Audax sounds ideal for me because it can take mudguards and a pannier, but I'm still open to buying a road bike with strap on mud guards and a saddle bag if necessary to keep the weight down. Alastair

AlastairS wrote:Hi, THanks for your replies. I still want to try something lighter than the Galaxy. The Audax sounds ideal for me because it can take mudguards and a pannier, but I'm still open to buying a road bike with strap on mud guards and a saddle bag if necessary to keep the weight down. Alastair

You won't get to work any faster!

Why don't you go all urban and super-cool and get a fixer for commuting?

I have a touring bike and an old mountain bike turned hybrid. Mostly I use the latter for getting to work on, occasionally the tourer.

I've been considering buying a racer for fun at the weekends. To be honest probably what I'd sort of prefer to get is an Audax...but I can't justify a lot of money for something essentially fairly close to what I've already got! And then I keep realising that I can do so much more on the Tourer with regards to muddy rocky paths and suchlike, which I always seem to end up going down...

If I did get a racer though I certainly wouldn't consider using it for getting to work on, any more than I'd consider using a Formula 1 car.

you can commute on an audax bike, but the wheels and tyres won't necessarily be especially durable.

Audax bikes vary, but can be very much like racing bikes but with slightly different geometry, and enough room for mudguards and (usually) 25mm tyres, sometimes 28mm ones.

You won't necessarily go very much faster than on a touring bike; (for a big chunk of extra speed you would need to revise your riding position most likely, since aero drag is most of the total drag at speed). But you might feel like you are going faster, anyway.

I quite like riding lightweight bikes, but the differences are lost on some folk. Whether I'd want to use one as a commuter is another thing though.

cheers

I'd second the idea of getting a fixed gear for commuting. They're simple (less to go wrong/maintain) and ought to be lighter & cheaper than a geared bike of similar quality. They're also less desirable to steal (the thieves that broke into my garage stole my Tricross, but left the fixie behind!).

Most importantly, though, they're fun to ride! You can practice new skills such as trackstanding and braking using leg pressure. Steep descents become a high cadence challenge, and a steep climb is akin to a weights session at the gym! Low speed riding (ie around traffic) is far more controlled in a way that you can't appreciate without having tried it.

Finally, as already stated, they have the potential to make you super-cool. Though it doesn't seem to have worked on me

I do 20 miles a day + whatever extra distance I fancy (sometimes up to 60 miles on a work day) on a croix de fer. Works well and can take a beating. I did build mine up with a triple though.

Hi, Thanks for all your comments. I want a bike that is lighter, not so that I can go faster, but so it is less of an effort. I have this idea that because the bike is lighter and the wheels are lighter and the tyres are narrower that the bike will 'glide' along much more effortlessly than my touring bike with heavy 35mm tyres and heavy frame and Pannier rack (13.5kg approx. total).
I just want to feel that lightness every time I start off, and during a steady cycle. I won't be cycling on off road tracks. The touring bike is good, but it's for touring not commuting 12 miles total each journey twice per week.
I often get overtaken by roadies and it's not always because they're fitter, I guess it's because they are travelling light. less drag with those thin tyres and light wheels.
Alastair

not so that I can go faster, but so it is less of an effort.

Alas, it often doesn't work that way! You'll find that you still put the same effort in (because you are used to putting that effort in) but you just get there a bit quicker! Although going from a galaxy to a race bike on the average commute probably will only yield minimal speed differences, and a lessening in comfort.

Personally I'd stick with the galaxy if I was considering it on purely practical grounds....but if it's an excuse for n+1...

You can get that effect with your Galaxy just by using better quality tyres.

However I use a so called Audax bike for nearly everything and commute all year round, except in the worst weather when I use my MTB. I have a Tifosi CK7, Camapag version and its great. I tend to shod it with vitoria Rubino Summer and Swalbe Durano Plus for the winter . It has done 20,000 miles in 2.5 years and has stood the ordeal quite well. Apart from the consumables Chains and tyres I have had to replace the wheel bearing s rear and the bb Bearings. I did put a new front wheel on from new as I wanted a dynohub, Also the saddle was changed for A brooks . I did have to replace the left Ergo owing to a fall. I have the campag veloce model.

i'm lucky enough to have access to a few bikes for my commute (approx 10 miles) on main roads and also commute all year.
from experience i'd say i use :
a 'heavy', fixed bike with 28c/35c tyres for 80% of the time - winter and bad weather (100% last year!!)
an 'audax' bike with mudguards and 23c tyres for 15% - spring and summer days when rain is likely
a 'road' bike for the other 5% (like today when miraculously it's dry with little prospect of rain.)

yes the ride on the 'road' bike is more 'fun' as it's a handbuilt, lightweight but i don't really go any faster overall nor ride with less effort. i just like it as i like riding beautiful, well built bicycles. it's never however going to be the bike for the job in all honesty! for instance the 53T ring is way too big for stop-start riding. i also think a couple of commutes on a wet day with no mudguards may make you feel the road bike is the wrong choice.

I commuted (27 miles/day) on a Galaxy for a while and soon found it overbuilt and sluggish feeling.

Sold it and went the audax route.

Audax bike gives 90% of the fun of a proper road bike, and 90% of the practicality of a tourer.

Advantages of audax over tourer are weight (save 3-4kg) and gearing (closer ratios and more likely to have STI controls).

It's the way to go IMO.

Commute bike must haves (IMHO) in some sort of order:

Mudguards - Drinking road soup is no fun
Rack - or saddlebag/bar bag etc. Basically let the bike carry your stuff
Tool kit - Permanent tool kit that lives on the bike, not to be "borrowed" for workshop time

Brakes - I prefer disc/drum/roller due to the lower sensitivity to weather, but make sure you can stop
Lights - if your commute is long and regular then dynamo lights (possibly supplemented)
Gears - enough to get you there and back, in the simplest possible form

Comfort - i.e. saddle, bars and tyres you like

Spare - the spare needn't be the same as above, but as many as possible. For those days when the "proper" commuter is undergoing major surgery etc.