Audax bike

[Pierre647]

Hello,

I am looking for a fast (and comfortable) bike to ride long distance trips (200 km (124 miles) and more ?) with a little luggage (~ 10 kg (22 lbs)). I want a road like bike with quality steel frame. The bike must accept mudguards and luggage carriers (back and perhaps front).
Here in Belgium I found only carbon or aluminium road bikes. I have found the English Audax bike concept very interesting. An Audax bikes seems to be a perfect all round bike.

The Thorn Mk3 ultegra is very interesting but a Reynolds 853 steel frame is a dream…

What is your opinion ? Advantages and disadvantages of mk3 vs 853 ?

Regards,
Pierre.

[freddered]

What is your budget?

I love the Thorn Audax 853 but it's a lot of money.

My friend is buying a Thorn Audax Mk3, it seems great value and has all you need for light touring.

I own a steel tourer/Audax bike, if I didn't then I would buy the best Mk3 I could afford.

[john28july]

What is your budget?

I love the Thorn Audax 853 but it's a lot of money.

My friend is buying a Thorn Audax Mk3, it seems great value and has all you need for light touring.

I own a steel tourer/Audax bike, if I didn't then I would buy the best Mk3 I could afford.

I owned a superb Audax 853 Thorn. It was a fantastic bike. Thorn ruined its value and ruined my ownership of it by bringing out the mass produced market Mk 3. I am still not pleased about it as I was selling the bike at the time (for personal reasons) and it simply halved in value overnight.
The Mk 3 is worth what it costs and Thorn are still making a great profit!
John.

[Pierre647]

Hi,

At this time, no precise budget. I'm just looking the market ...

Why did you said the Mk 3 is worth what it costs ? What is your actual bike ?

Pierre.

[john28july]

Hi,

At this time, no precise budget. I'm just looking the market ...

Why did you said the Mk 3 is worth what it costs ?
I said the Mk3 is well worth what it costs!

What is your actual bike ?
I did have an Audax 853.

Read my original post carefully.
John.

Pierre.

[The Raucous AUK]

Pierre - the Audax Mk.3 is a superb frameset and seems perfectly suitable for what you want to do on it. I bought mine as a frameset and built it up with Campagnolo Centaur (but with Ultegra brakes) and have enjoyed riding it very much.

I haven't ridden mine loaded yet but can't see that being a problem.

[robbarker]

I helped a friend build up a Mk 3 recently and was very impressed with the frame.  I'd happily ride a 600 on one.  I have a Cylosportif 853 frame myself, which builds into a superb audax bike as long as you don't want lazy handling or fat tyres. 

[jags]

so what's the deal on these audex bikes,mk 3 and 853 one is obviously better than the other,but in what way better.

[Planet X]

Pierre - the Audax Mk.3 is a superb frameset and seems perfectly suitable for what you want to do on it. I bought mine as a frameset and built it up with Campagnolo Centaur (but with Ultegra brakes) and have enjoyed riding it very much.

I haven't ridden mine loaded yet but can't see that being a problem.

So……ultegra rim brakes fit the mk3 frame? This is what I was planning to fit.

[PH]

Pierre - the Audax Mk.3 is a superb frameset and seems perfectly suitable for what you want to do on it. I bought mine as a frameset and built it up with Campagnolo Centaur (but with Ultegra brakes) and have enjoyed riding it very much.

I haven't ridden mine loaded yet but can't see that being a problem.

So……ultegra rim brakes fit the mk3 frame? This is what I was planning to fit.

I can't answer for The Raucous AUK, who doesn't appear to have visited this forum for a number of years, but I suspect the reason he didn't use Campag brakes to match the groupset, is because they're standard reach and the Ultegra brakes he used are likely to be the now obsolete long drop version.
Have you measured it yet? That will be the definitive answer. I do note that the Mk3 currently of offer in the for sale section is listed with DD brakes, so I'd be surprised if standard drop fitted.
Some Audax riders who couldn't bear to put anything other than Campag on their bikes, used to file the slot to make it reach, always seemed a bit obsessive to me, but there seemed enough material left for it to be OK. I'm not recommending it!

[Planet X]

Hi PH……bike is in the shop for the last few days, cannot get my hands on it yet unfortunately. I’ll get the mechanics opinion when I collect it. Thanks for your replies.

[Planet X]

I bought it off this forum many years ago……cannot remember exactly whom from……got it shipped to Dublin here. The forum member seemed to like building up T Audax bikes and selling them on iirc.

[Planet X]

leftpoole……

[Planet X]

2014.

[PH]

Hi PH……bike is in the shop for the last few days, cannot get my hands on it yet unfortunately. I’ll get the mechanics opinion when I collect it. Thanks for your replies.

You're welcome.  Just had a look and SJS/Thorn still have some of these framesets for sale, the spec says "deep-drop 47/57mm Allen key fitting brakes" Also says some 32mm tyres fit, which must mean the pads are close to the bottom of the slot. Still best to measure to be certain, but that makes me pretty sure standard drop won't work.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/frames/495-for-55mm-forks-thorn-audax-mk3-r-frame-fork-set-gunmetal/