Audax Bikes.

[Tim Bennet.]

You need to find out what's not comfortable about your carbonfibre bike on distances greater than 100k.
Just because a bike is called an 'Audax' bike doesn't mean it will be comfortable if it replicates the problems you have on your current bike.
Most of the features of a dedicated audax bike are only really useful once you need to carry a little more clothing and use lights, etc, which is normally 300km plus.

Get a decent bike fitting, sort your saddle, experiment with tyre pressures, look to your shorts and mitts, etc, until your current bike is comfortable for 200s at least. Sort the basics first.

 

[PpPete]

I've seen a Tifosi CK7 on ebay brand new for about £750 which looks quite nice, it uses the Campagnolo Veloce groupset, How good is this groupset, how far in the pecking order is it compared to other Compagnolo groupsets and what would be it's Shimano equivalent?

I only ask because as far as Shimano goes I wouldn't buy lower than Tiagra.

I'd echo the advice about getting your fit sorted ... but to answer this specific question Campag Veloce is OK.
I'd certainly put it better than Tiagra.

My current bike (on which I've done several 200s and will do first 300 in a couple of weeks) is mostly 105 except for Ultegra Rear Mech and Campag Veloce shifters (it's a 9 speed "Shimergo" Hubbub mod).

I don't think the shifters are in anyway inferior to the rest of it, and my new bike will Campag Comp Triple which, although nominally the equivalent of the next higher (Centaur) groupset, actually uses Veloce Ergo Shifters.

 

[yello]

I've seen a Tifosi CK7 on ebay brand new for about £750 which looks quite nice, it uses the Campagnolo Veloce groupset, How good is this groupset, how far in the pecking order is it compared to other Compagnolo groupsets and what would be it's Shimano equivalent? I only ask because as far as Shimano goes I wouldn't buy lower than Tiagra.

Veloce is 105 equivalent. It's these days pretty much 'entry level' into Campag (though Mirage is still around and considered lower) BUT don't let that put you off. It's solid and dependable and more than adequate for non-weight weenie mere mortals. I have it on 2 bikes and no complaints.

The CK7 is an acceptable bike too. I thought about it before deciding on steel with an Aravis from Byercycles. These days, the Tifosi has a much nicer paint job and it was recently reviewed very favourably in Cycle Active. £750 for the package is a decent price imho.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I don't think the shifters are in anyway inferior to the rest of it, and my new bike will Campag Comp Triple which, although nominally the equivalent of the next higher (Centaur) groupset, actually uses Veloce Ergo Shifters.

I've that combination on mine, you're gonna love it.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I think the Campag hoods are more comfy than the Shimano ones, I've got Veloce on one bike and Ultegra on another. Don't know if that's just me or not but if that's where you put your hands a lot it might be a consideration.

 

[Glover Fan]

Thanks all for your advice.

Comfort isn't /actually/ a massive issue I get bum ache after about 30 miles but that is due to the poor saddle which I am looking at changing pretty soon. Got a 200km audax in 3 weeks which I am going to do on my sunday (and only day) best. The plan is to do more longer distance audaxes and the LEL 2013 and I would need to be able to get a lot more storage on the bike. Having a Shimano groupset means getting a bar bag on is going to be pretty tough and where the hell would I put a rack on the bike?

I'd love to be able to do it all on my current bike as it would save me a lot of money, but it seems largely improbable.

 

[Ian H]

The bike isn't critical. I've done most distances on gears with steel or Ti, and on fixed with a forty year old frame. As for luggage, my bikes are specced to take racks, but I would only use a smallish saddlebag for audax of any length.

 

[srw]

I would need to be able to get a lot more storage on the bike.

Brooks saddle + Carradice saddlebag. There's a very good reason it's a classic combination. Supremely comfortable saddle, practical luggage that straps straight on. I've added a Topeak under-seat pack, which provides the perfect support for the Carradice and keeps essential tools neatly on the bike. You need an additional widget (less than a tenner) with the Brooks saddle.

 

[User482]

Brooks saddles are overweight weapons of ass destruction, but I second the recommendation for Carradice saddlbags. Mine was made by Sue.

I've always been happy with my Thorn Audax. It's a supremely versatile bike, suitable for tours (I used it for a 12 day LEJOG), Friday Night Rides to the Coast, club runs, winter training, and er, audaxes. But just cos it fits me doesn't mean it'll fit you. Best thing is to get down to SJS cycles and try one for size.

But to echo the point that it's not about the bike - I recently did a century on my Wilier Mortirolo (which is an out and out race bike) and I can't say I was particularly less comfortable than on the Thorn.

 

[srw]

Brooks saddles are overweight weapons of ass destruction, but I second the recommendation for Carradice saddlbags. Mine was made by Sue.

Ahem. Brooks B17 - 520g. Charge Spoon - 258g. Difference 260g, or one-third of a bottle of water. SQR system for carrying Carradice on said Charge Spoon - 420g, making the Carradice-carrying Charge Spoon heavier than the bog-standard B17. Other saddles are available with similar results. And a Brooks B17 carried me 1150 miles across France without any discomfort.

My second Carradice was also made by Sue.

 

[User482]

Ahem. Brooks B17 - 520g. Charge Spoon - 258g. Difference 260g, or one-third of a bottle of water. SQR system for carrying Carradice on said Charge Spoon - 420g, making the Carradice-carrying Charge Spoon heavier than the bog-standard B17. Other saddles are available with similar results. And a Brooks B17 carried me 1150 miles across France without any discomfort.

My second Carradice was also made by Sue.

My point was that saddle recommendations are entirely pointless. For every anecdote like yours, there's another complaining that a Brooks hasn't broken in despite several hundred miles of use. (My Spoon was comfortable from day 1.)

Speaking of the Carradice, they can be secured with zip ties, which weigh virtually nothing. I have a standard Carradice saddle clamp, which combined with the Spoon, is still lighter than your Brooks.

 

[srw]

Speaking of the Carradice, they can be secured with zip ties, which weigh virtually nothing. I have a standard Carradice saddle clamp, which combined with the Spoon, is still lighter than your Brooks.

By about 260g, or a third of a bottle of water. Or considerably less than 1% of the all-up weight of my bike once I'm sat on it (and, dare I say it, even yours). I remain to be convinced that that weight difference is material.

(In all seriousness, a lot of people do find Brookses very good. A recent edition of the CTC mag had reports on three round-the-world cyclists. Two of the three used Rohloff transmission, and three out of three used Brooks B17s. I don't suppose that's sponsorship!)

 

[YahudaMoon]

I agree Shimano Sora is poor though the Shimano Sora STI's are excellant

 

[User482]

By about 260g, or a third of a bottle of water. Or considerably less than 1% of the all-up weight of my bike once I'm sat on it (and, dare I say it, even yours). I remain to be convinced that that weight difference is material.

(In all seriousness, a lot of people do find Brookses very good. A recent edition of the CTC mag had reports on three round-the-world cyclists. Two of the three used Rohloff transmission, and three out of three used Brooks B17s. I don't suppose that's sponsorship!)

Yes, but weight is lost through making modest savings on several components. Speaking of Rohloff, Mark Beaumont had some significant trouble with his setup, and of course spares were not readily available.