Fallen in love with an old lady..........
Discussion
After a few months of hunting for a road bike with a budget of £200, I finally struck gold this week and fell in love with an elegant old lady at the same time!
After 3 months of surfing eBay on an almost daily basis, missing out on 4 year old GIANTS and Specialized’s by a couple of quid, a friend of mine mentioned that he had an old road bike hanging up in his garage. For the price of a pint (yet to be paid), he offered to let me have the bike, but warned me it had been sat for 4 years without turning a wheel.
Imagine the smile on my face when he opened his garage and hanging from the rafters was a classic, hand built, English tourer – a Dawes Super Galaxy - in almost totally original condition (including the original shifters on the end of the handlebars)!
I loaded my new steed onto the top of the car and headed home to give it a good clean, grease and set about fixing a few minor niggles that needed addressing. I have invested about 5 hours in the bike and so far have;
- Removed all of the pannier carriers
- Removed the mudguards
- Changed the 15-ish year old continental sport tourer tyres and replaced them with Hutchinson Slick 2’s
- Replaced the cracked and torn handlebar tape with Scott super gel bar tape
- Given it a damn good clean, polish and re-grease
The bike is now looking ‘most excellent’ and I cannot wait to pound the tarmac in the coming week, with the view of cycling from Binfield to Ferring next weekend for an ‘in-laws’ bbq (about 65-ish miles).
I am not too sure how old the bike is, so if anyone has any ideas, or knows any more details about this particular model I would love to hear from you?
A few piccies for your viewing pleasure (taken before replacing the bar tape);
After 3 months of surfing eBay on an almost daily basis, missing out on 4 year old GIANTS and Specialized’s by a couple of quid, a friend of mine mentioned that he had an old road bike hanging up in his garage. For the price of a pint (yet to be paid), he offered to let me have the bike, but warned me it had been sat for 4 years without turning a wheel.
Imagine the smile on my face when he opened his garage and hanging from the rafters was a classic, hand built, English tourer – a Dawes Super Galaxy - in almost totally original condition (including the original shifters on the end of the handlebars)!
I loaded my new steed onto the top of the car and headed home to give it a good clean, grease and set about fixing a few minor niggles that needed addressing. I have invested about 5 hours in the bike and so far have;
- Removed all of the pannier carriers
- Removed the mudguards
- Changed the 15-ish year old continental sport tourer tyres and replaced them with Hutchinson Slick 2’s
- Replaced the cracked and torn handlebar tape with Scott super gel bar tape
- Given it a damn good clean, polish and re-grease
The bike is now looking ‘most excellent’ and I cannot wait to pound the tarmac in the coming week, with the view of cycling from Binfield to Ferring next weekend for an ‘in-laws’ bbq (about 65-ish miles).
I am not too sure how old the bike is, so if anyone has any ideas, or knows any more details about this particular model I would love to hear from you?
A few piccies for your viewing pleasure (taken before replacing the bar tape);
It's a Dawes Super Galaxy, the archetyptal traditional british touring bike. Taking the mudguards and rack off is like de-spoilering a Evo or stripping out a Rolls. It's meant for an unsupported LEJOG or a transcontinental cycle camping holiday, and should have at least a tent and 3 waterbottles on it at all times.
edit - shifters on the end of the handlebars is perfectly normal. I chose them over Tiagra brifters when speccing my touring bike last year. Assuming they are the Dura-ace ones, they are wonderfully tactile, and more importantly, bombproof. When the indexing goes off in the middle of a tour, you may not want to be dicking around with the barrel adjuster in the rain. Simply switch to friction shifting by twisting the half-ring on the right hand shifter. No more clicky gears.
edit - shifters on the end of the handlebars is perfectly normal. I chose them over Tiagra brifters when speccing my touring bike last year. Assuming they are the Dura-ace ones, they are wonderfully tactile, and more importantly, bombproof. When the indexing goes off in the middle of a tour, you may not want to be dicking around with the barrel adjuster in the rain. Simply switch to friction shifting by twisting the half-ring on the right hand shifter. No more clicky gears.
Edited by DrMekon on Friday 16th July 23:47
DrMekon said:
Taking the mudguards and rack off is like de-spoilering a Evo or stripping out a Rolls. It's meant for an unsupported LEJOG or a transcontinental cycle camping holiday, and should have at least a tent and 3 waterbottles on it at all times.
Simply switch to friction shifting by twisting the half-ring on the right hand shifter. No more clicky gears.
Given how original the bike is I did feel a bit guilty removing the rain catchers and sherpa bits but have stored them away safely for use in the future! I am sure that they will find there way back on once a few purists have ridiculed me on the road!Simply switch to friction shifting by twisting the half-ring on the right hand shifter. No more clicky gears.
Top tip re the shifters - thanks!
One mod left, the saddle has had it and really needs replacing - any suggestions for a comfy saddle that won't look out of place on it????
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