Flog00

I just got home with the Dawes.

3speedslow, the 531 sticker is there but is not readable.

3speedslow

I do believe that this frame is straight 531.

big chainring 

Picked this Dawes up last month, ebay local pick-up find. Cleaned it up and put a Wrights Swallow saddle on it, thanks Rockhound!

It was all suped up when i bought it. Huret Jubile derailleurs, Stronglight 93 crank, Campy custom modified seatpost, Campy Gran Sport small flange hubs. Previous owner built it up nice.



Pulled a routine 26, double switch, flip-flop and scored this saddle from Rockhound(Todd) at Chicago Swap meet. Wrights Swallow, never seen one before.


Campy seatpost was milled down to fit seat tube. Note line just below Campy logo.

JJScaliger

Looks like a sweet set up all around! I especially love the Huret jubilee! I've been thinking about upgrading my derailleurs; I haven't decided between french and italian.

JJScaliger

I decided to go French and found a good deal on a set of derailleurs and shifters. (I posted these pics in other threads, but thought I would include them here for posterity).

from Poland with love (well maybe not love)


\

installed Huret Svelto; aesthetically pleasing, finicky shifting





less exotic, but more functional Huret club front derailleur





The switch from Suntour to Huret feels and looks right on this bike. I can't quite bring myself to swap the barcons for those dt shifters, but they're there for the move someday if I'm so inclined.

The final adjustments will be:

1. I have a drillium stronglight 93 on the way from France to add.
2. I intend to build up the Milremo hubs that came with the bike to be 700c aluminium instead of 27" steel with the original atom freewheel

Perhaps then I will be satisfied...

JJScaliger

I've basically undone an upgrade of the late 70s. I will have to go back to clips and straps with the stronglight cranks. I love my egg beaters too.

Your Dawes looks great Chuckk. I would keep it the way it is. I took my cottered crank off because the bb was cooked when I bought mine.

It's weird, the Dawes isn't my lightest or best riding bike, but it's so utilitarian and perfect for the crappy conditions (sandy roads, snow, ice, slush) I find myself reaching for it every time. My Kelly is lighter and has a better (9 speed Campy) drive train and Paul cantilevers but I like the interaction with the retro friction more than ergo. Even the Fred Flintstone centerpull brakes. It needs trimming, especially with the svelto. Like sailing with variable winds.

bloud 

So, the next time my Gardener shows up with one of these in the back of his truck, I should considering buying it? What is/was this?

JJScaliger

I swapped out my drillium sugino mighty 52/42 for a drillium stronglight 93 50/40. I had to rob the lyotard pedals off my Gitane because of the french threading. I have a 14-23 5 speed perfect on the back and 30mm tires. I think this should make climbing a little easier. I took it for a spin around the block, rides pretty nice.

Threespeedmad

This maybe relevant or not but my Dawes bike has 72 stamped on the the top headset lug its only small but it's there, this could be just the lug serial number or it maybe a year number anyone else found this?

JJScaliger

Possibly lug angle 72 on Haden specialist head tube lugs?

cf. specialist group https://equusbicycle.com/bike/haden/pdf/haden%203.pdf

I know my Gitane has 72 stamped on Bocama lugs for geometry. I'll check my Dawes tomorrow...

gratuitous head lugs shot

JJScaliger

Update on my bike:

I swapped rear derailleur back to Suntour vt luxe. Doesn't look as cool, but flawless shifting. In addition, I'm running a Suntour winner 6 speed freewheel 13-15-17-19-21-24. Mated with the 50/40 stronglight 93, this combination gives me perfect gear ratios for my riding.

Threespeedmad

good call on the degree angle, why it never occured to me i don't know, seems so obvious now.

nlerner

Thread revival for a question for you early 70s Dawes Galaxy owners who have overhauled the original headset: Did it come with caged bearings or loose? If loose, what size? I'm working on one right now and both upper and lower headset cups have much more sloped inner surfaces than I've seen before. Tx!

oddjob2

I just did mine and it required 1/8" bearings loose. Buy a whole bottle for $13.50 delivered. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._detailpages00

Just a pic to show you the headset I was dealing with.

nlerner

^ Thanks! What's funky is that it has a top and bottom steel insert for each cone. At first, I thought those were from some other headset and happened to be in the ultrasonic bath with the Dawes parts. Nope.

3speedslow

You have the TDC headset. It's a good one but yes, funky. Takes TINY, multiple ball bearings. Like 50 total.

nlerner

I used 1/8" balls as oj2 reported. It did take a lot!

oddjob2

Brake cables have been run, next I need to replace the suicide shifters. Barcons or downtube? As the Simplex RD jockey wheels were shot and of course the Simplex FD was toast, I am using Suntour Cyclone Gen I RD and FD. They look swank!

3speedslow

Barcons would and are my choice with my Galaxy. Yours is coming along nicely. Cyclone is certainly a huge step up from the Simplex !

nlerner

I finished up the Dawes and rode it to work this morning:











This is a city commuter build that I've had on a couple of previous frames that for one reason or another moved on: rear SRAM 2-speed hub, 35mm Vittoria Hyper Rando tires (rear clearance is tight!), Electra Ticino crankset, MKS pedals, V-O chainguard, Nitto dirt drop stem and Nitto/Jitensha flat bars, Weinmann cp brakes, Brooks B.17. Plus my old Blackburn rear rack with woody top. Ride is super smooth, quiet and stable. I might still install fenders and maybe narrower tires, but I'm happy for now.

oddjob2

^ Looks great, happy riding!

3speedslow

^^ Very clean looking! Quite the city bike for getting about. I like everything chosen but the brake levers and that is only because of the black on there.

What size tires would you have to use in order to put fenders on ?

nlerner

Yeah, those brake levers are kind of anachronistic, but they work really, really well!

I actually think I have the clearance to fit fenders with those tires, mostly because there's plenty of clearance at fork crown and brake bridge. It's just the chain stays that make it tight. I have some room to pull the rear wheel farther back and increase clearance, but it would mean using a slightly larger rear cog and adding a link to the chain. Or maybe I should try it with a half link. I have one of those around somewhere.

3speedslow

Those do stop well and lots of room to pull the levers.

Fenders would sure add to the look and weather protection. Let me know if your half link doesn't show.

On on my yellow beaten Dawes I went from aluminum Zepplin to white painted steel. Goes so well with the blue cotten wrap and white hoods.

Lazyass

Any idea what model this is? The ad says it's a 1977.

Restored 1977 Dawes Road Bike 57cm