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Author Topic: Audax bike frames for £400 ish  (Read 12995 times)

Under the arches

Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« on: 29 October, 2014, 08:18:43 am »
I will be updating the current machine from a boardman hybrid team (with drop conversion) as the aluminium frame is harsh on a 100mile plus ride. So a new frame is called for. I have currently got my eyes on a Cotic Escapade, because it seems to do everything?

The kaffenback seems too heavy. Any other suggestions?  ???
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Hot Flatus

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #1 on: 29 October, 2014, 08:24:15 am »
Kinesis 4s?

You'll have to hunt for a good price, though.
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mike

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #2 on: 29 October, 2014, 08:26:54 am »
I wouldn't worry about the weight differences, if you're going for a steel frame it'll only be a pound or so between them.  And if you spend the 200 pounds saving of the kaff on better wheels, it'll feel lighter anyway...

(the cotic looks good though!)
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tiermat

  • According to Jane, I'm a Unisex SpaceAdmin
Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #3 on: 29 October, 2014, 08:30:55 am »
I would go a little off the wall here and suggest a Ridley X-Bow Allroad.

Yes, it's still alu, but with a carbon fork.  Lovely bike.  Disc brake only, though.  Full bike is £950, frame only runs out to about (I coouldn't coax an exact figure out of the LBS) £450.
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I feel like Captain Kirk, on a brand new planet every day, a little like King Kong on top of the Empire State

jm1

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #4 on: 29 October, 2014, 08:44:34 am »
Has to be one of these,or a Croix de Fer.
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/frames/road/equilibrium

The black ones are faster though.
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Hummers

  • It is all about the taste.
Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #5 on: 29 October, 2014, 08:47:24 am »
Bob Jackson frames are less than £500 and Rubble steel frames are even less.

H
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jamesld8

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #6 on: 29 October, 2014, 08:47:45 am »
Was happy with a Cotic x but sold it on, however like Escapade it has a wishbone rear stays setup which reduces compliance rear triangle (compared to my existing `normal` rear stays setup steel bike).

You could get around this added harshness  with higher volume tyres though....at cost of reducing liveliness feel I`d expect, depends on how you want to ride / use it
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....after the `tarte de pommes`, and  fortified by a couple of shots of limoncellos,  I flew up the Col de Bavella whilst thunderstorms rolled around the peaks above

Hot Flatus

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #7 on: 29 October, 2014, 08:48:45 am »
Ribble Sportive 365?
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Chris N

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #8 on: 29 October, 2014, 09:04:15 am »
Sounds like you want something with discs.  Cotic Escapade dropouts not perfect for geared use - the rear facing slot is a PITA when used with derailleurs.  Nice frames - well finished and thought out, but not significantly lighter than the Kaffenback 2 (which is lovely, handles nicely and is cheap).  Planet X London Road and Genesis Equilibrium Disc may be worth looking at too.
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Under the arches

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #9 on: 29 October, 2014, 10:32:32 am »
What does  PITA mean? Thinking now of the Kaffy. Now £150! And going for the new wheels. But it doesn't look as nice as the escapade in duck blue  8)


Forgot to say that the frame will need to take discs.
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Reg.T

  • "You don't have to go fast; you just have to go."
Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #10 on: 29 October, 2014, 10:57:01 am »
Pain In The A***
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Just turn me loose let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies

Cycling Daddy

  • "We shall have an adventure by and by," said Don Q
Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #11 on: 29 October, 2014, 10:58:28 am »
Quote from: Under the arches on 29 October, 2014, 10:32:32 am
What does  PITA mean? Thinking now of the Kaffy. Now £150! And going for the new wheels. But it doesn't look as nice as the escapade in duck blue  8)


Forgot to say that the frame will need to take discs.
From Urban dictionary which I use when unsure

pita
1) Acronym for Pain In The Ass, a major annoyance.
2) Flat bread of Mediterranean origin, eaten as is or filled with small pieces of roasted meat, veggies, condiments, etc.
1) Reinstalling everything after a virus was a true PITA.
2) Greek-style pita is round and thickish, while Cypriot-style pita is elongated and thin.
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Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be.”
― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote

Chris N

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #12 on: 29 October, 2014, 11:15:53 am »
Kaffenback 2 framset and a decent set of wheels (Kinesis Crosslight CX disc, for example) should be a great start for about £400.  Upgrade the fork when you can - the steel PX fork is nearly 1kg.
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Grandad

  • Once upon a time
Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #13 on: 29 October, 2014, 12:15:59 pm »
I bought a steel  Spa audax frame last year and am very pleased with it.
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Otto

  • Biking Bad
Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #14 on: 29 October, 2014, 02:04:21 pm »
Quote from: Hummers on 29 October, 2014, 08:47:24 am
Bob Jackson frames are less than £500 and Rubble steel frames are even less.

H


they have put the prices up.. audax frames are now £565
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Hedgebanger

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #15 on: 29 October, 2014, 02:57:54 pm »
Ribble 7005cx alumin frame n carbon forks for under £200!? Will take mudguards and big tyres.
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Tull924

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #16 on: 29 October, 2014, 03:12:29 pm »
Thorn Audax - £450
Spa Steel - £315
Spa Titanium F&F £750 - I know it's an extra £350, but it is proper comfy and will last forever, what's not to like?
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https://creweandnantwichaudax.wordpress.com/ - See the Audax events I currently organise

www.milehousebarn.co.uk - Cycle Friendly B&B in Nantwich, Chehsire

fossala

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #17 on: 29 October, 2014, 05:18:05 pm »
Quote from: jethro924 on 29 October, 2014, 03:12:29 pm
Spa Titanium F&F £750 - I know it's an extra £350, but it is proper comfy and will last forever, what's not to like?
I've known more ti frames die than steel due to cracking.
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Wal

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #18 on: 29 October, 2014, 05:22:38 pm »
Velo Pass Hunter £450 or £550 with mini build kit...http://www.freshtripe.co.uk/Freshtripe/Frames.html

GENESIS Equilibrium Disc 725 Frameset 2015 £495...http://www.shop.18bikes.co.uk/brands/genesis_bikes.php
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vorsprung

  • Opposites Attract
    • Audaxing
Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #19 on: 29 October, 2014, 06:36:25 pm »
Quote from: fossala on 29 October, 2014, 05:18:05 pm
Quote from: jethro924 on 29 October, 2014, 03:12:29 pm
Spa Titanium F&F £750 - I know it's an extra £350, but it is proper comfy and will last forever, what's not to like?
I've known more ti frames die than steel due to cracking.

Agree, to say titanium frames are more robust than steel frames is a myth.  I like my titanium frame but it didn't last forever.  Recent yacf discussion on the joys of titanium here https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=85522.msg1751388#msg1751388
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jamesld8

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #20 on: 29 October, 2014, 07:06:01 pm »
Quote from: vorsprung on 29 October, 2014, 06:36:25 pm
Quote from: fossala on 29 October, 2014, 05:18:05 pm
Quote from: jethro924 on 29 October, 2014, 03:12:29 pm
Spa Titanium F&F £750 - I know it's an extra £350, but it is proper comfy and will last forever, what's not to like?
I've known more ti frames die than steel due to cracking.

Agree, to say titanium frames are more robust than steel frames is a myth.  I like my titanium frame but it didn't last forever.  Recent yacf discussion on the joys of titanium here https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=85522.msg1751388#msg1751388

Indeed it was a good discussion and I currently now have on order a nice 853 frameset to replace failed xxx Ti frame

BUT as correctly stated Ti gave a very comfy and satisfying ride, just I`ve now lost faith after 2x failures Far East weld Ti
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....after the `tarte de pommes`, and  fortified by a couple of shots of limoncellos,  I flew up the Col de Bavella whilst thunderstorms rolled around the peaks above

Under the arches

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #21 on: 29 October, 2014, 07:26:08 pm »
I am stuck with discs, so the only two at the moment are the Kaffy or the Cotic are the only ones as there is no changing from aluminium to aluminium?
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SJR

Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #22 on: 29 October, 2014, 08:25:11 pm »
I've had my Kaff 2 since Feb and it's become my go to bike. Handles well, worked right out of box. BB7s are great. Only downside is wheels.  Hubs are Deore and super smooth but '820 Disc' rims are awful. Rear is missing an eyelet (PX currently looking into it). Also signs of splitting along centre line after 4500km. Planning to get some Open Pro/Deore XT ones built over winter. Kaff gets my vote.
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TimC

  • Old blerk sometimes onabike.
Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #23 on: 30 October, 2014, 12:57:15 am »
Quote from: Flaatuus on 29 October, 2014, 08:24:15 am
Kinesis 4s?

You'll have to hunt for a good price, though.

Great bike!
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Aunt Maud

  • Le Flâneur.
Re: Audax bike frames for £400 ish
« Reply #24 on: 30 October, 2014, 04:35:17 am »
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