Old Dawes Galaxy

[JonoB]

A friend of the family has given me an old (green) Dawes Galaxy (this is what happens when people know you like bikes - needless to say, I couldn't say no).
It rides really well (only 12kgs) and seems to have been stored in a shed rusting away for a number of years. Question is: Is it worth attempting to upgrade from those awful Weinmann caliper-type brakes and ancient non-indexed 5 speed Campanolo gears? Would this be a pointless waste of money? Is it possible to upgrade anything?
I have no experience with this type of bike. Some advice would be appreciated.

 

[Arch]

As someone with great affection for Dawes Galaxies, I'd say keep it, and do whatever you think is worth it. From the way you say you like bikes I assume that means you have one or more already - in which case keep the Galaxy as a project. What's 'worth' doing will depend on what what you want out of it - something to tinker with on winter evenings? A bike to polish up and take out on special occasions? A hack to get you about in crappy weather on winter roads?

Generally the answer to 'can you...' is yes. It just depends how much you want to, and how much you like tinkering and problem solving.

I guess upgrading the brakes would be a safety issue, if you don't think they are doing the job, and I've no doubt they can be upgraded somehow. The gears - I don't know, but I'm guessing they aren't standard. So it's up to you. I would imagine you could get more gears - but you could just experiment with owning a bike that has fewer than more modern machines and needs a little more finesse to operate....

It's a love thing....

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I spent a fortune on my ancient Galaxy (respray by George Longstaff, plus about £300 spent on new bits) and I've never regretted it. A Galaxy will do everything you could ever want of a bike, and the older ones tend to be better built than the newer ones. I'd spend money on it if it was mine.

 

[wafflycat]

Oh yes... *rubs hands with glee* what a lovely project. You'll end up spending more on it than you could recoup if you sold it, but it's an old Galaxy - a classic British bicycle. Save it. It will serve you well.

 

[Hilldodger]

Yeah, but it's green...........................

 

[wafflycat]

It doesn't have to stay that colour.

 

[Hilldodger]

Mine is going to be brush painted with red Hammerite

 

[Arch]

Mine started out metallic lilac, then we sprayed it blue and silver, and it's currently being powder coated claret....

 

[robgul]

Keep it!

My "best" tourer* is a 1975 Galaxy - admittedly it's like Trigger's brush - just the frame and quill stem are original ... but it's done the E2E, various Boys' Outing tours and just taken me from Calais to Montpellier.

"Modernisation" includes new 700c wheels on Deore hubs, complete Deore drivetrain, Alhonga deep-drop brakes, bar end shifters, SPD pedals.

A great bike ... it was powder coated in 2004 and the inside of the tubes liberally treated with Waxoyl each year since.

Rob

* also have another Galaxy and a Claud Butler Majestic

 

[JonoB]

......The gears - I don't know, but I'm guessing they aren't standard. So it's up to you. I would imagine you could get more gears - but you could just experiment with owning a bike that has fewer than more modern machines and needs a little more finesse to operate....

It's a love thing....

What are the standard gears for the age? How do you age a Galaxy? I see what you mean about Dawes Galaxys (plural?), though. Since owning and riding one, I've been so impressed with the ride comfort and speed that I've been able to travel places, I've visited numerous websites to look at new ones and even made a 50 mile round trip just to sit on a new one (Evans Cycles Glasgow.)
I don't mind the green myself, it's certainly better than the gold/brown on the Super Galaxy 2008.
They do seem very over-priced though.........

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Keep it!

My "best" tourer* is a 1975 Galaxy - admittedly it's like Trigger's brush - just the frame and quill stem are original ...

Mine is like that ... it's the frame and seatpin that are the original bits on mine.