Hello Every one:
I am attempting to buy a new bike, I saw one I am interested in but I have not heard of the name, do any of you know of "Dawes Lightning 1500" I found it at Bikes Direct web site , the price looked good, as I have limited funds...any comment may be helpfull........Thanks.......Dan

Dawes is British marque that disappeared around the the end of the '70s bike boom. Somebody in Texas, maybe Bikes Direct themselves, is buying up old names like Mercier, Motobecane, Dawes, and Windsor, and labeling bikes made in China or Taiwan. Just so you know.

Looks like a pretty decent bike for the money. The MSRP is outrageous--Trek 1.5 is $1100 and it's a lot more bike. And the 1.2 is only $880 and it's still more bike. Dealers will typically discount Treks 5-8%, which is considerably less than, uh, 60%, but . . . Use your discernment.

Figure on paying a local shop around $60 to assemble your Dawes. Find one that will just take the money and do the job without a lecture about brand names and supporting local businesses.

Man, I used to have a Dawes when I was about 10.
I wish I'd kept it for my son to ride - no idea where it went after one of my cousins got it.
I'd love to restore it now for old times sake.

"Dawes Lightning 1500" Yes I have the daes. it performs well for its price, downside, cheapopaint job and sora shifters but if your looking for a bike that you just need to get through with, this is it. So I suggest you to go for it obviously.

How about one of their singlespeeds? Also, the bikesdirect guy is on the singlespeed forums and talks of introducing a model or two with a gearhub.