My galaxy's bust!

[Amanda P]

I was on my way to work this morning when it occurred to me that my bike felt a bit weird. Looking down at teh bottom bracket, there seemed to be more flexing going on than usual, and when I stopped to take a proper look, yep, there was a crack:

I cycled on very gingerly, but it looks like I'd better take the bus home.

I bought this bike brand new in 1988 at Evans in Waterloo. I'm bitterly disappointed that it's only lasted 26 years. (Actually, many of the components were pants, and the only ones remaining from new are the brake arms and the frame - but not the paint). Wonder how Dawes would feel about replacing it? And I wonder how many miles it's done?

Anyway, it looks like the end of the road, since by the time the mudguard bridge and chainstay are replaced and the frame's repainted, I would think I might as well buy a new one.

Spa's steel touring frame, Surly Long Haul Trucker, or something else? Anyone got any suggestions/reccomendations/suitable lightly used frames they'd like to offer me?

I'm going to need:

Steel (can't afford titanium)
Canti bosses
Full rack bosses including low rider at the front
135mm OLN at the back
I'm 6' tall but short back. This was a 25" frame but with an almost zero-length stem
Clearance for 35mm tyres (including winter studs)
Stable, tough, able to carry huge loads
Prefer cast fork crowns rather than unicrown; prefer lugged or fillet brazed construction (don't like ugly blobby welds)

 

[Deleted member 35268]

bad luck, I love Dawes bikes

 

[fossyant]

Only 26 years that's crap.

My steel is 25 years old and no rust. That bridge looks like it's been terminal for some time.

Hmm I'm reporting you for bike abuse.

 

[Cycleops]

Sorry about the bike. There's plenty of choice out there for steel framed tourers though. Always thought the Surly LHT looks a bit ungainly, what's your budget?

 

[uphillstruggler]

if you are that attached to the bike, take it to an engineering firm to have a look at - they may be able to knock something up that would repair it.

I have a cracked steel frame at the moment and that's what I am doing - they may be cheaper than you think.

Where you live, i would imagine there's loads of workshops run by ex railwaymen who would hate to scrap such a thing. You have nothing to lose by enquiring.

 

[jay clock]

Sorry to hear that. I must say on the brake front I would look at V brake or disc solution. Cantis never seemed to work for me. But each to his own

 

[youngoldbloke]

My son had an old Galaxy that cracked on one of the seatstays. His farmer father-in-law welded it back together in agricultural fashion, and it continued service as a 'to the station' bike until the day he returned to find the lock broken and the bike gone ......

 

[ColinJ]

That's a shame, but I think the rust was a bit of a hint that it was going to happen ...

In the same way that the owner of this bike should have realised that his forks would soon be getting alarmingly wobbly!

 

[Soltydog]

If you can bodge it & get another year or two out of it, I may have a ridgeback panorama frame for sale then, but cant afford the custom frame I want just yet

 

[smokeysmoo]

@biggs682 might have a suitable frame.

 

[biggs682]

@Uncle Phil that a shame , the only frame i have is http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/for-sale-retro-frame-set.154052/ or complete bike http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/54cm-sized-racing-bike-ideal-as-commuter-or.155082/

 

[Keenbfb]

Is that a crack starting on the left as well if so you're way to heavy for a steel bike best look at the bamboo options.

 

[mrbikerboy73]

I remember my Raleigh Burner cracked by the bottom bracket after only 2 years. Have you been doing jumps on it at the local BMX track?

 

[Amanda P]

It does get used in winter, so it gets a fair bit of salt thrown at it most weekdays then, and in really cold weather there's only so much I can do to clean it off, when the outside pipes are frozen. It did get a respray fifteen or so years ago, so it's not like it's been completely neglected....

If both chainstays are cracked (and I think they are), it's maybe because the crack in the one and the separation of the bridge allowed the other to flex, causing the crack. Just as well I noticed it before the chainstays gave way altogether!

Me too heavy? I'm 6' but only 11 1/2 stone. It does carry some loads, though.

Anyway... a replacement may have to wait a while as cashflow isn't great just now, and there are other bikes I can use. I have my eye on Spa's steel tourer frame, and I'll give one a try next time I'm in Harrogate. The Panorama frame sounds very tempting, though, Solty - what size would it be?

Biggs682 - thanks, but not really what I'm after. But any more offers gratefully received....

 

[Soltydog]

The Panorama frame sounds very tempting, though, Solty - what size would it be?

Its 60cm. I'll be on it at York FNRTTC Not sure when I'll be in a position to replace it, & funds will dictate whether I just get a custom frame & swap bits over, or get a complete custom build. gotta sell our house first & move though