Buy an Audax MK3 or stick with Raven Tour?

[playlord]

I'm new (posting-wise) to the forum, and hope I'm posting this in the appropriate section.

I've never tried an Audax ride, but would like to. I have a Raven Sport Tour and a carbon road bike, a Verenti Rhigos, (a Wiggle 'brand', I think).

The Raven's heavy, The Rhigos is light but would, I think, feel a bit cramped and 'insubstantial' for long rides.

The rational side of my cerebellum suggests I don't need another bike. The deluded side disagrees. I'm throwing it open here so I can go back to my cerebellum with some evidence.

I'm not a speed-freak, by any means. I like to go pretty fast on flat ground when the wind's at my back, making me feel 20 again. I do want to be comfortable, and I'd like something very responsive.

One of the things I enjoy about the Rhigos V the Raven is the facility for changing hand positions - I like riding on the hoods, and also getting low and digging in when the notion takes me.

On am Audax MK3, am I likely to go 'Wow! This is way different to the Raven!' or 'Hmm, it's lighter and a bit faster, but not so different to justify spending £1,500 or so'?

Thanks in advance
Joe

[JimK]

Yeah I am dreaming of an Audax for my next bike! I love my Nomad and don't really expect ever to buy another bike... but maybe!

I am stuck at about 2.5 pounds per inch. I was reading Joel Friel on climbing:

http://www.joefrielsblog.com/2010/04/power-and-weight.html

I tell myself: if I can get below 2.1 pounds per inch - and keep it below for a year - an Audax will be my reward! Well, and if those stock options prove to have any value!

One decided advantage of derailleur bikes is that keeping multiple sets of wheels is a lot easier. A lighter pair for keeping up with the younger folks, a heavier pair for everyday, whatever.

[jags]

Hi Joe welcome to the forum.
well i bought an Audax  853 older model  from one of the lads here,(frame and fork only) plenty of photos somewher on the forum maybe photo gallery.anyway what do i reckon on it, well its CLASS .super comfy great on hills going up and down i'm a bit of a lunitic decending this bike feels like its on rails. for a steel bike its light not carbon light but  stil light.at the moment i'm riding open pro wheels and pro race slicks ,but if i stick the rack on for touring i have a set of mavic 319 with ribmo 28 tyres. but i do need to adjust mudguards.
overall i love the bike and it gets plenty of attention when i stop for coffee on weekend group ride.
ive had some cracking bikes over the years  / look/ trek/ still have my raleigh 753 at this wee bike is as good as any of them.
best of luch if you buy you wnt be disapointed .

jags.

[triaesthete]

  x=n+1  kicks in here 

For longer Audux rides, if you like comfort and ruggedness, I suspect some 1.6" Marathon Supremes and drop bars/short stem  on the RT would do the trick very well.

But then a Mk3 is a very nice bike too and this would be a good exc.. justification for dropping £1.5k on something a bit lighter and faster......

Horses for courses
Bikes for banks
Ian

[Kuba]

Or maybe, if you like Rohloff, you should sell on the RST and treat yourself to a new Mercury with drop bars? Whether you sell the whole bike or just frame & front wheel, this can still work out at about the same as Audax MK3. You'll have one less bike, but it will keep its value and you'll likely ride it twice as much as the Audax and/or RST. 

My expereince with having 3 bikes is that at least one unavoidably gets neglected, but then I don't have loads of time to ride.

[Audax hopeful]

I'd personally be tempted to perhaps even sell both bikes and jump into the Mercury camp!!

If this dosen't appeal I do love my Audax mk3, it's definitely an absolutely bargain frame! I no longer want a bike that limits me to narrow tyres and no mudguards, and I definitely need gears that you don't find on carbon racers, but I still like the 'alive' feel of a lightweight sports bike. I've looked hard but I don't believe there's anything on the market to rival the Thorn Audax in a similar price range. Titanium offerings sometimes come close, but still it's greatest rival in my books is the new mk4 Club Tour!!

On the other hand your present 'stable' is rather nice! The Raven could certainly be livened up with lighter wheels and tyres (and possibly some weight reduction in terms of lighter luggage/racks/guards etc), and you'd still have the ability to revert to rugged tourer mode when needed!!

A nice dilemma to have.....
Have fun, Nich.

[playlord]

Thanks to all - much appreciated. Perhaps they should have named the Mercury 'The Magnet'. as I'm now being drawn toward it!

Joe

[Far-Oeuf]

I've never tried an Audax ride, but would like to. I have a Raven Sport Tour and a carbon road bike, a Verenti Rhigos, (a Wiggle 'brand', I think).

Hi,

I assume from the above that you mean you've never tried an Audax event, rather than never tried to ride a Thorn Audax?

I'd suggest you simply go and try one out (riding an Audax event), with whichever bike you own and you like most.   I rode an Audax event at the weekend, and in the first 30km fixed the tilted saddle of another rider.   She was a triathelete, doing an audax ride for the first time.   Turns out she didn't know the route, and the main group had disappeared during the saddle fixing process.   In the spirit of audax I stuck with her, and we did the route together.  Being a triathelete she was quite competitive (in speech at least), and was frequently referring to my 'old' bike (a brand new Club Tour, which happened to have downtube shifters).  A particular comment was that 'expensive bikes really are better, aren't they?'

Well, we did the route, she was on my wheel for the windy bits, and I didn't worry too much about the relatively slow speed of the day.  She was pretty exhausted by the end, but fair-play she made it.   Her fancy-pants lightweight whatnot didn't ride itself.

Audax events are fantastic (in my opinion), but they require a certain mindset to enjoy.  Or perhaps they require the absence of certain expectations.   You can ride an audax event on any bike, so long as you're comfy for the duration.  I'd really suggest just going out and doing one on the bike you have (whether the RST, or the other one).  Get a feel for the style of the event, the nature of the participants.

cheers,
Doug

[playlord]

Hi,

I assume from the above that you mean you've never tried an Audax event, rather than never tried to ride a Thorn Audax?

I'd suggest you simply go and try one out (riding an Audax event), with whichever bike you own and you like most.   I rode an Audax event at the weekend, and in the first 30km fixed the tilted saddle of another rider.   She was a triathelete, doing an audax ride for the first time.   Turns out she didn't know the route, and the main group had disappeared during the saddle fixing process.   In the spirit of audax I stuck with her, and we did the route together.  Being a triathelete she was quite competitive (in speech at least), and was frequently referring to my 'old' bike (a brand new Club Tour, which happened to have downtube shifters).  A particular comment was that 'expensive bikes really are better, aren't they?'

Well, we did the route, she was on my wheel for the windy bits, and I didn't worry too much about the relatively slow speed of the day.  She was pretty exhausted by the end, but fair-play she made it.   Her fancy-pants lightweight whatnot didn't ride itself.

Audax events are fantastic (in my opinion), but they require a certain mindset to enjoy.  Or perhaps they require the absence of certain expectations.   You can ride an audax event on any bike, so long as you're comfy for the duration.  I'd really suggest just going out and doing one on the bike you have (whether the RST, or the other one).  Get a feel for the style of the event, the nature of the participants.

cheers,
Doug

Thanks, Doug. I did mean an event. I'm getting similar advice on the YACF forum, and I will ride an event before deciding. I'm not at all competitive. By nature, I'm something of a loner, although I do enjoy meeting people and hearing about their lives and interests. Audaxing seems an ideal chance to be woth like-minded folk, but also to be able to drop away if I feel like it and drift along on my own for as long as I please. I'm looking forward to it.  I've read of your own adventures with interest and admiration.

I suspect the triathlete you helped went home with a different attitude form the one she arrived with.

Best wishes
Joe

[jags]

stick around here joe boy you wont be a loner for much longer.

jags.

[playlord]

stick around here joe boy you wont be a loner for much longer.

jags.

Thanks, jags

[Far-Oeuf]

Thanks, Doug. I did mean an event. I'm getting similar advice on the YACF forum, and I will ride an event before deciding. I'm not at all competitive. By nature, I'm something of a loner, although I do enjoy meeting people and hearing about their lives and interests. Audaxing seems an ideal chance to be woth like-minded folk, but also to be able to drop away if I feel like it and drift along on my own for as long as I please. I'm looking forward to it.

you've hit the nail on the head there.  I'm sure you'll enjoy it.  also a great way to see lots of the country, as the routes are made up by locals to be purposefully scenic and take you into interesting places.   one of the great things I've found about audax rides is when you do one not in your local area.   you know there'll be a friendly bunch of like-minded folk at the start for a quick "great weather isn't it", which nicely breaks the ice and sets the mood for the day/ride.   the further away audax events can be refreshing mini-adventures.

good luck.

[honesty]

Of course you need to buy a new bike. Why wouldn't you!??!!

If you had a derailleur touring bike I would at this point probably just be suggesting splashing out a bit on light weight wheels as these make such a huge difference. As you have a Raven, you do have the same option but a new light rohloff back wheel seems a bit of an extravagance!

Cant find figures, but I'd think that the raven sports tour frame weight is probably not that much more than the audax mk3 weight, so the bike weight is going to be down to the build. So I'd be tempted to fit drop bars, and the relevant shifter, some lighter tyres, remove uneccessary stuff from the bike (racks for example) to get it down in the weight, then go out for a long ride and see if it feels fine.

[honesty]

One thing you could try if you can get there, is go to SJS in Bridgwater and try out an Audax. This should give you an idea if it would make that much difference to you.

[playlord]

Thanks again, everyone for the replies and encouragement.

honesty, I went to SJS some years ago and rode an Enduro. It was good to meet the team down there. I'm in Scotland now, but might look for a cheap flight to Bristol (or do a good Audax training ride, by cycling there and back)