I took a half day off work last week to go for a cycle seeing as it was my birthday-should be a statutory holiday your birthday!, but not long after i got home the weather decided to open its heavens with some summer downpours-it`s not Wimbledon week yet!,
So instead i did some tinkering in the man-cave in the affy enjoying a cider or two and finished building up the Dawes Galaxy i was kindly given dismantled by good friend Gary B...
What was needed;
New; rim tape, tubes, chain; cost £36
Used; seat, seat post, mudguards, pedals,
I first put on the Crossroads tyres that came with the bike on but then swapped them for the 32mm wide Schwalbe `CX Comp` tyres on the Surly Cross-Check so i could use the mudguards that were also taken off the Cross-Check. seat and seat post were previously on the fixie bike and sitting doing nothing...
Everything else was in this box, all carefully bagged by Gary...
Cranks, Mechs, STI levers, bottle cages went on first...
Then the cables for both brakes and gears, this took the longest time to fit...
New chain fitted i then set up the gears and brakes, don`t know what is going on with the rear mech but would not sync on all 9 gears so ordered a Sora mech- i use these on all my 9 speed bikes now as they are simple and seem to last a lot longer than XT mechs which seize up or the jockey wheel bearings seize...
Bar tape fitted once happy with lever position it was nearly ready.
Mudguards fitted it was then on with the commuting stuff, pannier with waterproofs, lights, tools and pump...
Then the postie delivered a rear Sora mech!, was not for this bike but for the KM 29er but it went on to finish the bike and the gears are real sweet now,
That saddle was just not right on this bike, a Dawes needs a Brooks saddle...
1962 professional fitted and got re treated with wax as a bit dry...
Daily commuter, weekend day tripper ready!...
Quick ride yest evening to the shops confirmed it is a lovely bike to ride, relaxed and comfortable riding position and feels like you really could ride it all day...
Rolling this week;
Commute into work this week has confirmed that this is a lovely bike to ride, it`s a real smooth ride...
OTT Commuter?...
Seems a bit overkill for a commuter?, Maybe it is, but Gary gave me it to build and use and enjoy, and it `s not like i spent a grand to commute with it, it has cost me £36 in new parts, plus the extra commuter parts off of my present commuter, the Surly Cross-Check...
`Ridden not Hidden`...
I suppose it`s a bit like using a Rolls Royce to drive to Tesco for the weekly shop!, but my bikes are built to be used and often rebuilt and re used in different rolls, and not to be mothballed and polished...
So what of the Surly Cross-Check?
Oh it`s stripped down for summer and with fatter tyres fitted will be getting used for some Roughstuff type riding around the local old roads and trails, in fact i`m off out tonight for a spin on it!...
More soon...
