Question about '71 vintage Dawes Galaxy

[mstuartev]

Greeting from across the great Atlantic pond

I saw a bit of a discussion about Dawes Bikes when I did a Google, so I
thought I'd just login to the group and ask for a few opinions or
suggstions.

My gal and I are planning a week long 360 mile tour (now what would that be
in Kilometers??) here in Wisconsin this summer. It's been too many years
since I was out on the road (well before kids and all that rot). She is
upgrading her rig (a clunky mountain hybrid thing) while I want to stick
with my 1971 vintage Dawes Galaxy. I haven't had it out for any thing
longer than a 40K day ride in the last couple years. I'm fairly sure it
could hold up, but thought I'd ask a round for any opines or suggestions.

The simplex changer is long since bit the dust on the side of the road
somewhere. The rims may have been upgraded, but mostly it is stock. I will
get major tuneups (crank and stem bearings, etc) I'm happy with ten gears.

What is the group's general opinion of this type of old touring bike after
all these years? I've been to the shops and drooled over all the new
technology, but it just seems like the old gal could make the grade.

Thanks!
Mark

 

[David Martin]

On 31/1/05 1:45 am, in article BE22E9CF.7AFA%[email protected], "mstuartev"
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Greeting from across the great Atlantic pond
>
> I saw a bit of a discussion about Dawes Bikes when I did a Google, so I
> thought I'd just login to the group and ask for a few opinions or
> suggstions.
>
> My gal and I are planning a week long 360 mile tour (now what would that be
> in Kilometers??) here in Wisconsin this summer. It's been too many years
> since I was out on the road (well before kids and all that rot). She is
> upgrading her rig (a clunky mountain hybrid thing) while I want to stick
> with my 1971 vintage Dawes Galaxy. I haven't had it out for any thing
> longer than a 40K day ride in the last couple years. I'm fairly sure it
> could hold up, but thought I'd ask a round for any opines or suggestions.
>
> The simplex changer is long since bit the dust on the side of the road
> somewhere. The rims may have been upgraded, but mostly it is stock. I will
> get major tuneups (crank and stem bearings, etc) I'm happy with ten gears.
>
> What is the group's general opinion of this type of old touring bike after
> all these years? I've been to the shops and drooled over all the new
> technology, but it just seems like the old gal could make the grade.

Should be fine. Dawes Galaxy's are good bikes.

Do the obvious things like replacing worn/perished tyres, get the wheels
straightened/tensioned at a good bike shop, and you should be fine.

And above all, upgrade the grin to a big wide smile. Enjoy!

...d

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <BE22E9CF.7AFA%[email protected]>, mstuartev
('[email protected]') wrote:

> Greeting from across the great Atlantic pond
>
> I saw a bit of a discussion about Dawes Bikes when I did a Google, so
> I thought I'd just login to the group and ask for a few opinions or
> suggstions.
>
> My gal and I are planning a week long 360 mile tour (now what would
> that be in Kilometers??)

<URL:http://www.google.com/search?q=360+miles+in+Km>

> here in Wisconsin this summer. It's been too
> many years since I was out on the road (well before kids and all that
> rot). She is upgrading her rig (a clunky mountain hybrid thing) while
> I want to stick
> with my 1971 vintage Dawes Galaxy. I haven't had it out for any thing
> longer than a 40K day ride in the last couple years. I'm fairly sure
> it could hold up, but thought I'd ask a round for any opines or
> suggestions.
>
> The simplex changer is long since bit the dust on the side of the road
> somewhere. The rims may have been upgraded, but mostly it is stock. I
> will get major tuneups (crank and stem bearings, etc) I'm happy with
> ten gears.
>
> What is the group's general opinion of this type of old touring bike
> after all these years? I've been to the shops and drooled over all the
> new technology, but it just seems like the old gal could make the
> grade.

It's a good bike. It was a good bike then and it's a good bike now. The
only thing which has advanced significantly over the years is brakes,
but Galaxies, as touring bikes, often had better brakes than
run-of-the-mill bikes of their generation. If your bike has
single-pivot callipers of centrepulls (particularly if Weinmann) change
them for something more modern. If it has cantilevers they'll be fine.

More gears and indexing are both 'nice to have' but not critical.

Give it a thorough service before you set off, of course. And enjoy it!

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

;; Woz: 'All the best people in life seem to like LINUX.'
;; <URL:http://www.woz.org/woz/cresponses/response03.html>

 

[JBB]

"Simon Brooke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> in message <BE22E9CF.7AFA%[email protected]>, mstuartev
> ('[email protected]') wrote:
>
>> Greeting from across the great Atlantic pond
>>
>> I saw a bit of a discussion about Dawes Bikes when I did a Google, so
>> I thought I'd just login to the group and ask for a few opinions or
>> suggstions.
>>
>> My gal and I are planning a week long 360 mile tour (now what would
>> that be in Kilometers??)
>
> <URL:http://www.google.com/search?q=360+miles+in+Km>
>
>> here in Wisconsin this summer. It's been too
>> many years since I was out on the road (well before kids and all that
>> rot). She is upgrading her rig (a clunky mountain hybrid thing) while
>> I want to stick
>> with my 1971 vintage Dawes Galaxy. I haven't had it out for any thing
>> longer than a 40K day ride in the last couple years. I'm fairly sure
>> it could hold up, but thought I'd ask a round for any opines or
>> suggestions.
>>
>> The simplex changer is long since bit the dust on the side of the road
>> somewhere. The rims may have been upgraded, but mostly it is stock. I
>> will get major tuneups (crank and stem bearings, etc) I'm happy with
>> ten gears.
>>
>> What is the group's general opinion of this type of old touring bike
>> after all these years? I've been to the shops and drooled over all the
>> new technology, but it just seems like the old gal could make the
>> grade.
>
> It's a good bike. It was a good bike then and it's a good bike now. The
> only thing which has advanced significantly over the years is brakes,
> but Galaxies, as touring bikes, often had better brakes than
> run-of-the-mill bikes of their generation. If your bike has
> single-pivot callipers of centrepulls (particularly if Weinmann) change
> them for something more modern. If it has cantilevers they'll be fine.
>
> More gears and indexing are both 'nice to have' but not critical.
>
> Give it a thorough service before you set off, of course. And enjoy it!
>
> --
> [email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
>
> ;; Woz: 'All the best people in life seem to like LINUX.'
> ;; <URL:http://www.woz.org/woz/cresponses/response03.html>

My old bike still has weineman centre-pulls - not good in comparison with
modern brakes but improvd dramatically by the addition of a £12 pair of aero
levers. I used it to carry a load of rope home from the boat last weekend
and the brakes worled fine although I'd forgotten how flexy the frame was.

Julia
>

 

[RG]

"JBB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Simon Brooke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> in message <BE22E9CF.7AFA%[email protected]>, mstuartev
>> ('[email protected]') wrote:
>>
>>> Greeting from across the great Atlantic pond
>>>
>>> I saw a bit of a discussion about Dawes Bikes when I did a Google, so
>>> I thought I'd just login to the group and ask for a few opinions or
>>> suggstions.
>>>
>>> My gal and I are planning a week long 360 mile tour (now what would
>>> that be in Kilometers??)
>>
>> <URL:http://www.google.com/search?q=360+miles+in+Km>
>>
>>> here in Wisconsin this summer. It's been too
>>> many years since I was out on the road (well before kids and all that
>>> rot). She is upgrading her rig (a clunky mountain hybrid thing) while
>>> I want to stick
>>> with my 1971 vintage Dawes Galaxy. I haven't had it out for any thing
>>> longer than a 40K day ride in the last couple years. I'm fairly sure
>>> it could hold up, but thought I'd ask a round for any opines or
>>> suggestions.
>>>
>>> The simplex changer is long since bit the dust on the side of the road
>>> somewhere. The rims may have been upgraded, but mostly it is stock. I
>>> will get major tuneups (crank and stem bearings, etc) I'm happy with
>>> ten gears.
>>>
>>> What is the group's general opinion of this type of old touring bike
>>> after all these years? I've been to the shops and drooled over all the
>>> new technology, but it just seems like the old gal could make the
>>> grade.
>>
>> It's a good bike. It was a good bike then and it's a good bike now. The
>> only thing which has advanced significantly over the years is brakes,
>> but Galaxies, as touring bikes, often had better brakes than
>> run-of-the-mill bikes of their generation. If your bike has
>> single-pivot callipers of centrepulls (particularly if Weinmann) change
>> them for something more modern. If it has cantilevers they'll be fine.
>>
>> More gears and indexing are both 'nice to have' but not critical.
>>
>> Give it a thorough service before you set off, of course. And enjoy it!
>>
>> --
>> [email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
>>
>> ;; Woz: 'All the best people in life seem to like LINUX.'
>> ;; <URL:http://www.woz.org/woz/cresponses/response03.html>
>
> My old bike still has weineman centre-pulls - not good in comparison with
> modern brakes but improvd dramatically by the addition of a £12 pair of
> aero levers. I used it to carry a load of rope home from the boat last
> weekend and the brakes worled fine although I'd forgotten how flexy the
> frame was.
>
> Julia
>>
Likewise - running 3 machines (2 x 1970s Galaxy, 1 Claud Butler Majestic)
all with Weinmann centre-pulls - again with Exage aero levers AND with Vee
brake pads rather than the old brake blocks (that's the Vee brakes with a
bolt, not the stud variety) Stopping seems significantly improved.

As a poster above says, cantis would be nice but without bosses that's a
problem - unless you go for brazing and respray, and then you might as well
buy a new frame.

RG

 

[Tilly]

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 19:45:19 -0600, mstuartev <[email protected]>
wrote:

>My gal and I are planning a week long 360 mile tour (now what would that be
>in Kilometers??)

579.36384

 

[Mark E]

You folks are a font of knowledge
(I think I may convert to metric over her in US as... well, it's so much
more impressive!)

seriously, I'm moving ahead with the "juicy" tuneup on the Dawes. I
changed out the old down bars to straigh-type touring bars (horrors); it
was just an easier way to get better brake levers on and all. I also
need to take a few pics!

Hey... for any one taggin on this thread...

What was the other (lower) Dawes touring model of that era? My touring
buddy had one but I don't recall the model name. Seems it was a
copper/brown colour. Recall he had issues with his axles, but he was a
reckless rider anyway.

Thanks!
Mark


Tilly wrote:
> On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 19:45:19 -0600, mstuartev <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>My gal and I are planning a week long 360 mile tour (now what would that be
>>in Kilometers??)
>
>
> 579.36384

 

[JBB]

"Mark E" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> You folks are a font of knowledge
> (I think I may convert to metric over her in US as... well, it's so much
> more impressive!)
>
> seriously, I'm moving ahead with the "juicy" tuneup on the Dawes. I
> changed out the old down bars to straigh-type touring bars (horrors); it
> was just an easier way to get better brake levers on and all. I also need
> to take a few pics!
>
> Hey... for any one taggin on this thread...
>
> What was the other (lower) Dawes touring model of that era? My touring
> buddy had one but I don't recall the model name. Seems it was a
> copper/brown colour. Recall he had issues with his axles, but he was a
> reckless rider anyway.
>
> Thanks!
> Mark
>
>
> Tilly wrote:
>> On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 19:45:19 -0600, mstuartev <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>My gal and I are planning a week long 360 mile tour (now what would that
>>>be
>>>in Kilometers??)
>>
>>
>> 579.36384

When I got my Galaxy in 1980ish ( I've got the receipt somewhere if you
want the precise date) it was a fairly revolting coppery brown colour but I
loved it. Bought it at Ken Ellerker Cycles on Chanterland Ave in Hull - does
Simon know if it's still there?

Julia

 

[Andy Key]

In message <[email protected]>, Mark E
<[email protected]> writes
....
>What was the other (lower) Dawes touring model of that era? My touring
>buddy had one but I don't recall the model name.

Horizon.