There's a few interesting suggestions here.
I started out with these two possiblities:
* Budget option
* Spendy option
I can't help feeling that if those two bikes are on the same shortlist it isn't going to be very short.
If the traditional type Audax bike, like your budget option, appeals then maybe look secondhand. They've fallen so far out of fashion it's hard to give them away. If you fancy the same sort of bike but with discs, Spa's take on that is the Aubisque rather than the Elan. And if you're attracted to the do-it-all style of bike, there are plenty of more wallet friendly ways to experiment than the Elan. I've seen Sonder, Boardman and Triban models that look worthy of consideration.
Of course, most bikes are going to be fine for a few 100's and occasional 200's, so you're not really going to go wrong. My observation from a few Audax in the last year is that two trends have developed, There's far more road bikes than I remember from a few years ago, and an equal number of the do-it-all type bike. The trad style is very much in decline and the tourer almost extinct, though there remains enough "others" to spice it up. If the changing fashions demonstrate anything, it is IMO how little it matters.
We haven't really got to short listing yet. Without a budget in mind, that was my starting place.
Second starting place. No, third starting place.
The first second hand bike I bought was a rim braked road race-inspired bike, which a couple hundred pounds and some fettling hours later has turned out great.
The second, second hand bike - the audax - after some, less pounds and many fettling hours hasn't turned out so good. The frame appears shot.
Spare time is always in short supply, and as much as I do enjoy bike fettling, it robs me of time to be out cycling.
I've tried doing things cheap and cheerfully. Think I'm resigned now to throwing real money at the problem. And I have enough miles under my belt now, despite working away and bad weather, to know I'm going to get value out of it.
I'm inclined to agree with your last point. That said, I've ridden a medley of different bikes and even got some decent miles in on some of them.
Steel, alu, ti and carbon. And out of all those, titanium because of it's challenges is probably where there has been least change. The Canondale MTB (an M500) was sensationally quick and despite being alu, was probably one of the best bikes I owned, excepting the ti and carbon ones.
My shortlist, currently looks something like:
*
Planet X London Road Ti* Ribble CGR Ti (can I get over the Union flag?)
*
Sonder Carmino Ti*
Sonder Colibri Ti 105* The aforementioned Spa Elan Ti
* Sabbath AR[12]
Still looking at Carbon contenders (GT Grade?). Am I just too damned clumsy to be trusted with a soot bike?
I think disk brakes, ~30mm tyres and either a Ti or Carbon frame with an abundance of mounting options for extra hardware in a package weighing < ~10Kg and just stiff enough to accelerate nicely when pushed - getting away from traffic lights or going for it up a short and sharp incline.
Thanks so much for all your contributions/thoughts.