Dawes Galaxy

[Iainj837]

I am thinking of doing a restoration on a Dawes Galaxy, bearing in mind that I have not done anything like this before.
Any advice ?
Where would the best place to find one that needed restoration ?

 

[Herbie]

I am thinking of doing a restoration on a Dawes Galaxy, bearing in mind that I have not done anything like this before.
Any advice ?
Where would the best place to find one that needed restoration ?

Sounds like a worthwhile project....try ebay gumtree etc you might pick up a good one there?
Good luck

 

[Sara_H]

I got one for my OH on ebay in the summer.

 

[Smurfy]

As others have said, Ebay and Gumtree are good, although you need to be prepared to travel, or wait for one that's for sale locally if you want to inspect before buying/bidding. Not all Ebay bidders will inspect first, which means you'll have an advantage over anyone who doesn't look before they leap.

Before you buy/bid, you should have some idea of your budget and objectives. E.g. do you want something that looks like a galaxy but has been subtly upgraded/updated, do you mainly just want the frame to upgrade as you go or build with your own choice of parts, do you want to restore to showroom condition with a respray, reproduction decals and original parts? Although the objective can shift slightly during a restoration, you need some idea of the rough direction you're going in and how much it will cost.

 

[sidevalve]

YellowTim is spot on. Set a limit, decide what you want and factor in ALL the hidden costs such as couriers or just fuel getting to collect it. Decide also how old a bike you want as the Galaxy has had a long life span,from the early friction change gear models to the later [but still UK] models to the current ones buit in some far off land. The Galaxy is a fine machine built for rider maintenance and used what were at the time good quality components, if well restored they fetch good prices and unless you go way way overboard on costs you will have both a good bike to ride and should you wish to do so a bike you can sell on for more or less what it's cost you.
BE WARNED however old bikes do have a way of getting to you, it may be the new bike on the "for sale" list.

 

[Smurfy]

Decide also how old a bike you want as the Galaxy has had a long life span,from the early friction change gear models to the later [but still UK] models to the current ones buit in some far off land.

I agree, and two of the most important issues that could come up are:
1. 27" wheels versus 700c wheels on older bikes (see this link)
2. Freewheel or freehub, which will require different drop out spacing if you want to change from one to the other (but steel frames can be reset). On Dawes I think the transition from free wheels to freehubs occurred around early 90s. If you wanted a true to original restoration with an older bike, it's still possible to get good quality free wheels, just not so much choice anymore

 

[sidevalve]

Just one thought. If you just feel like a restoration check out some of the other Dawes models too. Obviously you will have to do a bit of research [all part of the fun really] but Dawes made several very good bikes very close in spec to the galaxy which won't have jumped on the "classic bicycle" price trip. Beware also of the "what it's worth" brigade. These can vary from the "oh very rare these, worth thousands" to like my LBS who valued a fully restored galaxy at "oh maybe £50" [never took him seriously after that].
Anyway, good luck and have fun. You will enjoy it.

 

[PpPete]

I agree, and two of the most important issues that could come up are:
1. 27" wheels versus 700c wheels on older bikes (see this link)
2. Freewheel or freehub, which will require different drop out spacing if you want to change from one to the other (but steel frames can be reset). On Dawes I think the transition from free wheels to freehubs occurred around early 90s. If you wanted a true to original restoration with an older bike, it's still possible to get good quality free wheels, just not so much choice anymore

Neither of the above are particularly difficult to solve.
1. Very deep drop brakes will take up the difference if you want to use 700c wheels in a frame built for 27". here or here if you want dual pivot braking efficiency.
2. "cold setting" a frame to chage the drop out width is quite easy with a length of M10 or M12 threaded rod, nuts & "penny" washers.

Depending on what you want to do, what can be more challenging atre the presence or lack of the braze-ons on the frame: Very old ones lack a derailleur hanger, necessitating a separate bolt-on hanger for modern mechs - which reduces the effective length of the horizontal slot in the drop-out, which then makes removal and refitting a rear wheel a pain.
Also the very old ones used band-on down-tube shifters, whereas the newer ones had brazed-on studs. If you want to convert to STIs or bar-end shifters the brazed-on stud style is a lot easier to convert. The only adapters for band-on style that are now available are just monumentally fugly. There used to be some nice looking chrome ones, but they are rarer than hen's teeth now - and they don't have provision for cable adjustment.
And missing on some older frames are the bosses for bottle-cage mounting.
More modern Galaxys (late 1980s onwards) have the studs for cantilever brakes, which not everyone likes, although the original BR-AT50 Shimano cantis they fitted in the 1980s are pretty good even by today's standards.

I think I've done just about everything one can possibly do with a 531 framed Galaxy.
Mine is a late 1980's fully converted to modern 9 speed STI
My wife's (same vintage) has now been converted almost completely back to original configuration and is in daily use for commuting
No 1 son has a 1970s vintage which has modern wheels/cassette/rear mech (8 speed) - but operated by DT friction shifters
Daughter has 1970s vintage which has modern wheels/cassette/rear mech (7 speed) - but with off bar-end shifters
No2 son has a 1990s one that was bar-end shifters but is now 9 speed STI.
He also has 1980s on that we've just turned into a fixed - he rode to school on it this morning
- and we have Super G tandem !

 

[MisterStan]

I think I've done just about everything one can possibly do with a 531 framed Galaxy.
Mine is a late 1980's fully converted to modern 9 speed STI
My wife's (same vintage) has now been converted almost completely back to original configuration and is in daily use for commuting
No 1 son has a 1970s vintage which has modern wheels/cassette/rear mech (8 speed) - but operated by DT friction shifters
Daughter has 1970s vintage which has modern wheels/cassette/rear mech (7 speed) - but with off bar-end shifters
No2 son has a 1990s one that was bar-end shifters but is now 9 speed STI.
He also has 1980s on that we've just turned into a fixed - he rode to school on it this morning
- and we have Super G tandem !

Can we assume you are a fan then?

 

[Iainj837]

Can we assume you are a fan then?

What ever gives you that idea