Dawes large frame with Reynolds 500 tubing

[Big John]

I know a lot of our members enjoy a 'project' and I spotted a bike in our 'stock' pile today that may be of interest to some of you. I'm involved with a bike charity and we've had a Dawes recently donated.

I've only had a quick glance because at the moment I can't even reach it under the clutter. What I can tell is that it's Dawes, it's got a Reynolds 500 badge on it, it has the word Legend on the top tube, it's got a Dawes double chain set (52/42 possibly), down tube shifters. Paintwork seems pretty good considering age. Frame size I would guess is 24/25". I'm 6ft 3 and it would fit me. I can tell this from the head tube.

If anyone is interested in it I can try and get some pics if I can ever retrieve it without breaking my neck. There's nothing in this for me, by the way. I just don't like the idea of scrapping something that many on here think is a thing of beauty. We often get donations that are collectors pieces but we don't exactly have many collectors walk thru the doors. Racing bikes don't sell at our place and old ones don't tend to sell at all.

We're in Stafford but if there's interest I can store it and somehow arrange a way to get the bike to you. I'd give you the phone number of the manager and you could sort a price with him. The bike is complete with wheels and has original components on it.

Message me on here if you're interested and I'll get back to you. My concern is that if we all hang around it'll be either scrapped or used for parts.

 

[88robb]

Interested. 6ft 2 and always wanted a Dawes Legend. Based in Derby, could collect. Let me know when you can get to it and what the manager wants for it. Cheers.

 

[Big John]

I'm popping in today to drop a wheel off that I built yesterday for a customer so I'll ask him. He won't want a lot. It's a bike charity....nothing costs a lot in there. I'll try and retrieve it from the 'stock' heap lol. Yesterday they had another bike....a Raleigh with 501 tubing but a 22 inch frame but it wasn't complete....frame, forks and chainset. Chainset looked in excellent condition as did the frame. If you're in Derby you're not far away. Could be your lucky day 👍

 

[Punkawallah]

Community in action :-) If there are any parts needed, I can have a rummage.

 

[Big John]

 

[Big John]

Measured the frame - 23.5". Smaller than I thought but still a good size. A lot of dust and grime covering the bike but superficial I think. Six speed screw on block, Sachs rear mech, Dawes chain set, Weinmann brakes, steel rims. Rear rim appears to have rust but possibly fixable with a Dremel? The manager, Dan, is asking £30 sold as seen.

 

[Big John]

I always think a look underneath the BB speaks volumes about the overall condition of a bike so I took a photo.

 

[Punkawallah]

New chain, then :-) But I’d bet the freewheel will scrub off with a kitchen brush and sone 3-in-1.
Hose down, T-Cut and a go over with furniture polish and the frame will look lovely. Sachs/Huret will out-live all of us. Scrub the (chrome?) wheels with cola and tin foil, wash and dry and you’re golden.

 

[biggs682]

View attachment 799987

A few years ago you could have asked £25 for the pump alone

 

[Punkawallah]

A few years ago you could have asked £25 for the pump alone

Really? They were going for a couple of quid at York Cycle Rally last year.

 

[Big John]

Any interest in the Dawes? One last call before the scrap man cometh. The Raleigh, mentioned above, has already gone.

 

[Punkawallah]

Any interest in the Dawes? One last call before the scrap man cometh. The Raleigh, mentioned above, has already gone.

Not for me, I’m afraid - too far away, and too big. I’d suggest the Dawes Facebook page as one possible outlet, but it is a bit ‘late’ for them.

 

[Big John]

Not for me, I’m afraid - too far away, and too big. I’d suggest the Dawes Facebook page as one possible outlet, but it is a bit ‘late’ for them.

If you lot saw this place, being bike nuts like me, you'd be blown away. It's an Aladdin's cave. There are 'project' bikes wherever you look. Somehow there's a never ending stream of donations and that's never changed. A lot of dross, of course, but some with genuine potential and no one to ship stuff out, as well as no internet presence whatsoever. What gets scrapped, in parts alone, would make you weep. Wheels positively everywhere, all sizes. And all we get are locals after a cheap hybrid commuter bike. Trouble is there's only one on the payroll and he can't do everything.

 

[Punkawallah]

Have they considered swapping out the drop bars for flat bars? It’s our ‘go to’ for ‘mundane’ 10 speeds, and we get enough bikes in that are so far gone as to only be ‘donors’, useful only for parts.

Is the place open for visitors with spanners and a wallet? I might be going down to Hereford in May.

 

[Big John]

You can ask the boss to see the 'stock' bikes but you'll need climbing gear and the eyes of an outhouse rat because you won't get near some of the bikes for clutter. Not sure what the Hereford connection is though. We're 84 miles away from there according to Google maps. If I'm lucky I'll get a sneek peek of a 'potential find' before it gets thrown into the maelstrom. What we need is an internet presence and then we might get somewhere but the charity has been going for an awful long time and failed miserably in that department. They've got stuff you simply can't get these days.