Dawes ends Galaxy touring bike line after 49 years
#26
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#27
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Dawes
When I moved to the UK ten years ago I wanted to buy a proper British touring bike. Dawes was considered the best. However, much changed with the brand over the past ten years. They struggled at times, yet they made a few fabulous frames, notably a titanium tourer and 531 Reynolds 531 lugged "retro" Galaxy. Dawes has a well-deserved cult following here. Ask anyone in the industry and they'll concur.
My Galaxy uses Reynolds 853 steel and came with solid Deore/XT components on a 9-speed triple. (of course... most all of it has been replaced over the years and miles...) It's kind of a shame Dawes didn't hold out one more year to make a special 50th anniversary edition. I for one would love to see what they would come up with...
Btw, for all you gravel hounds, I can easily run 700 x 38mm tyres with mudguards/fenders! This bike goes just about anywhere I want...
My Galaxy uses Reynolds 853 steel and came with solid Deore/XT components on a 9-speed triple. (of course... most all of it has been replaced over the years and miles...) It's kind of a shame Dawes didn't hold out one more year to make a special 50th anniversary edition. I for one would love to see what they would come up with...
Btw, for all you gravel hounds, I can easily run 700 x 38mm tyres with mudguards/fenders! This bike goes just about anywhere I want...
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#29
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#30
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Unfortunately, with the pandemic, the demand for touring bikes will most likely remain low until at least 2022. Even companies like Surly are discontinuing their world touring models. Many parks and campgrounds are closed, hosts on Warmshowers or Couchsurf are not eager to host strangers, many countries have restrictions for foreign visitors. So, all in all, not great times for bike touring unless you just plan to do some credit card touring or rent a place in an interesting locale for some hub-and-spoke tours. But definitely no need for a proper touring bike to do any of this.
In the immediate future, those interested in heavy duty touring bikes may be forced to look at the very few new (some underperforming) models still available, secondary market or buy custom. From my own experience, I bought a super versatile 26”-wheeled custom bike from Rodriguez Cycles in Seattle back in 2012. Hands down, the best investment of my life! This bike has served me as a serious tourer, as a randonneur (completed the Paris-Brest-Paris on it), as a gravel tourer (San Juan Huts in Colorado/Utah) and it is my regular “road” bike. The other bike I have is a 29er hardtail MTB for the more gnarly trails and singletracks.
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#31
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I agree. This doesn’t look at all like the type of touring bike someone serious about bike touring would like to invest in - short chainstays, the rear rack looks weak, the mudguards don’t offer much protection.
In the immediate future, those interested in heavy duty touring bikes may be forced to look at the very few new (some underperforming) models still available, secondary market or buy custom. From my own experience, I bought a super versatile 26”-wheeled custom bike from Rodriguez Cycles in Seattle back in 2012. Hands down, the best investment of my life! This bike has served me as a serious tourer, as a randonneur (completed the Paris-Brest-Paris on it), as a gravel tourer (San Juan Huts in Colorado/Utah) and it is my regular “road” bike. The other bike I have is a 29er hardtail MTB for the more gnarly trails and singletracks.
In the immediate future, those interested in heavy duty touring bikes may be forced to look at the very few new (some underperforming) models still available, secondary market or buy custom. From my own experience, I bought a super versatile 26”-wheeled custom bike from Rodriguez Cycles in Seattle back in 2012. Hands down, the best investment of my life! This bike has served me as a serious tourer, as a randonneur (completed the Paris-Brest-Paris on it), as a gravel tourer (San Juan Huts in Colorado/Utah) and it is my regular “road” bike. The other bike I have is a 29er hardtail MTB for the more gnarly trails and singletracks.
In 2018 I was actually in their little shop. I had a DIY disc brake mount I wanted them to weld on. They said we don't do repairs. Pffft. One of their displays was a midget size frame with drop bars and it still had a 100 mm stem. Dumbest thing I've ever seen.
So anyway with their help I found Haulin Colin there. It took me all day to take my tour bike apart for them to work on, then paint it and put it back together. Turned out great.
My custom turned out like an ugly rhino, what I had planned. LOL. Indestructible and devoid of fiddly unreliable parts.
Last edited by GamblerGORD53; 12-01-20 at 01:25 AM.
#32
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Good lord the echo chamber in this thread is headpounding.
I'll just say that for those who criticized the roadcc review because it mentions the appeal of lighter weight and packing less, if thats the trend then so be it. Less traditional touring bikes overall makes sense if there is less interest in traditional touring.
Traditional touring cyclists tend to be picky and hold onto their gear for years. There seems to be a defiant opposition to a lot of new tech and trends.
9sp is common(its what I use). 3x front is common(again, what i use). Canti brakes are common(me once more). Racks that could carry an elephant, tents you can stand up in, spices and devices to prepare gourmet meals, etc etc.
Of course this forum is reacting in completely predictable ways.
Pretend I cared enough to insert the Simpsons Grandpa shaking his fist at a cloud meme here.
I'll just say that for those who criticized the roadcc review because it mentions the appeal of lighter weight and packing less, if thats the trend then so be it. Less traditional touring bikes overall makes sense if there is less interest in traditional touring.
Traditional touring cyclists tend to be picky and hold onto their gear for years. There seems to be a defiant opposition to a lot of new tech and trends.
9sp is common(its what I use). 3x front is common(again, what i use). Canti brakes are common(me once more). Racks that could carry an elephant, tents you can stand up in, spices and devices to prepare gourmet meals, etc etc.
Of course this forum is reacting in completely predictable ways.
Pretend I cared enough to insert the Simpsons Grandpa shaking his fist at a cloud meme here.
#33
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There's always
https://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/en/...bikes-2021.php
https://tout-terrain.de/en/the-products/
https://www.koga.com/de/fahrrader/re...ollektion-2018
https://www.maxx.de/en/bikes/trekking28/overview.php
https://www.poison-bikes.de/Fahrraeder/Trekking_Reise/
https://www.boettcher-fahrraeder.de/...Fahrr%C3%A4der
https://velotraum.de/
Those would all be mass produced touring bikes and that's just here. If you want a traditional touring bike they're still out there but are a wee bit more boutique. If I were to go buy a touring bike right now it'd be from VSF or Tout Terrain and I think both have dealers in the states and if you're in Europe then all are available to you.
https://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/en/...bikes-2021.php
https://tout-terrain.de/en/the-products/
https://www.koga.com/de/fahrrader/re...ollektion-2018
https://www.maxx.de/en/bikes/trekking28/overview.php
https://www.poison-bikes.de/Fahrraeder/Trekking_Reise/
https://www.boettcher-fahrraeder.de/...Fahrr%C3%A4der
https://velotraum.de/
Those would all be mass produced touring bikes and that's just here. If you want a traditional touring bike they're still out there but are a wee bit more boutique. If I were to go buy a touring bike right now it'd be from VSF or Tout Terrain and I think both have dealers in the states and if you're in Europe then all are available to you.
#34
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As for elephants, has anyone ever toured with one? Wondering if my SS would have low enough gearing
TIA