Audax Mk3

[The Raucous AUK]

Got mine today too! A business trip on the 'wrong' side of the Severn Bridge meant that a trip to SJSC was necessary... after making an appointment first of course! A nice welcome and then the chance to finally see one. Very impressive tig-welding (somewhere between what you'd expect tig-welds to look like and pucka fillet-brazing) and all braze-ons were present and correct so it was a quick choice on colour (red and blue - plain but both look good and tough) and a longer chat about sizing. I went for the medium which is 1cm longer on the top tube than my 545M Cyclosportif but also about 13mm taller on the head tube which is exactly what I wanted. I'd forgotten that they come with headset, bottom bracket and seatpin so I didn't need to buy anything else. I'll post some more pictures soon.



Very Briefly.... Size: Medium 565mm top tube, 133mm head tube, 73 degree seat tube and 72 degree head tube.

[lb1dej]

For those who have been looking in the wrong place for details of the Mk3 Audax (like me) - you can find them on the components page here:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Thorn-Thorn-Audax-Mk3-frameset-Blood-Red-14217.htm

Click on the double magnifier to get the big picture and frame dimensions. Sizing looks  different other Thorn models. Looks very nice.
Dave

[The Raucous AUK]

Amazing cross post there, within one minute and after a dearth of info! Anyway, as Thorn's pictures are better than mine I won't bother putting the others up now.

I'll build my frame up over the next few weeks. It's going to be my winter bike using the groupset off my Cyclosportif which is going to get a respray (only because of the non-matching fork).

[freddered]

How much will a complete Audax MK3 cost?  Could be a real bargain.

[spinacilight]

Looks good doesn't it? Top value too! Anyone going for the carbon fibre fork option?

[Robin Thorn]

Brochure for complete bike online REALLY soon, please excuse us but we've lots of work and brochures take ages to do!
spec for £899.00 will be (example):
Thorn Audax Mk3 frameset Blood Red 550 (Medium)
Handlebar kit - 42 c-c drops
(Kitpart) Black Cork handlebar ribbon, with bar end plugs
(Kitpart) 42cm c-c 3TTT THE anatomic drop handlebars (black 44cm outside edge width)
(Kitpart) Thorn Bicycle and Tandem Owners Guide
(Kitpart) Zefal Ping bell - to fit bars from 22.2mm to 26.0mm - Ideal for drop bars in SILVER
(Kitpart) Wheel reflectors - Clip on type - universal fit through spoke - per pair
(Kitpart) Panaracer Pasela Tour Guard rigid tyre kevlar/aramid belt NEW TYPE 700 x 28 (28-622)
(Kitpart) 700x25-28C (25-28x622) Vittoria Ultralite Normal length Presta threaded valve butyl inner tube
Audax Mk3 27-speed STI gear kit -170, 30/42/52, CHOOSE CASSETTE
(Kitpart) Shimano RX100 BR-A550 Dual pivot brake calipers 47-57mm Deep drop Allen Key fitting - Front and Rear
(Kitpart) Shimano Tiagra ST-4500 STI levers gear/brake levers for drop bars - Flightdeck compatible 9 speed
Shimano Tiagra 4503 triple chainset 50/39/30 Hollowtech II (requires separate bottom bracket cups) with 170mm cranks
(Kitpart) Shimano Tiagra RD-4500 GS (Medium cage) 9 speed rear derailleur
(Kitpart) Shimano Tiagra FD-4503 9 speed Multifit (28.6/31.8mm) conventional band Triple front derailleur
(Kitpart) Shimano Deore & Tiagra HG53  9spd chain 114 links - New special rivet - Grey
11-32 Shimano Deore HG50 9 speed Hyperglide cassette MSRP £24.99
San Marco Rolls Classic saddle with leather top - Black
Shimano Deore FH-M530 QR 8/9 Speed Rear Cassette Hub - Black 32 Hole
Shimano Deore HB-M530 QR Parallax Front Hub - Black 32 Hole
Wheel build - spokes and labour (per wheel)
SKS chromoplastic 700c / 27in mudguards black 35(include fitting kit)
32h Mavic Open Sport Rim 700c - Black Anodised
Shimano Tiagra Hollowtech II English Thread cups 1.370 x 24inch per pair for FC-4500 ROAD

[freddered]

I suspect you will need to get assembling them as quickly as possible because that sounds (if it's remotely comparable with Audax 853 ride) like a great buy.

Can't wait for brochure and some reviews

[freddered]

The Audax 853 in red/blue (like your?) looks absolutely gorgeous in real-life, I rode alongside one on an Audax for a while.  It doesn't look at all special in photos though.  I can't figure that out.

Pity the Audax Mk3 doesn't come in same scheme.

[The Raucous AUK]

Finally made a start on building mine up today. The FSA headset was already fitted by SJSC but the steerer measuring, cutting and star-fangled nut thingy all went sweet enough and the spacers and ITM stem and bars are all on. I've no need to watch the weight on this bike build and I've gone for ITM Super 300 bars and an ITM Forged Lite Luxe, both being 'oversize' because I've never tried them before and fancied giving them a go.

After work tonight I took out the redundant Shimano BB and stuck an FSA 'Campag' BB in there. The threads were perfect and the Shimano one came out very easily and the new one went in like a dream.

[The Raucous AUK]

Right, all finished and here she is!



It's going to be my winter bike and also next season's audax bike. I like a double chainset but found things a bit tough this year (my first season in audax) with 53/39 and 13-26 so I've switched to 52/39 and 13-29 using a Centaur medium cage rear mech, front mech and sprockets.

Apart from the 'new' 2003 Chorus Ergo's from Cycles Clement I already had all the components in stock by buying them off ebay earlier this year and the Centaur/MA3 wheels and Corus chainset were taken from my temporarily mothballed Thorn Cyclosportif with a 52t chainring taken from the spares box as were the Ultegra 57mm brakes.

[The Raucous AUK]

And a little shot of the tyre clearance. That's a 25c in there so a 28c and mudguards will easily fit (the rear has the same clearances). Fitting mudguards can wait until tomorrow.

[john28july]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by The Raucous AUK</i>

Right, all finished and here she is!



It's going to be my winter bike and also next season's audax bike. I like a double chainset but found things a bit tough this year (my first season in audax) with 53/39 and 13-26 so I've switched to 52/39 and 13-29 using a Centaur medium cage rear mech, front mech and sprockets.
<i>Hello,
Looks great. Can you tell me what size it is? Get those M/Guards fitted and go enjoy it.
John.
</i>

Apart from the 'new' 2003 Chorus Ergo's from Cycles Clement I already had all the components in stock by buying them off ebay earlier this year and the Centaur/MA3 wheels and Corus chainset were taken from my temporarily mothballed Thorn Cyclosportif with a 52t chainring taken from the spares box as were the Ultegra 57mm brakes.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

[The Raucous AUK]

Hi John - It's a 'medium' size (565mm top tube and 132mm head tube).

[john28july]

quote:Originally posted by The Raucous AUK

Hi John - It's a 'medium' size (565mm top tube and 132mm head tube).

Hello, Sorry for delay in response. Thanks for that but could you also for my benefit tell me the distance from the nose of the saddle to centre of stem where the bars go through? Plus of course stem length.I hope this not too much hinderance for you. Its just that the sizes of Mk3 seem in variance from other frames that I have and I am trying to work out if I could get one that I would be happy with.
John.

[The Raucous AUK]

It's an 11cm stem. I'll try to get the other measurement when I pop home for lunch.

(burp)

OK it's 42cm from the nose of the saddle to the steerer bolt and then the 11cm stem so that's 53cm in total.