Best frame for a AUDAX bike

[Ciccioformaccio]

Hi all

I am thinking to build up an Audax/Randonneur bike, starting from an old steel frame.
I am looking, in particular to buy a dutch frame, with a reasonably good tube set and with mudguard eyelets.

Now the question: which would you be your choice among:

- Gazelle Champion Mondial, A frame (or eventually semi-race)
- RIH Mistral or Elan (RIH Amsterdam appear very difficult to find)
- Koga Miyata (gents-touring or similar)
- Union Sakai

Other frames .... ??

Suggestion and comments are very welcomed.

C.


PS in case you have such type of frames to sell I am looking for a 60 cm (metallic gold colour preferred)

 

[Johnsqual]

Hello,

I think it might be difficult to find some of those bikes with mudguard eyelets. The Gazelle CMs were built as racing machines, usually without eyelets.

Here are a couple of links for Dutch bikes in any case:

http://www.classical-bicycles.com/Dutch ... 0bikes.htm
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Benelux/gazelle.htm

If it doesn't have to be Dutch, French and British would be good options too. I would say France and Britain had the strongest touring cultures in Europe and probably the best culture of building touring bikes.

And for the tubes, Sheldon Brown and friends suggest that lower end tubing might be better for touring bikes. Reynolds 501, Columbus Aelle and even gas pipe tubing is stiff and probably thicker and less likely to dent if dropped or knocked (presumably more likely with a touring bike).

Johnny

 

[Ian Raleigh]

Hmm! Not French or Dutch but what about the lovely high spec' old Raleigh Royal

You see these frames regular on ebay!

This is a Royal.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31231726@N03/4232739637/

 

[Ciccioformaccio]

Hi Johnny

Thank you for the kind reply.
I have to say that all the dutch frames I have mentioned have the mudguards eyelets.

You are right saying the The Gazelle CMs were built as racing machines, but the Gazelle was available also as the A-frame model, that it was considered the "winterised" version of the more "racing" models AA or AB.

Regarding the frame tube I have a preferences for the Raynolds 531, but al the 501 could be OK for me. I am looking indeed to build up more a AUDAX bike rather than a touring one, even if the differences between the two type of frames are relatively limited.

I like very much also the british biker/frames, but unfortunately it appears to me that the british are much more expansive and also less easy to be delivered by courier ...

Some "vintage" Classic Lightweights made in UK are really lovely, I was indeed considering a Holdsworth (I love the classic orange/blue colour scheme) or a Cartlon Cobra. But finding these machines at reasonable prices it is really hard...

 

[Johnsqual]

Hey,

Are you in Belgium/Netherlands?

This is for sale quite near me. I think it's a reasonable price for what it is, and it looks like it has mudguard eyelets. You could probably strip and sell the group for most of the asking price.

http://www.2dehands.be/fietsen/fietsen/ ... 05498.html

Plum bikes are usually very nice - depends if you like pink though!

Johnny

 

[Ciccioformaccio]

Hmm! Not French or Dutch but what about the lovely high spec' old Raleigh Royal

You see these frames regular on ebay!

This is a Royal.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31231726@N03/4232739637/

Thank you for the suggestion !

The Royal is really a nice bike/frame but I am looking for something a little more "racing" ...

 

[torqueless]

Can't help with a Dutch recommendation, but as far as British frames are concerned you could do worse than an early to mid '80s Holdsworth 'Special'... 531db throughout, 73degree parallel, 17inch stays, Campag. long ends, with mudguard eyes. Fork rake about 1 3/4", wheelbase about 40 1/2". You would be right at the bottom of the slots in the short-reach brake calipers of the day, so room for mudguards. Check out in the '80s catalogues on this page:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nkilgariff/Models.htm

 

[Ciccioformaccio]

Can't help with a Dutch recommendation, but as far as British frames are concerned you could do worse than an early to mid '80s Holdsworth 'Special'... 531db throughout, 73degree parallel, 17inch stays, Campag. long ends, with mudguard eyes. Fork rake about 1 3/4", wheelbase about 40 1/2". You would be right at the bottom of the slots in the short-reach brake calipers of the day, so room for mudguards. Check out in the '80s catalogues on this page:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nkilgariff/Models.htm

Holdsworth are really great bikes !! The problem is finding them …
I look regularly on the bay for finding one but they are rare and very often only the local delivery by personal collection is offered.

 

[Ivo]

One of my audax bikes is a classic Koga Miyata Grantourer: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=128637

 

[Ciccioformaccio]

Hi IVO

Thank you for the great pictures ! I like very much your Koga and your addax too.


Let me know your future addax programs for spring summer 2014...and may be we con join for a common 300 km ...?

PS are you located in NL? Can you find some second hand Koga ?