Aravis Audax / Byer Cycles

Quoted message said:

I'm looking at this as a Winter Audax bike (i.e. mudguards). It will
also become my commuting bike (6 miles) in 6-9 months time when we move
office.

I've decided that my own Audex-y bike build has cost me about the same
as bikes I see in shops (but I'm quite adept at forgetting all the
smaller bits 'n' bobs that might count as an upgrade rather than part
of the original build; it did allow me to reuse bits from my bicycle
parts stockpile until budget allowed for replacement).

I've just put a new cassette on (12-27) (another expense that's going
down as upgrade) but it might be that 29 is too big for your rear mech.

Simon L said:

Quoted message said:

I'm looking at this as a Winter Audax bike (i.e. mudguards). It will
also become my commuting bike (6 miles) in 6-9 months time when we move
office.

I've decided that my own Audex-y bike build has cost me about the same
as bikes I see in shops (but I'm quite adept at forgetting all the
smaller bits 'n' bobs that might count as an upgrade rather than part
of the original build; it did allow me to reuse bits from my bicycle
parts stockpile until budget allowed for replacement).

I'd build the bike myself if I'd be saving money (or even paying the
same). I just can't even get close to the price quoted by Byer Cycles!

Quoted message said:

I've just put a new cassette on (12-27) (another expense that's going
down as upgrade) but it might be that 29 is too big for your rear mech.

According to the specs on campagnolo.com...

Centaur triple front derailleur has min ring 30, max ring 53, max
capacity 23.

And Centaur has a long cage rear derailleur:-

quote http://www.campagnolo.com/groupsets.php?gid=3&cid=1&pid=168
"
The short cage derailleur is recommended for use with a double /
compact crankset and 13-26 cluster or smaller.
The medium cage derailleur is recommended for use with a double /
compact crankset and 13-29 cluster or smaller or with a triple crankset
and 13-26 cluster or smaller.
The long cage derailleur is recommended for use with a triple crankset
and 13-29 cluster or smaller.
".

So all should be fine.

-Alex

in message <[email hidden]>, Alex

(') said:

Simon L said:

Quoted message said:

I'm looking at this as a Winter Audax bike (i.e. mudguards). It will
also become my commuting bike (6 miles) in 6-9 months time when we
move office.

I've decided that my own Audex-y bike build has cost me about the same
as bikes I see in shops (but I'm quite adept at forgetting all the
smaller bits 'n' bobs that might count as an upgrade rather than part
of the original build; it did allow me to reuse bits from my bicycle
parts stockpile until budget allowed for replacement).

I'd build the bike myself if I'd be saving money (or even paying the
same). I just can't even get close to the price quoted by Byer Cycles!

It's a fair enough spec for an Audax bike, but I rather balk at the
triple - triples are so inelegant. I find that with a 13-26 cassette
gets me up anything I've tried (including Tynron Brae... just) with a
standard 53/39 double, although I have a medium cage derailleur so I
could fit a 13-29 if I felt the need. Campag brakes are typically not
deep enough drop for mudguards, which is a shame.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; this is not a .sig

Simon Brooke said:

in message <[email hidden]>,
Alex ([email hidden]'😉 wrote:

Quoted message said:

It's a fair enough spec for an Audax bike, but I rather balk at the
triple - triples are so inelegant. I find that with a 13-26 cassette
gets me up anything I've tried (including Tynron Brae... just) with a
standard 53/39 double, although I have a medium cage derailleur so I
could fit a 13-29 if I felt the need.

Different rider, different legs.
On a good day, I can manage fine on two rings, but fairly regularly I find
myself wanting to use the inner granny ring. It also depends if I want to
sit on the saddle and twiddle my way up, or do a bit of standing.

Hence, I am very happy with 13-29 and 30-40-50 on a bike for light day
rides.

Maybe if I trained a bit to improve leg strength I might not need the
twiddly gears.

Quoted message said:

Campag brakes are typically not
deep enough drop for mudguards, which is a shame.

Which is why my bike has Shimano brakes, though is Campag elsewhere. That
gives me space for mudguards and 28mm tyres.

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Alex said:

I'd build the bike myself if I'd be saving money (or even paying the
same). I just can't even get close to the price quoted by Byer Cycles!

If you could get over the Al factor, I think it might be possible with a
Tofosi CK7 frame from www.dotbike.com + components from various sources.
I'm starting to think of doing similar myself.

Some Veloce parts would save money. These are very similar to Centaur's in
most cases. For example, the Ergos are exactly the same except have holes
in the downshift levers. For another, the cranks are the same, just with
different rings -- wouldn't matter to me as I'd swap the rings for TAs
anyway and sell the originals. Tektro brakes should be OK as well.

Quoted message said:

According to the specs on campagnolo.com...

Centaur triple front derailleur has min ring 30, max ring 53, max
capacity 23.

Campag front & rear mechs actually cope with more than what Campag say.
There's little disadvantage to swapping the original granny for a smaller
one, even when you have dinner plates for sprockets at the back.

~PB

Simon Brooke said:

I find that with a 13-26 cassette gets me up
anything I've tried (including Tynron Brae... just)

I've walked up that a few times -- my favourite uncle lived in Monaive
and then Penpont. Never taken a bike there though, despite the proximity
to Kirkpatrick MacMillan's forge.

My uncle made very good wine, and after a typical evening with him
drinking his wine and discussing the state of the world until 3am I
wouldn't have wanted to cycle the next day...

Through him I have a photograph of my grandfather with his bike taken
somewhere about 1900 :-)

Mike

Alex said:

Hello,

Anyone have any experience of the Aravis Audax bike offered by Byer
Cycles? (Or any experience of Byer Cycles for that matter).

I haven't personally bought anything expensive from Byers (though
they're only a few miles from me) but a work friend had them build
him two custom tourers (for self and wife) and then rode them all
the way around the UK coast. He was very pleased with both Byers
and the bikes.

-adrian

in message
<[email hidden]>, Mike

Causer (') said:

Simon Brooke said:

I find that with a 13-26 cassette gets me up
anything I've tried (including Tynron Brae... just)

I've walked up that a few times -- my favourite uncle lived in Monaive
and then Penpont. Never taken a bike there though, despite the
proximity to Kirkpatrick MacMillan's forge.

It's a [censored], isn't it? I wouldn't even like to walk up it, I don't
think. The Tynron side is bad but the Moniaive side is evil. Audax
planners in these parts seem to like it for some reason... Having said
that I never have walked up it, I've always managed (somehow) to keep
the cranks turning.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Drivers in the UK kill more people every single year than
;; Al Qaeda have ever killed worldwide in any single year.

Simon Brooke said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Alex

(') said:

Simon L said:

> I'm looking at this as a Winter Audax bike (i.e. mudguards). It will
> also become my commuting bike (6 miles) in 6-9 months time when we
> move office.

I've decided that my own Audex-y bike build has cost me about the same
as bikes I see in shops (but I'm quite adept at forgetting all the
smaller bits 'n' bobs that might count as an upgrade rather than part
of the original build; it did allow me to reuse bits from my bicycle
parts stockpile until budget allowed for replacement).

I'd build the bike myself if I'd be saving money (or even paying the
same). I just can't even get close to the price quoted by Byer Cycles!

It's a fair enough spec for an Audax bike, but I rather balk at the
triple - triples are so inelegant. I find that with a 13-26 cassette
gets me up anything I've tried (including Tynron Brae... just) with a
standard 53/39 double, although I have a medium cage derailleur so I
could fit a 13-29 if I felt the need. Campag brakes are typically not
deep enough drop for mudguards, which is a shame.

It suits me, gives me gears to fall back on, and when all it costs is
about 250g then I don't really care. Even if I never use the front 30
it will be there in case of emergencies.

It's a shame that Campag don't do a set of deep drop brakes. Even if
they only did them in one of the expensive gruppos (i.e. Chorus), I'm
sure many Campag zealots would buy them just to avoid having to use the
Shimano A550 (or Tektro's), even if the rest of the bike was Veloce.

-Alex

Pete Biggs said:

Alex said:

I'd build the bike myself if I'd be saving money (or even paying the
same). I just can't even get close to the price quoted by Byer Cycles!

If you could get over the Al factor, I think it might be possible with a
Tofosi CK7 frame from www.dotbike.com + components from various sources.
I'm starting to think of doing similar myself.

It was tempting for a while, but then I rode a similar frame and just
didn't like the feel of it.

Quoted message said:

Some Veloce parts would save money. These are very similar to Centaur's in
most cases. For example, the Ergos are exactly the same except have holes
in the downshift levers. For another, the cranks are the same, just with
different rings -- wouldn't matter to me as I'd swap the rings for TAs
anyway and sell the originals. Tektro brakes should be OK as well.

The Veloce spec'd bike has Tektro brakes, the Centuar spec uses Shimano
A550s.

The way I had heard it (which is most likely bollocks) is that Centaur
is roughly the limit for technological advances in the Campag range.
After that (Chorus, Record, Record Pista) it's all about weight. OK,
this may not be completely true but it is a generalisation.

I love my current Veloce clad bike, but I've saved this chunk of money
and I have set my sights on Centaur (I just can't justify Chorus).

-Alex

Alex said:

The way I had heard it (which is most likely bollocks) is that Centaur
is roughly the limit for technological advances in the Campag range.
After that (Chorus, Record, Record Pista) it's all about weight. OK,
this may not be completely true but it is a generalisation.

It's no more true of Centaur than it is of Veloce.

Quoted message said:

I love my current Veloce clad bike, but I've saved this chunk of money
and I have set my sights on Centaur (I just can't justify Chorus).

How about justifying it on technological grounds? ;-)

~PB

in message <[email hidden]>, Alex

(') said:

It's a shame that Campag don't do a set of deep drop brakes. Even if
they only did them in one of the expensive gruppos (i.e. Chorus), I'm
sure many Campag zealots would buy them just to avoid having to use the
Shimano A550 (or Tektro's), even if the rest of the bike was Veloce.

Yup. I would for one. The (centaur) rear brake on my winter bike is on
the /extreme/ limit of its adjustment, and could ideally do with being
another half millimiter down.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; I'll have a proper rant later, when I get the time.

in message <[email hidden]>, Alex

(') said:

Pete Biggs said:

Alex said:

I'd build the bike myself if I'd be saving money (or even paying the
same). I just can't even get close to the price quoted by Byer
Cycles!

If you could get over the Al factor, I think it might be possible with
a Tofosi CK7 frame from www.dotbike.com + components from various
sources. I'm starting to think of doing similar myself.

It was tempting for a while, but then I rode a similar frame and just
didn't like the feel of it.

Quoted message said:

Some Veloce parts would save money. These are very similar to
Centaur's in
most cases. For example, the Ergos are exactly the same except have
holes
in the downshift levers. For another, the cranks are the same, just
with different rings -- wouldn't matter to me as I'd swap the rings
for TAs
anyway and sell the originals. Tektro brakes should be OK as well.

The Veloce spec'd bike has Tektro brakes, the Centuar spec uses Shimano
A550s.

The way I had heard it (which is most likely bollocks) is that Centaur
is roughly the limit for technological advances in the Campag range.
After that (Chorus, Record, Record Pista) it's all about weight. OK,
this may not be completely true but it is a generalisation.

That's more or less my understanding, too. I go for Centaur, because it
isn't silly expensive but it's technically very, very good indeed.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

There are no messages. The above is just a random stream of
bytes. Any opinion or meaning you find in it is your own creation.

Alex wrote:
[SNIP]

One question I forgot to ask in the original.

Is there any reason why I wouldn't want the traditionally lugged option
(30 quid more)?

-Alex

in message <[email hidden]>, Alex

(') said:

Alex wrote:
[SNIP]

One question I forgot to ask in the original.

Is there any reason why I wouldn't want the traditionally lugged option
(30 quid more)?

I would pay a little extra for a lugged-and-brazed frame, but only for
nostalgic reasons. I suspect a welded frame would be stronger.
Interesting side-note: a silversmith friend of mine is now welding
silver and gold, using an inert gas process. Welding has come a long way
in the last twenty years.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

For office use only. Please do not write or type below this line.

"Alex" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

Anyone have any experience of the Aravis Audax bike offered by Byer
Cycles? (Or any experience of Byer Cycles for that matter).

http://tinyurl.com/q7olt

I'm looking at this as a Winter Audax bike (i.e. mudguards). It will
also become my commuting bike (6 miles) in 6-9 months time when we move
office.

1117 UKP with Carbon Forks, Campag Centaur 10 speed triple groupset
(except the Shimano A550 57mm-drop brakes), Mavic Open Pro wheels, SKS
Mudguards, saddle to be replaced by existing B17 Ti.

It's a Reynolds 631 Steel frame (3kg with steel forks, 2.6kg with
carbon forks). Weight isn't much of an issue at the moment, I've got 2
stone to lose anyway (6lbs done already).

I can't get anywhere near this price even if I pick and choose from the
best online deals. I'd really like to build the bike up from scratch
myself but I'm not *paying* 300 quid extra just for that pleasure.

I was originally looking at the Dawes Audax (Reynolds 631 also). Had a
test ride on one from Evans at Waterloo and although the bike felt good
(it is a lovely bike) it reaffirmed my great dislike of Shimano STI.
Sorry, I'm just a Campag Ergopower bloke. I have Veloce on the Colnago
and I'm very happy with it. I can afford Centaur but I can't justify
Chorus let alone Record.

Trying to find an off the peg steel-framed, Campag-equipped, mudguard
claddable touring/audax bike is pretty tricky. My tour of SW London
LBSs (Apex, Luciano, Global Esprit, Putney Cycles) came up short. I'm
going back to my most local LBS (Strattons) tomorrow to see if he's
come up with anything.

I prefer steel to Aluminum (just personal choice) and my hard earned
cash does not extend to Titanium (although I've spent a reasonable
amount of time dribbling over the Van Nicholas site). Simon you lucky
***.

I looked at the Tifosi CK7 but I was a bit hesitant as it was Alu. That
also goes for the Dolan Winter/Training frame that they had in
Luciano's (the LBS near Clapham Junction).

If I keep up this Audax lark and earn either an SR or an RRTY in the
next 12 months then I'll treat myself to a Van Nicholas Yukon frame and
a pleasurable few (read: many) hours transferring everything onto it.
If I have enough coffers in the tin that is.

I spent a while on Sheldon's gear pages playing with the options and
finally settled on a
13-29 on the rear. Is it worth trading the 18 tooth cog on the 13-26
for a 29, oh yes. I may need that to get my lardy [censored] up some big
hills (doing Ventoux and Alpe d'Huez on a 40" gear, 39/26, wasn't very
nice).

So, 30-42-52 triple front, 13-29 on the rear. (27.2" to 105.1"😉.

That triple, to my eyes, give better gears than the 30-40-50.

A Schmidt in a Mavic Open Pro will be purchased separately along with
lights (Solidlights would be nice but just too much right now).

25mm or 28mm tyres? Guessing 28mm for comfort. The 75km tour of London
on Sunday was a bit harsh on 23mm tyres at 100psi.

Most importantly it comes in "Flamboyant Ruby Red". What is it with
Winter/Touring/Audax bikes and blue?

-Alex

Hi,
A work colleague bought an Aravis in red and uses it regularly for work
and our Sunday rides. A month later I followed suit. Mine is in blue (and
much classier!). At 6'4", I went for the biggest frame and as the standard
frame was not in stock, they built it with the lugged-and-brazed frame (at
no extra cost). The brake stirrups are Tektro. The chrome is corroding on
the front but it is still fully functional. The bolts which keep the
mudguards on keep coming loose so make sure you check these regularly. I've
had the bike for 1 1/2 years. I went for 48-38-28 with 175 cranks and 9
speed 12 to 25. The idea was to make it a little easier to get my 14 stones
up hill (it didn't work). I go riding with lightweights and struggle to keep
up.
All in all, I love the bike. It is mechanically sound and the people at
Byers are very friendly.

Cheers

Peter.

"Phone Box" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Alex" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

Anyone have any experience of the Aravis Audax bike offered by Byer
Cycles? (Or any experience of Byer Cycles for that matter).

http://tinyurl.com/q7olt

I'm looking at this as a Winter Audax bike (i.e. mudguards). It will
also become my commuting bike (6 miles) in 6-9 months time when we move
office.

1117 UKP with Carbon Forks, Campag Centaur 10 speed triple groupset
(except the Shimano A550 57mm-drop brakes), Mavic Open Pro wheels, SKS
Mudguards, saddle to be replaced by existing B17 Ti.

It's a Reynolds 631 Steel frame (3kg with steel forks, 2.6kg with
carbon forks). Weight isn't much of an issue at the moment, I've got 2
stone to lose anyway (6lbs done already).

I can't get anywhere near this price even if I pick and choose from the
best online deals. I'd really like to build the bike up from scratch
myself but I'm not *paying* 300 quid extra just for that pleasure.

I was originally looking at the Dawes Audax (Reynolds 631 also). Had a
test ride on one from Evans at Waterloo and although the bike felt good
(it is a lovely bike) it reaffirmed my great dislike of Shimano STI.
Sorry, I'm just a Campag Ergopower bloke. I have Veloce on the Colnago
and I'm very happy with it. I can afford Centaur but I can't justify
Chorus let alone Record.

Trying to find an off the peg steel-framed, Campag-equipped, mudguard
claddable touring/audax bike is pretty tricky. My tour of SW London
LBSs (Apex, Luciano, Global Esprit, Putney Cycles) came up short. I'm
going back to my most local LBS (Strattons) tomorrow to see if he's
come up with anything.

I prefer steel to Aluminum (just personal choice) and my hard earned
cash does not extend to Titanium (although I've spent a reasonable
amount of time dribbling over the Van Nicholas site). Simon you lucky
***.

I looked at the Tifosi CK7 but I was a bit hesitant as it was Alu. That
also goes for the Dolan Winter/Training frame that they had in
Luciano's (the LBS near Clapham Junction).

If I keep up this Audax lark and earn either an SR or an RRTY in the
next 12 months then I'll treat myself to a Van Nicholas Yukon frame and
a pleasurable few (read: many) hours transferring everything onto it.
If I have enough coffers in the tin that is.

I spent a while on Sheldon's gear pages playing with the options and
finally settled on a
13-29 on the rear. Is it worth trading the 18 tooth cog on the 13-26
for a 29, oh yes. I may need that to get my lardy [censored] up some big
hills (doing Ventoux and Alpe d'Huez on a 40" gear, 39/26, wasn't very
nice).

So, 30-42-52 triple front, 13-29 on the rear. (27.2" to 105.1"😉.

That triple, to my eyes, give better gears than the 30-40-50.

A Schmidt in a Mavic Open Pro will be purchased separately along with
lights (Solidlights would be nice but just too much right now).

25mm or 28mm tyres? Guessing 28mm for comfort. The 75km tour of London
on Sunday was a bit harsh on 23mm tyres at 100psi.

Most importantly it comes in "Flamboyant Ruby Red". What is it with
Winter/Touring/Audax bikes and blue?

-Alex

Hi,
A work colleague bought an Aravis in red and uses it regularly for
work and our Sunday rides. A month later I followed suit. Mine is in blue
(and much classier!). At 6'4", I went for the biggest frame and as the
standard frame was not in stock, they built it with the lugged-and-brazed
frame (at no extra cost). The brake stirrups are Tektro. The chrome is
corroding on the front but it is still fully functional. The bolts which
keep the mudguards on keep coming loose so make sure you check these
regularly. I've had the bike for 1 1/2 years. I went for 48-38-28 with 175
cranks and 9 speed 12 to 25. The idea was to make it a little easier to
get my 14 stones up hill (it didn't work). I go riding with lightweights
and struggle to keep up.
All in all, I love the bike. It is mechanically sound and the people at
Byers are very friendly.

Cheers

Peter.

This is what it looks like...

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter_goddard/bike/index.html

Cheers

Peter.

Phone Box said:

A work colleague bought an Aravis in red and uses it regularly
for work and our Sunday rides. A month later I followed suit. Mine is
in blue (and much classier!). At 6'4", I went for the biggest frame
and as the standard frame was not in stock, they built it with the
lugged-and-brazed frame (at no extra cost). The brake stirrups are
Tektro. The chrome is corroding on the front but it is still fully
functional. The bolts which keep the mudguards on keep coming loose
so make sure you check these regularly.

Suggestion; take the bolts out, smear with either threadloc, or nail
varnish, and re-insert and tighten up.

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Alex said:

The Veloce spec'd bike has Tektro brakes, the Centuar spec uses
Shimano A550s.

The way I had heard it (which is most likely bollocks) is that Centaur
is roughly the limit for technological advances in the Campag range.
After that (Chorus, Record, Record Pista) it's all about weight. OK,
this may not be completely true but it is a generalisation.

My new last spring bike is a Roberts, so the bits are a mixed bag of their
recommendations.

It has:
Cranks, Hubs, : Centaur
Front & Rear Mechs : Veloce
Ergo levers: Chorus
Chain : Record (though think that may be its the only 10 speed one)
Brakes: Shimano R600

They argued that the gear mechs are not that different, so going up from
Veloce was marginal gain.
The Ergo shifters are significantly better at Chorus, whereas the difference
from Veloce to Centaur is a small hole in the shift lever and 3grams.

I'm content with my mixed specification bike. However, were I going with
the "boxed groupset", I'd probably look at Veloce or Centaur as the optimum
point on the price/performance curve.

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/