New Bike Info needed

[Graham1]

I have just come into some money so I have decided to replace my Dawes Discovery with an Audax bike to use for my 21 mile commute, I have in mind 3 options a new Thorn Audax Mk 3, an Aravis Audax from Byercycles or one I have just found a Randonneur from Ellis Briggs in Shipley. Does anybody know anything about any of these makes especially Ellis Briggs.

 

[Greenbank]

Very happy with my Aravis Audax (from Byercycles).

http://www.greenbank.org/bikes/aravis.jpg

(bar tape has been swapped for plain black since that photo was taken).

Used it for (hilly) rides up to 300km (including the Elenith 300km Audax) and it's been absolutely faultless.

Very happy with the setup of the bike from Byercycles. The two handbuilt wheels (Centaur Hubs in Mavic Open Pro rims) are still solid and true after 2000 miles (although that pic shows my SON hub wheel). Campag Centaur (free upgrade to Chorus rear mech).

 

[Hugo15]

Have you seen the review of 4 audax bikes in Cycling + this month?

- Sunday September
- Thorn Mk3 Audax
- Roberts 953 Audax
- Paul Hewitt Alpine (My favourite of the 4)

 

[Graham1]

Just read the reports, these are to expensive for me the Thorn base model with Tiagra was what i was thinking about, as i don't seem to be able to get info on Ellis Briggs it will be between the Thorn and the Aravis.