Ummm I wonder

Just seen a 725 thorn audax for sale.

Was really looking for old relaxed 531 with 27” wheels but the 725 thorn should offer a similar ride as frame should be light and comfy with relaxed geometry.

Looks decent and good price aparently needs seat post,saddle, seat bolt and pedals.

Very tempted.

Thorn are very good specialist in touring bikes and second hand kit to equip it are plentiful. As for wheels 700c offer vastly better choice in tyres than 27". Thats just my tuppence worth though, its your dosh ;-)

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Agree re tyres and so on, totally with ya.

My old 27” wheeled heap of shite £10 out paper in 1992ish was nicest bike on road I have ever ridden.

The Specialized epic carbon fibre I had done out with full 105 low profile and velocity rims/hope titanium hubs etc was nice n all but never ever felt nice to ride and always felt like hard work.

At time (I was talking to Sandy Wallace about it as epic got stolen and was getting a mountain bike as insurance pay out and chose the kula with pace shocks out his shop). His opinion was (as he had seen both bikes) was the old 27” bike was actually a good old 531 frame with relaxed geometery and was always gonna feel loads nicer on any long run than the aggressive geometery of the epic. I still felt there was more to it as difference just seemed silly.

And tbh being an audax it will take 32 maybe 35 tyres which gets rolling diameter almost same as 27” and tyre that will offer same comfort.

Plus the 725 frame is relaxed in a way most modern ones aren’t, light but offers similar comfort to 531. And it’s done out with mostly campag setup which looks nice (10speed 3 ring at front and 9 speed at back with nice looking wheels, chorus levers).

Just needs seat post, saddle and peddles to finish. Yeah frame is untidy but seems a very good price. Similar to what some people are asking for gaspipe stuff.

Think it’s best of both, modern, light, indexed but steel, comfy and will take larger tyres with mudguards if wanted.

Best bikes I have ever had were Dawes Galaxy Tourers x 2 and a Peugeot Normandy Tourer all three Reynolds 531. All though fitted with 700c and Schwalbe Marathon tyres, very comfy yet tough. I say go for it.

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I am thinking yes.

Asked for advice one the bike in road section (some photos on there) for full campag sis setup and campag wheels (entry level for campag but by all accounts good And are about £150 new) then don’t think can go far wrong.

Just gotta source a post, saddle and pedals and some chunkier tyres.

Photos here viewtopic.php?f=12&t=404044

Looks good for that money. If it fits I’d say go for it. Not gong to be limited on components or replacement parts.
Touch up paint will sort out any rust.
32’s are pretty big for a road tyre and plenty comfortable, so if they fit it will do anything you ask of it.

If you're not a racer and want a general purpose bike that's capable and comfortable, it's very hard to beat the 531 lugged steel bikes of the 1950s to early 1970s for a long day in the saddle.

After that bikes ceased to be transport for most, so they became specialised.

Any modern bike built out of quality steel and along the same lines is going to share the same characteristics, but have the convenience of modern components.

Go for it.

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Yeah think gonna go for this....

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Picking it up thursday...

Needs new tyres and snagged a set of unused continental tour ride for sod all off a Scottish bike sale lounge fb page. Should be ideal tyres for something I intend used as between road and cyclo grab and go bike for roads, cycle paths and forestry/farm roads that aren’t too rough. (mtb can have proper tyres popped back in and it can be reserved for proper off road stuff.

So just needs seatpost, seat bolt, pedals and saddle.... hopefully have a seatpost and maybe bolt in box of bits. Old reasonable set of toe clip pedals should be cheap (never got on with dedicated shoes and clip in pedals but want this to be proper grab and go even just for trip to shops so tie clips seems best idea as requires no preperation).

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Oh wait guy I am getting tyres off has found a set of old toe clip pedals he’s gonna give us as well. So down to seatpost, saddle and bolt...