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I just built myself the sort of bike I wanted when I was a lad.
Here's my 1960s style gravel* bike using a 1980s Dawes mtb as a base.
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*Using the term loosely. My bikes were always built for expeditions into the mountains and I would have given my eye teeth for fatter tyres than 38mm which were the widest that would fit in a quality lightweight frame back then.
Done on the cheap with available bits after I was given the frame. All I had to buy was the rear hub (I wanted fixed/free and I didn't have a 130mm one) and some spokes.
Looks superb.very stylish and functional.that frame as well as the rest looks in excellent condition.well done.
Like lots.
Tres chic.
proper bike for a proper cyclist. enjoy.
Very nice. Reminds me of a Pashley Governor or the Morgan they now make.
https://www.pashley.co.uk/bikes/bicycles/pashley-morgan-8.php
Is it fun to ride? Just the business for racing round a cinder track, whilst sporting goggles and a huge mustache of course 🙂
That looks well tidy.
That's a lovely looking bike. I've been thinking of doing something similar as a town/shopping bike. What are those bars?
onewheelgood
What are those bars?
Satori Minotaur, but I suspect they're a generic product because I've seen them with the One23 brand.
I got them because they are the closest bar I've seen to the Great North Road bar which was popular on sports bikes (as opposed to race bikes) in my youth. Flip them up for the week's commute, flip them down for the club run. The other advantage is they take mtb levers.
If there's anyone fancying doing similar, I suggest going for a frame size up from what you would use for a mtb.
I'm going to put some miles on it, so I'll give it a wee write up once I have done enough to try it in various conditions.
Some dry weather at last! Took the bike out for a short road ride (20km).
Started with a longish climb from sea level*. Not really steep, but enough for the chainstays to flex and the tyre to rub a few times. Can't really fault the bike for that, it was designed for derailleurs, not to be grunted up that hill on a 63" gear, so it has compliant chainstays.
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Bike handles well, not as flickable as I would like, but that's to be expected with its geometry. Turned out it didn't need to be flickable anyway. The tyres just steamrolled over the worst the road surface could offer.
Next thing is to take it offroad.
*Anyone who's done the LEJoG from the south will know the hill out of Dingwall. I've learned new words following LEJoGers up there. 🙂
I thought "flickable" had been outlawed due to molgrips? 😂
enough for the chainstays to flex and the tyre to rub a few times. Can’t really fault the bike for that, it was designed for derailleurs, not to be grunted up that hill on a 63″ gear, so it has compliant chainstays.
Give the spokes a tighten 👍
Some dry weather at last!
I bet the RSF didn't wait for dry weather back in the day 🙂
I would also lower the gearing if going off road on it as 63 is high (or it is for me) especially as it looks like more of a sit down and grind up hills rather than stand.
@cynic-al I've already got the spokes as tight as I dare on a 30 year old set of single wall rims. It's really a clearance issue - there's not much. A smaller section tyre, say 55mm instead of 60mm would make the difference.
@kerley I don't mind a bit of rain, I've got bikes with mudguards for that. 🙂
As for the gearing, I'll probably fiddle around with that, because now I've ridden the bike and found it ok, I'm prepared to spend a little on it. First priority is to replace the alloy chainring with a steel one. I can go for a lower tooth count then if I find it necessary.
However it's going to see more road use than offroad so I'm reluctant to drop that ratio even though it's a bit lumpy round here. I probably need to stick a 3 speed hub on it because it could also use a higher gear.
The parts selection depended on what I had sitting around unused. I didn't want to spend money on this or I would probably have bought narrower tyres. So far I've had to outlay £35 for a new rear hub, and 27 spokes, everything else I already had.
It's fun turning a pile of spares into a bike for only around £50. 🙂
I'm normally a modern bike tart, think technology has improved for a reason etc etc.
But that is one one of the prettiest bikes I've seen - bit of a path racer look to it.
Propoerly well done, looking forward to seeing more pics of it infront of scenery a southerner like me can only dream of.
Lovely looking classic.
A wee update. Took it into the woods for a bit of easy rough stuff. Finding where the tracks were under the carpet of leaves was fun. The bike handles well within the limits of the slick tyres.
Climbs off road on slippery stuff are a problem because of the high gearing - it's too easy to induce wheel spin - I may need to put a Sturmey 2 speed hub on it because it feels too low geared on road but too high offroad.
Otherwise still happy with it.
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I'll find something more testing for it next - with some better scenery. 🙂
where is the like button?
That is properly nice.
I like the handlebars. I've a monstercross (based on a Genesis Fortitude frameset) SS with drop bars, but it feels a bit stretched out and rather cumbersome off road. Tempted to try some bars like yours to give a still racy look and feel, but with a bit more width and leverage. How do you find them?
I was trying to place what looked 'wrong' compared to modern bikes. Then I realised the seat tube is really slack. Looks lovely but slightly odd. I'm used to pictures of bikes with 75°seat tubes.
I was trying to place what looked ‘wrong’ compared to modern bikes. Then I realised the seat tube is really slack. Looks lovely but slightly odd. I’m used to pictures of bikes with 75°seat tubes.
That’s the second ‘OK I’m officially an old person’ moment I’ve had this week.
Because (conversely) for me:
#1027: ‘All bikes with steep seat-tubes look ‘wrong’
Will file away along with ‘old man signifier #1026‘*
*Twice this week made self-deprecatory quips in the supermarket and young cashiers respond with ‘awww, bless!’
I don’t even dare venture into an LBS if the shop team average under 50yrs of age 😬 ! You can hear the air crackle with the silence of polite patience 🤣
it feels too low geared on road but too high offroad.
And how long have you been riding singlespeed 🙂
I just compromise towards off road and run a low gear which has me spinning on road but means I try and get off the road as much as possible and spend more tie on the more enjoyable off road parts of the ride with the added benefit that the lower the gear the easier the skid stopping.
I was about to post up some photos of a 1986 catalogue and then found this....
https://dawescycles.wordpress.com/catalogues/
But just for epicyclo, here are some shots (think his is a year or two later vintage).
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