Dawes

[chriswoody]

If it is 531 it is worth saving. The stickers are oddly placed though.

I had to look twice, but your right, two Reynolds stickers is odd. The Celeste was 531 tubing though.

The forks look toast and the seat post may be a swine to remove, but for free I'd definitely have a crack at saving it. Shame I'm in Germany.

 

[Tony Raynor]

@Cuchilo that would be great. I'm in Ireland until Friday so could arrange potential pick up at the weekend if it's still there

 

[froze]

That particular Dawes used 531 tubing. I'm not sure of the value today but the last time I think I remember seeing one was about 5 or 6 years ago I think, and that one was going for $150 here in America, not sure what it actually sold for, they may go for less in England but I did find your bike being sold here: https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/dawes-celeste-vintage-road-bike/1183749616 just scan down below the first row of picts.

 

[Cycleops]

Probably about the same money in the UK. You have to remember that if the seat post is stuck it reduces the value somewhat.

 

[woodbutcher]

THe financial value, maybe. But the amusement value, and the CC "how do I unstick this seatpost" value ... priceless.

You could start a competition for the unsticking the seatpost. Falling into several categories, i.e. "The rudest" , "The silliest", The least effective", The most ingenious" and hopefully "The most effective" for example

 

[rogerzilla]

The caustic soda method really works (someone on yacf did it a few years ago and did a blow-by-blow commentary) but it takes a few days and is, of course, quite dangerous because you have to use highly concentrated stuff for it to work. The paint wasn't damaged, though.

 

[Tony Raynor]

I've done caustic on 2 seatpost and it works. I was impatient so. Also used pipe grips and a 5 ft breaker bar to help speed it up

 

[woodbutcher]

The caustic soda method really works (someone on yacf did it a few years ago and did a blow-by-blow commentary) but it takes a few days and is, of course, quite dangerous because you have to use highly concentrated stuff for it to work. The paint wasn't damaged, though.

Caustic soda is as you may know is sodium hydroxide and although it has no effect on iron or steel, it sure as hell does have an effect on aluminium in that it produces hydrogen gas on contact and degrades the aluminium, so if thats what the seatpost is made from l would not use it.

 

[woodbutcher]

Well, that's kind of the point. The caustic soda degrades the hell out of the seatpost until there is no more seatpost to degrade. Problem gone.

No, I've never tried it myself.

Good news if you don't care about the seat post, not so much fun if you want to keep it !

 

[Tony Raynor]

Big thanks to @Cuchilo for passing this over to me. Will keep things updated as I get round to this.

 

[Cuchilo]

No problems Tony , it was good to meet you and have a chat .

 

[Tony Raynor]

All stripped except for bottom bracket and seatpost. Can't tell if seatpost is stuck yet as bolt won't budge and will need to be cut/drilled but hopeful as stem eventually came out.

 

[Tony Raynor]

No problems Tony , it was good to meet you and have a chat .

Was good to chat to a fellow cc'er. Hope your time trials go well

 

[Cuchilo]

All stripped except for bottom bracket and seatpost. Can't tell if seatpost is stuck yet as bolt won't budge and will need to be cut/drilled but hopeful as stem eventually came out.

Knowing the type of jobs i found this on i think it was stored in a shed for most of its life . There wasn't really alot of over growth on it from the garden considering the age .

 

[Illaveago]

All stripped except for bottom bracket and seatpost. Can't tell if seatpost is stuck yet as bolt won't budge and will need to be cut/drilled but hopeful as stem eventually came out.

I found that one of those vibrating cutting tools with a steel cutting blade work well on removing seized seat bolts.