Dawes 501

Jon said:

I am thinking of buying one of these (a 2003 model) can
the aheadsetbe adjusted to raise the handlebars ( I am
unfamiliar with these)

Ahead stem can't be adjusted in the conventional way. It
clamps around the outside of the fork steerer instead of
fitting inside it (and also presses down on the headset
instead of having a threaded locknut).

Height can be alterered if the steerer (bit of forks that
sticks up through frame) is left long enough, then spacers
can be fitted below and above the stem; 2mm spacers enable
fine tuning. Unfortunately, new bikes are usually sold with
steerers that don't allow much/any scope for height
adjustment.

However, differerent stems can easily be fitted to provide
different amounts of rise (and reach), or there are special
extension devices. Better, though, is to have a long fork
steerer in the first place if you want adjustability. You
could ask for different forks.

~PB

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Pete Biggs

BJon said:

I am thinking of buying one of these (a 2003 model) can
the aheadsetbe adjusted to raise the handlebars ( I am
unfamiliar with these)

Ahead stem can't be adjusted in the conventional way. It
clamps around the outside of the fork steerer instead of
fitting inside it (and also presses down on the headset
instead of having a threaded locknut).

Height can be alterered if the steerer (bit of forks that
sticks up through frame) is left long enough, then spacers
can be fitted below and above the stem; 2mm spacers enable
fine tuning. Unfortunately, new bikes are usually sold with
steerers that don't allow much/any scope for height
adjustment.

However, differerent stems can easily be fitted to provide
different amounts of rise (and reach), or there are special
extension devices. Better, though, is to have a long fork
steerer in the first place if you want adjustability. You
could ask for different forks.

~PB [/B]

Got to agree with everything that is said above ^

Makes me glad I don't have a frame with the Ahead frameset, at least with my trusty quill stems I can [censored] around with the height. If I want a trendy Ahead stem on one of my bikes I just use my Cinelli Ahead adaptor 😄

What exactly are the advantages of the Ahead system meant to be 😕

"Jon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am thinking of buying one of these (a 2003 model) can
the aheadsetbe adjusted to raise the handlebars ( I am
unfamiliar with these)

Funnily enough I had the same problem with the aheadset
see: Threw me until Mr Biggs sorted it out.

simonmason.karoo.netpage473.htmOpen ↗

I said:

Better, though, is to have a long fork steerer in the
first place if you want adjustability. You could ask for
different forks.

ps. There is a limit to how high (above headset) you can go
with this. It depends on the steerer material (and
diameter?). Can be less than an inch with some carbons,
quite a bit more with aluminium, several inches (I
think) with steel. You'd need to consult manufacturer
to get the figures.

~PB

"McBain_v1" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What exactly are the advantages of the Ahead system meant
to be 😕

allen keys much easier to carry around than gert big headset
spanners. No tedious locknuts either. I find ahead sets much
easier to use than threaded.

Latest bike has one of them cartridge bearing thingys
(integrated headset?). Doesn't even need a press to install
it. This really appeals to the slacker in me.

cheers, clive

McBain_v1 said:

Pete Biggs said:

Jon said:

I am thinking of buying one of these (a 2003 model)
can the

aheadsetbe > > adjusted to raise the handlebars ( I am
unfamiliar with these) > Ahead stem can't be adjusted in
the conventional way. It clamps around > the outside of
the fork steerer instead of fitting inside it (and also

Quoted message said:

presses down on the headset instead of having a

threaded locknut). > Height can be alterered if the
steerer (bit of forks that sticks up > through frame) is
left long enough, then spacers can be fitted below and >
above the stem; 2mm spacers enable fine tuning.
Unfortunately, new bikes > are usually sold with
steerers that don't allow much/any scope for > height
adjustment. > However, differerent stems can easily be
fitted to provide different > amounts of rise (and
reach), or there are special extension devices. >
Better, though, is to have a long fork steerer in the
first place if you > want adjustability. You could ask
for different forks. > ~PB

Got to agree with everything that is said above ^

Makes me glad I don't have a frame with the Ahead
frameset, at least with my trusty quill stems I can [censored]
around with the height. If I want a trendy Ahead stem on
one of my bikes I just use my Cinelli Ahead adaptor 😄

What exactly are the advantages of the Ahead system
meant to be

Quoted message said:

confused:

That's always a difficult one to answer, because it's open
to debate and it's hard to stop thinking about the
disadvantages.....

advantages:
* Less weight in total (I think).
* Stiffer stem.
* Cheaper - this one is probably the real reason why
it's become popular (for the manufacturers). Stems and
headsets are cheaper because there's less to them;
forks don't have to be threaded so that saves time and
labour and stock management.
* Stems are cheaper to replace (in real terms compared
to what quill stems of equal quality used to cost).
* Stems can be flipped upside down to get a different
angle (can also be done when using converters).
* Less complicated to replace forks yourself - don't
have to worry about steerer length and how much of it
is threaded. Forks fit all frame sizes - just saw them
down yourself.
* No big/special spanners required to adjust headset
(just allen keys).
* Bar height is "digital" so you don't have to worry
about making stem markings/measurements. (Pretty minor
but I'm scraping the barrel searching for more points
here! ...but I do like this).

If bars can be set high enough (in other words if steerer is
long enough) then the only substantial disadvantage I can
think of is that it's more fiddly to adjust the height.
Adjustment is still possible, it's just that stem needs
removing and headset readjusting each time.

~PB

Jon said:

Also is it possible to fit long mudguards to this model
as my journey to work is down country lanes usually wet
and muddy.

I would expect so if there's enough tyre clearance. Can
someone who knows the 501 help Jon here?

[I'm repeating your question as it may have been forgotten
after all that business about ahead stems].

~PB

RE mudguards contacted Daews again they e-mailed me apparently a german
made SK mudguard may fit they do not supply direct.
Thanks for all your help.
"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jon said:

Also is it possible to fit long mudguards to this model
as my journey to work is down country lanes usually wet
and muddy.

I would expect so if there's enough tyre clearance. Can
someone who knows the 501 help Jon here?

[I'm repeating your question as it may have been forgotten
after all that business about ahead stems].

~PB