Stripping down a Dawes Synthesis and starting from scratch.

[Jimbo Xiii]

As title, my current bike is a second hand (at least) Dawes Synthesis sort of like this one, but not in as good condition.

I only paid £30 for it off Gumtree about 6 months ago as I didn't want to spend hundreds on a bike for it to sit in the shed, however I've now been bitten by the cycling bug. I've already done a few bits and bobs to it. I've changed the brake blocks and added a rear carrier to it, however I want to do more.

The idea that's in my head it stripping it back to just the frame (pretty sure none of the components are worth keeping) stripping the paint off, respraying it (probably racing green) then fitting drop bars (with brooks brown leather strapping) new pedals, gears, wheels, tires, saddle (again brooks ideally) basically the whole lot. I've also been working on some new "decals" (is that the right term from them, sound a bit Fast and the Furious) in InDesign, to put on it, so I'd have to get them printed somewhere as well.

Basically, is this worth undertaking. Its obviously a pretty major project and I'm assuming it'll cost me a fair bit. I've never done anything like this before so would be learning from scratch, but generally I'm pretty handy with mechanical things.

So I'm just after opinions really, also a rough idea of cost if possible.

 

[chillyuk]

Probably not economical sense but the experience you will gain and the satisfaction of having a bike exactly how you want it is priceless.

 

[accountantpete]

Agree with "not economical" and basically the paint job won't be that professional even if you do a good job of sanding down and popping 3 coats and a clearcoat on top.

 

[Zoiders]

For £30 it's actualy a very good buy and the components as long as they all function are well worth keeping, I have worked on and rebuilt this model of dawes a few times so I hope I can remember the spec correctly although I am not going to bother googling shimano parts numbers as that just gets sad after a while. As long as yours is not to far gone in comparison to the pictured one I can see you getting it back on the road quite cheaply, a tatty frame is often just from being locked up a lot or shed stored with other gubbins, it doesn't mean the drive train is nailed. The frames are actualy quite nice 4130 steel or Reynolds of some description (possibly the 501 IIRC), they have lots of braze on's and weigh in well in comparison to most hybrids or tourers, they are better than the cheapest touring frame that Dawes makes today by a long shot.

I see a Shimano Parralax hubbed wheelset with strainless spokes by the look of it, as long as the rims are not too worn thats a bloody good utility wheelset as the hubs almost last for ever.

The headset as long as it hasn't been allowed to run dry and lose will strip down and rebuild fine, you may need new balls in it though but these are cheap.

Shifters - I see what seem to be Shimano STX-RC/Alivio shifters in 7 or 8 speed, again very good and servicable kit that would not be cheap to replace, forget the need to go for 9/10 speed, for a bike thats going to get mucky or covered in snow like we had in the last two winters Shimano had it right around the 7/8 speed mark. The brake levers I can't quite identify from this angle but the generic Alivio/Altus Shimano canti's that are fitted will work just fine as long as you fit quality pads.

Chainset is a bog standard Alivio/Acera (the same chainset was used in progressively lower groupsets over the years) again from the early to mid 90's, servicable enough as long as the rings have not gone - if a little flexy.

Clean it, re-cable it, add a new chain and cassette if you really need to, if the BB still runs, run it into the ground and then replace it further down the line. It's a good bike for £30 and it would take the fat end of £500 to replace it like for like today, I wouldnt waste cash on a powder coat though, keep it tatty looking but mechanicaly sound and you will have an ideal commuter or even tourer.

 

[rh100]

It's right that it doesn't make sense money wise, you can easily spend hundreds if your not careful.But...if you love the bike itself, as said the experience and satisfaction is worthwhile for a project like this, all I would advise is to try to plan ahead a little to make sure your on track and that things will work together. Eg replacing the brakes for v brakes but changing to drops could be problematic due to no drop bar levers able to operate v brakes without special parts of some kind. Then there is all the multitude of different sizes of headsets, stems, bars and brake lever clamp diameters. The list goes on but don't let that put you off, just plan a little By the way, just the bar tape and saddle will set you back nearly a ton, the cheapest brooks tape I found was halfords online at about 33 quid (fast delivery as well, credit where it's due) and the saddle about £60 upwards depending on model, but these things could be bought last if all else goes well, or the saddle could be moved to the next bike. with that in mind it may be worth thinking of doing the main guts of the bike first and ensuring it all works and rides well then get the fancy stuff towards the end.Hope this helps

 

[AlexStevens]

Sweet idea mate. I am doing something similar atm : http://buildingabicycle.tumblr.com/

 

[AlexStevens]

If I were you I would keep the frame as it is mate... On the build I am doing, which I linked earlier, I stripped it down and have redone the paint job and it looks decent but not amazing and I think on my next project I won't be doing another paint job.

Strip off all the parts, but keep them.

 

[Jimbo Xiii]

Thanks for all the replies guys. My bike isn't in as good condition at the one above, the the frame is in good nick. I'll take some pics of mine when I get home from work.

I think at least the brakes need sorting out, It has V Brakes, but they aren't very good. I think at some point the handle bar has been replaced but can't be sure and the one that's on is in pretty bad condition.

I might scale the project in and just get it to a "safe" working state instead.

 

[Mad at urage]

V Brakes "not very good" can usually be sorted by (cleaning up and) replacing the pads with decent ones IME.

 

[Jimbo Xiii]

V Brakes "not very good" can usually be sorted by (cleaning up and) replacing the pads with decent ones IME.

Yeah, I've already replaced the pad, although it was something of a botch job and the bike currently coasts to a stop

(Probably should look at that sharpish really..)It is something of a love hate relationship with the bike at the moment. Yesterday afternoon after work, thought I'd go for a ride, had about a 10 mile round route in my head. Made it about 4 miles out from my house only to get a puncture on the back wheel. Had a pump and repair kit but was in the "rough" part of town and didn't fancy stripping out the tube and patching it up, so I quickly pumped it back up and headed home. Had to do this three more times to get back..Anyway, back on topic..bike, eh

::EDIT::

Turns out they aren't v-brakes at all, they are actually "cantilever" brakes.

 

[Jimbo Xiii]

So here she is in all her glory..

 

[Zoiders]

Thats a somewhat lower spec version than the one in the first picture.

It will still run though with some work, even if it's tatty looking, the pads seem to look like the originals and the rims look like they have plenty of life left, importantly it seems to have stainless and not cheap rustless spokes that perish.

First thing though - get rid of that quil stem extension before it does something nasty when you are riding, if it's not an extender then you are really pushing your luck with the minimum insertion on a quil stem, either way it needs sorting sharpish.

 

[Jimbo Xiii]

Thats a somewhat lower spec version than the one in the first picture.

Oh yeah without a doubt. I'd love to have the one in the first pic, if I did I wouldn't be doing any faffing about with it..

First thing though - get rid of that quil stem extension before it does something nasty when you are riding, if it's not an extender then you are really pushing your luck with the minimum insertion on a quil stem, either way it needs sorting sharpish.

OK, I've no real idea what that means, but I'll assume its the section joining the handle bars to the bike..? Always thought that looked a bit dodgy. How easy is something like that to swap out?

 

[Zoiders]

It's steel so I doubt it will fail.

It needs dropping a bit.