Looking for an alternative to a Thorn Audax

[London Female]

^^^^ Exactly.

The pro's are that you can have the bike exactly as you want it and spend money on the parts that are more important to you; for example: Bike model heirarchy = after the frame is based on more expensive groupsets, but then what you find is that the wheelsets on very expensive bikes are very poor in relation to the rest of it. I would spend less on groupset and finishing kit and a lot more on wheels and tyres as after the frame these make the biggest difference to how a bike rides and feels and accelerates. Rotating weight saved is far more valuable than static weight.
The con's are that it will likely work out more expensive than buying an off the peg bike and you have to factor a 'build' cost. However, you get exactly what you want, and which will fit you well and that's important.

Thorn, Genesis, Condor are all good. I would say tha Condor and Genesis would be most similar to each other and the Thorn more idiosyncratic in style, sizing and approach (and there's nothing wrong with that!).

You'll fly on any of them!

Thank you Kev. I would prefer not to go over the £1500 mark, I don't think my budget will stretch to building a bike from scratch and that all sounds a bit too scary to be honest. I may go and have a look though, London is a lot easier to get to than Bridgwater.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Thank you Kev. I would prefer not to go over the £1500 mark, I don't think my budget will stretch to building a bike from scratch and that all sounds a bit too scary to be honest. I may go and have a look though, London is a lot easier to get to than Bridgwater.

No Probs.
I'm sure if you call Condor or Bike zone they could give you a price for the bikes but with a triple option with all other bits being 'Standard'.
Visiting Condor is always nice, but they're usually heaving on a Saturday!

I've got their Accacio steel frame on my shortlist to replace the Giant, so I also need to make a visit soon :-)

 

[samsbike]

Thank you Kev. I would prefer not to go over the £1500 mark, I don't think my budget will stretch to building a bike from scratch and that all sounds a bit too scary to be honest. I may go and have a look though, London is a lot easier to get to than Bridgwater.

I think for £1500 you could build up a pretty good bike - v roughly

frame - £450 - genesis frame
Wheels - £300 (paul hewitt/ spa cycles handbuiltsffrom memory)
G'set - £400 - shimano 105 - although Merlin have these for around £350 I think at the moment
Finishing kit and cables - £200 (high estimate) (bars - £40, seatpost - £30, seat - £50, mudguards - £30, Cables - £25, tires - £30 perhaps a little low but then you could get a cheaper saddle)
building at LBS - £100

So very roughly £1450, and while this is at the top end of your budget, it will be a very nice bike.

Or a standard genesis equilibrium is around £1200, which then can be modified to be similar to the above.

Here is the hewitt site

http://www.hewittcycles.co.uk/hewitt-cycles (bit far to go though)

Also, I think a condor fratello may just come in at that price as well. If you want to stick to London, Brixton Cycles has a good reputation are a genesis dealer (and surly) and may able to do something for you as well.

Happy shopping