jefnvk

Simple question: did the Dawes Galaxy ever come with a full chrome fork?

Ever since I got rid of my ill-fitting Miyata 610, I have been looking for another classic steel touring bike. This popped up on my CL today, looks in good shape and seemingly worth the asking price, but I can't find any indication that the Galaxies ever came with a full chrome fork. It is a bit of a hike for me to go look at/pick up or I'd just take the chance on it being a replacement and inspect in person, just wondering if anyone can alleviate my fears that it may be a crash damage replacement! Also, if anyone wants to take a stab at the era it is from, I'd welcome that advice too, I have doubts it is a 1991 as indicated in the ad.

Lots of pics here: https://annarbor.craigslist.org/bik/...350488367.html

rando_couche

The fork doesn't appear to be original, but the frame looks to be intact. Looks like an 80's bike based on the forged dropouts and components, but I'm no expert on Dawes bikes.

oddjob2

If you google dawes galaxy 1991, you'll see some examples with full chrome forks

jefnvk

Hmm, I tried that without much result. I am seeing ones where the chrome run most of the way up the fork, but they always have a small painted area matching the frame color.

Maybe if the guy gets back to me, I'll just take a ride for the heck of it.

bikemig 

I wouldn't just look for "touring" bikes. Assuming you are OK with center pull brakes, a great many 70s era steel road bikes would make fabulous touring bikes. I just picked up a mid 70s Sekine SHS 271. The bike has a full tange frameset and nice shimano forged drop outs. The wheelbase is right around 41 inches and the bike would have no issue with 32c tires and fenders. My point is that a lot of 70s era bikes are real sleepers if looking for a road bike that can take a fat tire.

jefnvk

To be honest, I'm not even really "looking", if anything I need a fat snow bike first. But yeah, I get what you are saying, I've recently eyed up a U08 as well. This just popped up in my daily search, it intrigued me, especially as it isn't something one sees everyday.

I'm planning a tour of France for the honeymoon next year, and I don't really want to take my nice bike over there. Thought this would make a good option, especially with some time to build it up like I did the Miyata.

bikemig 

A UO series Pug (an 8, 9, or a 10) make great touring bikes (42 inch wheel base, relaxed geometry) but French threaded BBs make things a bit tougher.

A lot of older Japanese bikes with a decent chrome moly frame and center pull brakes can make terrific tourers with a bit of TLC.

Slash5

They didn't come with chrome forks but the paint doesn't stay on.

jefnvk

AFAIK, Velo Orange still has French square taper BBs, which suit me just fine. Was more worried about the oddball stem/seatpost sizings. Threadless adapters and modern stems are really growing on me, especially for the ease of boxing things and setting them back up.

To be honest, for around home use I love my Mazama for touring duty, I'm just looking for something cheaper to take. Something that I won't mind so much if I toss on an airplane and it comes out a bit banged up, or I come out of my hotel in Amsterdam to find an empty spot where it was locked up. Plus, the fiancee is planning on taking her vintage mixte, if I tell her I am taking my new bike she is probably going to feel the need to buy her own equivalent.

jefnvk

That's the info I was looking for

T-Mar

I strongly suspect that this is a replacement fork based on the presence of retention holes for hub washers with anti-fallout tabs (please, no nuclear proof jokes).

The Reynolds decal is the pre-1983 version, while the components suggest very late 1970s to very early 1980s.

ZG862

I don't recall Dawes introducing the sunburst finish into the UK until around 1982/3. Mind you, I don't recall that colour combination on a Galaxy. Looks like the UK "Shadow" model (which was distinctly mid market). Rims, pedals, seat post all seem early 80s. Happy to be proven wrong.

Z

cycleheimer

The components and Weinmann concave rims look like late '70s, or early '80. Those "old school" 27" Weinmann
concave rims, given my personal experience with them, are super tough and can take a beating out on the road.

jefnvk

Finally got a response. Turns out it is a replacement fork cause the co-op noticed a blade on the original was bent a bit.

Gotta decide if I want another project or not. Could deal with mid-fork mounts on a new fork, that I wouldn't feel bad adding. OTOH, probably will keep looking.