Frames.
- Thread starter postman
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Landslide
Rare Migrant
- Location
- Called to the bar
I'm just awaiting delivery of my second Bob (an Audax Club) after I crashed the first one. Lovely bike, a real ride-all-day job. £360 only applies to the off-the-peg geometry though (thankfully I'm a pretty normal size/shape). I've a feeling that Woodrup have a bit more flexibility in geometries included in their prices.
DaveP
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Romney Marsh; Kent
postman said:
Postman,
Not wishing to hijack this thread but this to me is very interesting as I am in the exact same position, looking to build up my first bike but the choice of what frame (and knowing who makes a "decent" frame) is bewildering so will be watching this keenly...
Hope it works out...
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Bargain those....my Herety SLX frame cost £420....19 years ago.......
Both very good bikes - get the one you like best....
Both very good bikes - get the one you like best....
Landslide
Rare Migrant
- Location
- Called to the bar
For anyone who's interested, Il Postino dropped me a line with some further questions - the answers aren't gospel, but I hope they're of use:
Postman: Can I ask you a few questions? In our neck of the woods BJ have a reputation for being unkind to novices. Did you find them easy to deal with? Were they considerate to being asked questions about components, pricing, delivery dates.
Landslide: Not a problem for me, as I’ve been cycling for as long as I can remember one way or another. Probably about 29 of my 31 years! I think the key is to know what you want and why. In your case (as you mention below) something road-going that isn’t too racy, but still gives you a lively ride rather than being a load-carrying workhorse?
As for components, the Club doesn’t need anything particularly specialised. They can specify either a band-on or braze-on front mech, the frame takes a 27.2mm diameter seatpost (loads to choose from) and a regular 1” headset (you can specify threaded or a-head styles). Pricing-wise, the frames seem to me to be about as good value for money as you can find these days if you fit a fairly standard off-the-peg geometry. Delivery dates are generally about 6 weeks depending on their workload, but they’ll happily let you know their current waiting times before you place an order.
What I need to know how much am I going to spend on the Audax Club.
Would you feel ok about telling me about your bike? What did you have put on and what was the final cost. Including vat. I have got to convince this household I need another bike.
Most of my components were transferred from my previous bike. It’s a real mish-mash of Shimano (8-speed, with a touring triple chainset). Wheels are Mavic Open Pro rims on 105 hubs, with Michelin tyres. Cinelli bars + stem, Flite saddle.
Assuming you’re starting from scratch (i.e. no bits and bobs lying around that you want to use, then it really becomes a question of how much do you want to spend? A good frame, with a good set of rims and tyres will provide you with a good ride. Brakes/gears/weight-saving bling can be a lot more variable in quality – the more you spend, the better the quality, and the less weight to lug up the hills.
I’d guess for something comparable to my set-up:
Wheels (inc. tyres, tubes etc.): £150 - £200
Finishing kit (bars, stem, saddle, seatpost etc.): £80 upwards, dependent on bling factor
Groupset: £??? Depends on what you want to fit. £??? Depends on what you want to fit. Merlin Cycles do Campag or Shimano with prices starting from ~£160
Overall, I think mine would come in a bit under £1000 if I were to build it up from scratch…
I ride a 64cm Dawes Galaxy which is a comfortable bike. But I want to have a little more zip when out. But don't want a boy racer type bike cos I am now pushing up to 60.
I’ve not really ridden any touring bikes, so haven’t got a direct line of reference, but in my (highly subjective) experience, I found the Club to be a well balanced and responsive ride without ever feeling twitchy. I completed my first 200km ride on it (an Audax from Wigginton nr. York), and throughout the day it caused me no discomfort at all (compared to my mate who found his 653-framed Cougar a bit tiring towards the end of the day).
Bottom line (as pointed out to me by Dalestar of this parish) is that if the Club wasn’t any good, or had any niggles, then for the money I’m spending I wouldn’t have ordered another.
Hope that helps!
Postman: Can I ask you a few questions? In our neck of the woods BJ have a reputation for being unkind to novices. Did you find them easy to deal with? Were they considerate to being asked questions about components, pricing, delivery dates.
Landslide: Not a problem for me, as I’ve been cycling for as long as I can remember one way or another. Probably about 29 of my 31 years! I think the key is to know what you want and why. In your case (as you mention below) something road-going that isn’t too racy, but still gives you a lively ride rather than being a load-carrying workhorse?
As for components, the Club doesn’t need anything particularly specialised. They can specify either a band-on or braze-on front mech, the frame takes a 27.2mm diameter seatpost (loads to choose from) and a regular 1” headset (you can specify threaded or a-head styles). Pricing-wise, the frames seem to me to be about as good value for money as you can find these days if you fit a fairly standard off-the-peg geometry. Delivery dates are generally about 6 weeks depending on their workload, but they’ll happily let you know their current waiting times before you place an order.
What I need to know how much am I going to spend on the Audax Club.
Would you feel ok about telling me about your bike? What did you have put on and what was the final cost. Including vat. I have got to convince this household I need another bike.
Most of my components were transferred from my previous bike. It’s a real mish-mash of Shimano (8-speed, with a touring triple chainset). Wheels are Mavic Open Pro rims on 105 hubs, with Michelin tyres. Cinelli bars + stem, Flite saddle.
Assuming you’re starting from scratch (i.e. no bits and bobs lying around that you want to use, then it really becomes a question of how much do you want to spend? A good frame, with a good set of rims and tyres will provide you with a good ride. Brakes/gears/weight-saving bling can be a lot more variable in quality – the more you spend, the better the quality, and the less weight to lug up the hills.
I’d guess for something comparable to my set-up:
Wheels (inc. tyres, tubes etc.): £150 - £200
Finishing kit (bars, stem, saddle, seatpost etc.): £80 upwards, dependent on bling factor
Groupset: £??? Depends on what you want to fit. £??? Depends on what you want to fit. Merlin Cycles do Campag or Shimano with prices starting from ~£160
Overall, I think mine would come in a bit under £1000 if I were to build it up from scratch…
I ride a 64cm Dawes Galaxy which is a comfortable bike. But I want to have a little more zip when out. But don't want a boy racer type bike cos I am now pushing up to 60.
I’ve not really ridden any touring bikes, so haven’t got a direct line of reference, but in my (highly subjective) experience, I found the Club to be a well balanced and responsive ride without ever feeling twitchy. I completed my first 200km ride on it (an Audax from Wigginton nr. York), and throughout the day it caused me no discomfort at all (compared to my mate who found his 653-framed Cougar a bit tiring towards the end of the day).
Bottom line (as pointed out to me by Dalestar of this parish) is that if the Club wasn’t any good, or had any niggles, then for the money I’m spending I wouldn’t have ordered another.
Hope that helps!
asterix
Comrade Member
- Location
- Limoges or York
My tourer is a BJ custom. As Landslide says,
Unfortunately, I asked their advice on what to specify for an expedition bike (26" wheels) and accepted it. They obviously hadn't put together anything like it before and made several serious errors. Although there was no question that things weren't as they should be, their attitude was got distinctly unfriendly. They put some problems right but in the end I went to Mercian for some more necessary changes (minor things like putting the canti brake bosses in the right place!)
Now I think it is a very good bike and Mercian themselves considered it an essentially good frame with a few problems.
My next custom purchase, from Roberts, is a thing of beauty, although they did set the saddle nose a tad high
Unfortunately, I asked their advice on what to specify for an expedition bike (26" wheels) and accepted it. They obviously hadn't put together anything like it before and made several serious errors. Although there was no question that things weren't as they should be, their attitude was got distinctly unfriendly. They put some problems right but in the end I went to Mercian for some more necessary changes (minor things like putting the canti brake bosses in the right place!)
Now I think it is a very good bike and Mercian themselves considered it an essentially good frame with a few problems.
My next custom purchase, from Roberts, is a thing of beauty, although they did set the saddle nose a tad high