The perfect Audax bike?

[burntoutbanger]

So I've done a few long rides (although not as long as some on here no doubt), several centuries and a 200km ride. My current bike of choice for these is a Raleigh Maverick Tour which is a Reynolds steel frame and fork, 30-39-50 triple chainset with a 32-12 eight speed cassette. It's shod with Marathon Original in a 32 width and sports cantilever brakes and full mudguards. Can I just say that while I love this bike I hate the cantilever brakes and am considering a mini v-brake conversion (which I believe has the same pull ratio). The bike is also perhaps a little heavy at around 13.5kg.

With this in mind and more for fun than anything serious, what do you serious Audaxers look for in a long distance bike?

For clarification I'm talking about distances of 200km+ and bearing in mind I'm in the South West a super low gear is a must.

To start I'd like to lose the cantilever brakes (but I understand they must be replaced with some kind of braking system). I also find on long rides I don't really need the 50 tooth big ring and would be perfectly happy with something like a 30-42 or 34-46 double.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Your post just reminded me that I got this email yesterday. Ticks the audax box, ticks the non-cantilever brakes box. Thing is it's not steel....
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXH...272059557&mc_cid=1aadc2cb08&mc_eid=ed9aaf7abe

 

[burntoutbanger]

Lovely bike and Titanium is a great frame material if I can believe the hype.

Although I like my bike's steel frame I'm not hung up on frame material as I think a good fit will make any frame material comfortable.

What I don't like about that bike is the 34-50 chainset. Maybe I just can't sustain enough power in my legs for 10 hours plus but I can't help thinking a 50 tooth big ring is too big for Audax?

I've been looking at this https://www.specialized.com/ni/en/mens-diverge-e5/p/129184?color=239514-129184

Edited, sorry for the wrong model.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

I agree on the gearing needed in the South West. I am new to the Audax scene and I’m very glad I opted for a triple 50/39/30 on an 11-32 cassette. It’s not fashionable, but what is in Audax? I have done a couple of lumpy 200 Audax events and down your way the Dartmoor Devil and Ghost. I am also managing an old kneee injury so I’m much happier keeping my spin light and fast rather than grinding my cartilage to paste.

My bike is a Spa Cycles Elan although I started out Audax on my Surly Disc Trucker. Heavy! I’ve seen just about every type of bike so far on these rides, so keep an open mind. If you are comfy, you’ll be happy.

 

[burntoutbanger]

Agreed on comfy = happy. Not looking for a new bike per say but not not looking if you know what I mean. Just need to swap out those cantis on my current steed.

 

[DCLane]

Audax bikes do vary a bit, although most are steel/titanium and triples are common. Diverge's are popular, but I'm not sure they're the best option for audaxes. Weight is important there and the Diverge is still a little heavy. A carbon fork is also sensible to remove road buzz that hits the hands after about 300k.

Mine's a home-built aluminium Ridgeback Platinum however with upgraded groupset and bars, which has been fine for both LEL and PBP plus lots of 300km+ rides. This was it set up in 'full trim' for LEL last year:

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Lovely bike and Titanium is a great frame material if I can believe the hype.

Although I like my bike's steel frame I'm not hung up on frame material as I think a good fit will make any frame material comfortable.

What I don't like about that bike is the 34-50 chainset. Maybe I just can't sustain enough power in my legs for 10 hours plus but I can't help thinking a 50 tooth big ring is too big for Audax?

I've been looking at this https://www.specialized.com/ni/en/mens-diverge-e5/p/129184?color=239514-129184

Edited, sorry for the wrong model.

It does come with a 11 - 32 cassette, though, so there's plenty of gears below. I've never ever climbed onto a titanium bike but if it's as smooth as the hype, you may have a more relaxed ride, which might keep your legs fresher. The 50 x 11 combination would then be a kind of downhill novelty gear.....
You might even be able to get them to put a GXP Rival chainring on - 46/36 - for only a minor price increase....

 

[burntoutbanger]

What gearing do you use @DCLane?

 

[DCLane]

What gearing do you use @DCLane?

I run an Ultegra 52/36 crank with 11-28 rear. I do struggle a bit on the really steep stuff after about 500km but can keep going. However, living in a hilly area might help there. A lighter set of wheels, with GP4000S tyres also helps as I'm not lugging an extra 1-2kg up every slope.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Agreed on comfy = happy. Not looking for a new bike per say but not not looking if you know what I mean. Just need to swap out those cantis on my current steed.

Ok, I'll come clean: I want something like that for my ownsome. I just need to wait until the fairly imminent sale of the family home....

 

[burntoutbanger]

Do you find yourself using the big ring much @Heltor Chasca?

 

[burntoutbanger]

I run an Ultegra 52/36 crank with 11-28 rear. I do struggle a bit on the really steep stuff after about 500km but can keep going. However, living in a hilly area might help there. A lighter set of wheels, with GP4000S tyres also helps as I'm not lugging an extra 1-2kg up every slope.

That's a big 'little gear', impressive!

 

[DCLane]

That's a big 'little gear', impressive!

Thanks - I rode PBP on a DuraAce 54/39 crank with 11-28 cassette because it looked flat. But then anything 1200km long would look flat on a single screen. I regretted my decision a couple of times but it mostly worked.

The crankset snapped on a 400km ride last year so I swapped it for a 52/36 setup.

 

[mjr]

On brakes, I'd replace the cantilever ones with mini Vs. I think they'd mount on the same posts.

 

[mjr]

I'd also consider lower-drag tyres and check the luggage was aero... But although I ride distances equivalent to the shorter ones, I don't "get" audax, so I might be missing something.