Audax cycling

[Tuni Bobba]

Hi,

I am new to long distance cycling and I've now got enough money to buy a bike to join Audax.

What is best. A high range of gears to get a move on on the flat and downhill, or a low range of gears to climb hills easier?

 

[tyred]

I would say climbing gears are more useful but if you go for a triple (or a compact!), you should have both.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Serious Audax/long distance bike needs to be/have:

Comfortable and stable geometry
Wide gear range with emphasis on lower-end not higher end
Mudguard capability
Rack capability
Tyres of 25c or larger
Durable wheels

Speed is not the issue with Audax, but being able to labour over undulating terrain in the dark when you're cold wet and tired is pretty useful. Whilst you may not normally need low gears, after a few hundred kms even the slightest incline can have people reaching for the granny gears.
Mudguards of some sort are almost obligatory too, not for your own protection, but for the protection of those around you.

Steel and Titanium are the materials of choice if you have the budget, but almost anything works! You can Audax on a Brommie and many do 1200km PBP on them.

 

[ColinJ]

I live in a very hilly area and concluded that I didn't really need a 12 sprocket for speed but I did need something bigger than my 23 for the hills so I changed my 12-23 cassette for a 13-26.

After a few years of riding with the 13-26, I realised that I hardly used the 13 and used the 26 a lot and would like something even easier so I now ride a 14-28 which I find perfect. I can still pedal up to about 35 mph downhill and if I want to go faster than that, I just freewheel in an aero-tuck.

Of course, if you are super-fit or don't ride up a lot of tough hills then you don't need special climbing gears! The 12-23 suited me fine when I was fit and not overweight (I do have a 30 tooth little chainring on my triple).

 

[lmow20]

I've just sold my kydney to buy a lynskey titanium
- rack mounts
- clearing for 27 mm guards
- titanium drinks up road buz
- comfy yet v quick
- no rust!
- no paint chips

Compact double with 25 teeth on the back and you're A for away.

Serious Audax/long distance bike needs to be/have:

Comfortable and stable geometry
Wide gear range with emphasis on lower-end not higher end
Mudguard capability
Rack capability
Tyres of 25c or larger
Durable wheels

Speed is not the issue with Audax, but being able to labour over undulating terrain in the dark when you're cold wet and tired is pretty useful. Whilst you may not normally need low gears, after a few hundred kms even the slightest incline can have people reaching for the granny gears.
Mudguards of some sort are almost obligatory too, not for your own protection, but for the protection of those around you.

Steel and Titanium are the materials of choice if you have the budget, but almost anything works! You can Audax on a Brommie and many do 1200km PBP on them.

 

[Tuni Bobba]

I have been offered an Atlanta S9000 18 speed ladies MTB. It has hardly been used.

My boyfriend says it has promise and we should give the lady the £25 she wants.

The highest gear is 42 front to 14 at the back, and with all the will in the world, I could not ride fast on my boyfriend’s bike in the same gear.

My boyfriend say he can put slick tyres on it and adjust the handlebars to make it easier to ride.

 

[ColinJ]

The highest gear is 42 front to 14 at the back, and with all the will in the world, I could not ride fast on my boyfriend’s bike in the same gear.

That is good for at least 20 mph. A cadence of 90 rpm would give you 21 mph and 100 rpm about 23 mph. That should be fast enough on the flat and you could freewheel on downhills for recovery.