Which bikes have you used for Audax Rides?

[Duckfoot1606]

My limited input as follows;

Specialized Tricross - now retired
Ribble 525 steel Audax - Heinz 57 spec, mainly Veloce 3 x10 with a Spa cycles 48/38/28 crank and a 13/29 block, 25mm tyres (just fit with guards) doesn’t get out much these days but a lovely buttery ride when it does see daylight
Croix de Fer 10 - my go to steed for more less all riding nowadays, Gatorskins on summer wheels, Marathons on the winter wheels, both 32c. Heavy but feels utterly unstoppable. 50/34, 11/34.

A

[slugbait]

A lot, I like to do at least one audax on each of my bikes. There is a plan to do a 200 on my pub bike (just to see if it can be done). The full list:

 - Cube Agree: typical aluminium racer as they were sold back in 2012, 23mm tyres, 3x10 105, mechanical rim brakes. Did my first two audaxes on this bike, back in 2015. A bit too big and a very stiff frame, 300 max
 - Santos Trekking Lite: a light touring bike with a Rohloff hub, 35mm tyres and hydraulic rim brakes. Mainly used for winter 200s, only flat bar bike on the list
 - Specialized Roubaix: very comfortable (to me) carbon racer. 25mm tyres, 2x11 Ultegra, mechanical rim brakes. My main audax bike between 2016 and 2020. Used for my first 400, 600 and 1000.
 - Specialized Diverge: one of the winter bikes, mudguards, 32mm tyres, 2x10 Tiagra, hydraulic disc brakes. Winter 200s and the occasional 300
 - Surly Cross Check: the other winter bike, mudguards, 32mm tyres, 1x10 mix of Shimano (derailleur, v-brakes, dynamo hub), SRAM (cranks), Microshift (bar end shifter) and Tektro (brake levers). Only used for winter 200s
 - Bombtrack Arise: a singlespeed cross bike, 35mm tyres, v-brakes and my favorite gear, 42x16. Used for one 200.
 - Cannondale CAAD 12:  typical aluminium racer as they were sold back in 2017, 25mm tyres, 2x11 105, mechanical rim brakes. I use this occasionally for shorter audaxes in summer, by far my fastest bike.
 - WiND 58: custom-built steel racer/randonneur with a porteur rack, dynamo hub, 28mm tyres, 2x11 105, mechanical rim brakes. Main audax bike since 2021, completed LEL without issues

[tippers_kiwi]

Usually decided by my current level of fitness, conditions or intent

2014 Trek Domane was the 4.3 but loads of 'upgrades'
2015 Genesis Croix De Fer (Stainless)
2016 Genesis Day One - Decade edition converted to Fixed
2018 Velo Orange Poly Valent

[Pedal Castro]

My first 200 was done on a late '50s Rory O' Brien track bike, which shared the early rides with my '90 Brian Rourke. Now I tend to do them on plastic frames, either my Merckx 69 or Pugnator Montum if it's particularly hilly.

[felstedrider]

Raleigh Team Corsa (I think), Resprayed by Barron.   Various componentry.   Hit by a car in Leicester.
Inkley 531 frame, later resprayed by Youngs.   Various componentry.   Converted to fixed.   Bent in collision with a car in New Cross.   1 PBP.
Custom built Barron 531.   Campag Centaur Triple and my first Ergos.   1 PBP.
Thorn 853.   Shimano Ultegra (triple)   1 PBP and 1 LEL.
Specialized Langster.
Ridgeback Solo.   Goldtec wheels upgrade.   1 PBP.
Condor Tempo.   40th birthday present to me.   1 PBP and 1 LEL.   Still in use on the turbo.
Dolan FXE (actually 2).   1 PBP.
Dolan Dual.   Shimano Ultegra.  My current main bike and the planned steed for next PBP.

[Jethro]

Just treated myself to a new Reilly Gradient T47 frameset which I now need to put together with an Ultegra Di2 groupset and in the hope that it boosts my enthusiasm for doing some longer rides again.

[rt]

52” penny farthing for some 200 and 300s
More recently trek Madone for 1000k

[Nick]

My Giant Defy 1 Disc and my Pearson single speed. That's it!

[LateStarter]

I started cycling fairly late at 55, (& Audaxing at 60), so a lot of catching up to do.

Bike 1 - 2008 Cannondale Touring (Aluminium) 9sp 48/36/26 Shimano & 12-36, having started cycling fairly late was my first real bike, did a lot of longer rides pre Audax, has done a few Audax 200s, good but got superseded by #2 & #3 maybe for no good reason really having no prior experience / knowledge of what to expect.

Bike 2 - 2013 Vivente World Randonneur (Steel) heavy loaded Touring, 9sp 48/36/24 Sugano & 12-36, got it for long touring which I never got round to much but started Audaxing with it, a lot of 200s (20), very good for heavy loaded touring but a bit too flexible if not loaded when on Audax rides, saps too much effort and is just too heavy (noticeable lugging it up stairs at railway platforms)

Bike 3 - 2015 Lynskey Sportive Disc (Ti) 9sp 48/36/24 Sugano & 12-36, has been 10sp 46/30 Velo Orange & 11-36 earlier in its life, 20 x 200s sole 300, a very nice “looking” bike and in theory should be a great Audax bike but , never really lived up to expectations, not as stable / balanced / comfortable as #1, not greatly quicker than #1 or #2, limited to 32mm tires, preserved maybe for too long because I felt it “should” be better than others and cost a bit.

So considering more of #1, just had major service after hanging on the wall for a few years, some newer bits to address everything I previously disliked and could use the better wheels / dynamo hub from #3 sans disc rotor. It will take bigger tires and is pretty comfortable, candidate for both Audax & gravel bike?, balanced, stable, longer wheelbase and fork trail, just “nice” to ride and only a few 100 grams heavier than #3, right (?) mix of comfort but not too flexible, will try it out on hoped for longer than 200 rides soon. Poor #3 currently doing duty on the smart direct drive trainer which seems a pity considering it was most expensive (but very cheap compared with current prices). Will let you how it works otherwise it’s plan C reviewing #3 again, at this stage don't really want to buy "another" bike. Any guidance appreciated.

[Blodwyn Pig]

My brief spell at Audaxing  from C.2004 to 2015 was done sole on my Post Office Red Pearson Dayrider (Dave Yates frame) 631. Last one being , I think, a “Mince Pie and Stollen” from Hailsham.

I really fancy doing some more Audaxes, maybe I should re join, hmmmm !

[trundle]

I started cycling fairly late at 55, (& Audaxing at 60), so a lot of catching up to do.

Bike 1 - 2008 Cannondale Touring (Aluminium) 9sp 48/36/26 Shimano & 12-36, having started cycling fairly late was my first real bike, did a lot of longer rides pre Audax, has done a few Audax 200s, good but got superseded by #2 & #3 maybe for no good reason really having no prior experience / knowledge of what to expect.

Bike 2 - 2013 Vivente World Randonneur (Steel) heavy loaded Touring, 9sp 48/36/24 Sugano & 12-36, got it for long touring which I never got round to much but started Audaxing with it, a lot of 200s (20), very good for heavy loaded touring but a bit too flexible if not loaded when on Audax rides, saps too much effort and is just too heavy (noticeable lugging it up stairs at railway platforms)

Bike 3 - 2015 Lynskey Sportive Disc (Ti) 9sp 48/36/24 Sugano & 12-36, has been 10sp 46/30 Velo Orange & 11-36 earlier in its life, 20 x 200s sole 300, a very nice “looking” bike and in theory should be a great Audax bike but , never really lived up to expectations, not as stable / balanced / comfortable as #1, not greatly quicker than #1 or #2, limited to 32mm tires, preserved maybe for too long because I felt it “should” be better than others and cost a bit.

So considering more of #1, just had major service after hanging on the wall for a few years, some newer bits to address everything I previously disliked and could use the better wheels / dynamo hub from #3 sans disc rotor. It will take bigger tires and is pretty comfortable, candidate for both Audax & gravel bike?, balanced, stable, longer wheelbase and fork trail, just “nice” to ride and only a few 100 grams heavier than #3, right (?) mix of comfort but not too flexible, will try it out on hoped for longer than 200 rides soon. Poor #3 currently doing duty on the smart direct drive trainer which seems a pity considering it was most expensive (but very cheap compared with current prices). Will let you how it works otherwise it’s plan C reviewing #3 again, at this stage don't really want to buy "another" bike. Any guidance appreciated.

This is interesting - I feel I may arrive at a similar dilemma. I have a lighter (10.5kg) cheap Al bike which IS easier on the hills, but less comfy on the rest. And a wonderfully comfy, but relatively heavy (14kg) steel triple all-rounder which is harder to climb, but just as quick anywhere else - and in fact, quicker on descent because 35mm tyres give much more confidence.

I want my cake and eat it with a lovely carbon bike - and the most promising options are gravel bikes with carbon frames: They are lighter, have clearance for wide tyres and mudguards and with 2xGRX - lovely audax gearing options. But I'm put off by many horror stories of poorly made frames which manifest as constant bottom bracket problems - even amongst the major manufacturers. And these problems can also occur on threaded brackets if the alignment is bad enough.

[vorsprung]

yellow SJS cheap Tange frame with 8 speed triple (LEL 2005)
silver/orange/black Orbea Gavia aluminium racer 9 speed triple
raw ti Setavento custom ti campag ( PBP 2007 )
black Specialized Roubaix carbon 10 speed triple (PBP 2011 and 2019, LEL2017)
grey (resprayed, now red) Surly Karate Monkey steel 8 speed alfine
black Cotic Roadrat steel 8 speed alfine
silver/black Ridley Aeron Aluminium 9 speed double
black Genesis Datum Carbon 11 speed double

Too many black bikes

[Wobbly]

A couple of road bikes
A couple of recumbents
A tandem
A recumbent tandem trike
A hybrid bike (aka my old shopping bike)
A Pashley Roadster
A Pashley Guv'nor

I think that's about it

[ppg]

Viscount Aerospace Sport (once)
Paul Donohue Audax (631)
Mercian Tourer (531)
Thorn Audax Mk3 (gas pipe)