Dawes Horizon for £360

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

Quoted message said:

The aluminium frame. I've been told the steel version is less
comfortable.

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s21p437

I like.

Spindrift - you are in Norfolk? If you are thinking of buying a bike
off-the-shelf as opposed to a custom-build, have a look in Pedal Revolution
(next door to Labour Party offices of Charles Clarke & Ian Gibson) - they
have a good range of models and good prices. I got a Bianchi there for £300
less than I'd seen it on the web. For custom build-ups from parts of your
specification, and for repairs/maintenance/bits & bobs, Specialised Cycles
in Connaught Road is the best place.

Cheers, helen s

Thanks helen.

Is the shop near the YMCA? Opposite the second hand bookshop?

Last time I was in there I took a crappy bike with me that I found ina
house that I was clearing out on Alexandra Road. The bike shop sais it
was irreperable so I left it outside the YMCA. Then I got a call from
the tenant, asking where his bike was...

spindrift said:

The aluminium frame. I've been told the steel version is less
comfortable.

They weren't trying to sell you an aluminium one, by any chance, as the
steel one is no longer made? (more likely because it is cheaper to make
an ally frame than a steel one than any difference in comfort). A friend
of mine has the steel one - it has no lack of comfort. The only thing it
was a bit short on was front braking power, but new pads, straddle cable
and a brake booster has sorted that. The tyres weren't up to much
either, but the rest of it wasn't bad for the money.

JimP
--
Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to
grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after
all. - DNA

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

Quoted message said:

Thanks helen.

Is the shop near the YMCA? Opposite the second hand bookshop?

Last time I was in there I took a crappy bike with me that I found ina
house that I was clearing out on Alexandra Road. The bike shop sais it
was irreperable so I left it outside the YMCA. Then I got a call from
the tenant, asking where his bike was...

If this is pedal Revolution you mean, it's on Bethel Street, same side &
almost next door to the Labour Paty office.

Cheers, helen s

" it has no lack of comfort."

Really?

I'm ready to be guided but a cycling mate sucked his teeth and muttered
darkly about Eastern Europe when I mentioned the steel frame.

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

Quoted message said:

" it has no lack of comfort."

Really?

I'm ready to be guided but a cycling mate sucked his teeth and muttered
darkly about Eastern Europe when I mentioned the steel frame.

Unless it's a cheapo- supermarket model, there's little difference in
comfort between steel & aluminium - I've ridden both. What does make a
difference to comfort in riding on road is getting a bike that fits
properly, a properly fitting saddle and carbon front forks. I've got two
Bianchis - one has 'normal' steel forks and the other carbon forks. The
carbon forks are *noticeably* more comfortable. Steel can rust - aluminium
doesn't.

Cheers, helen s

spindrift said:

The aluminium frame. I've been told the steel version is less
comfortable.

One of the traditional myths of cycling is that Al gives a harsh
ride and steel a smoother one, I've not heard it that way around
before. For most cases I think most people would be very hard
pressed to draw much of a line between them if all else is equal.

The older steel Horizon, IIRC, doesn't have the compact frame (a
pal has one and I believe she finds it very comfortable). Compacts
fit a bigger range of riders in a given frame size so if you're
looking at old models in limited sizes that may have a bearing on
it, but frankly I think you're being sold in a line in unfounded
gut-feeling or "we've got these aluminium ones to get rid of".

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

spindrift said:

" it has no lack of comfort."

Really?

Yes, really. Its a touring bike, its designed to be comfortable. I've
ridden one, and I find it so.

Quoted message said:

I'm ready to be guided but a cycling mate sucked his teeth and muttered
darkly about Eastern Europe when I mentioned the steel frame.

There is no correct answer to "which is more comfortable" between steel
and aluminium, as there are other things about the design of a bike
which have much greater effect (like 37mm tyres on the Horizon). The
design of an aluminium frame needs to allow for the fact that aluminium
does not have anywhere near as long a fatigue life as steel, and so
flexy aluminium frames will fail unexpectedly, and on average sooner
than a similar flex of steel frame. This is what leads people to use the
phrase "harsh alloy frame". The steel Dawes Horizon frame may have been
fabricated in Eastern Europe, but its made out of Reynolds 520, and
appears to be made very well considering the price of the bike (which
would be a lot more if it had been made to the same standard in this
country). Does it concern you or your friend where the aluminium Horizon
frame is made, because it is almost certainly made by the cheapest
supplier Dawes could find given the price point of the bike.

Personally, I'm looking forward to frames being made out of Reynolds 953
which is not going to be cheap, but should be long lasting (its
described as a stainless steel) and, if built as a touring frame, very
comfortable.

JimP

--
Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to
grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after
all. - DNA

Peter Clinch said:

The older steel Horizon, IIRC, doesn't have the compact frame (a pal has
one and I believe she finds it very comfortable).

My pal who has one has a compact framed steel one. They only made them
that way briefly before going aluminium.

JimP

--
Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to
grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after
all. - DNA

Thank you, interesting stuff.

I'm six foot so from the above I'm tempted to go for the 53cm steel
frame and maybe replace the tyres with Schwalbe Marathon Plus and a
wider saddle and front panniers, rear come with the bike.

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

Quoted message said:

Thank you, interesting stuff.

I'm six foot so from the above I'm tempted to go for the 53cm steel
frame and maybe replace the tyres with Schwalbe Marathon Plus and a
wider saddle and front panniers, rear come with the bike.

Have you actually tried the 53cm for size, test riding it and it fits? The
reason I ask is that my offspring is not that tall (yet) and he rides a 56cm
Cervelo and a 57cm Peugeot

Cheers, helen s

wafflycat said:

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

Quoted message said:

Thank you, interesting stuff.

I'm six foot so from the above I'm tempted to go for the 53cm steel
frame and maybe replace the tyres with Schwalbe Marathon Plus and a
wider saddle and front panniers, rear come with the bike.

Have you actually tried the 53cm for size, test riding it and it
fits? The reason I ask is that my offspring is not that tall (yet)
and he rides a 56cm Cervelo and a 57cm Peugeot

Like all things, it depends on the rest of the bike (*length* of frame, seat
pin, etc), and the shape of rider.

My custom-built audax bike, with a compact frame, is 52cm (centre bottom
bracket to centre top-tube at seat-post).
My classic tourer, with a horizontal top-tube, is 60cm.

Both fit well, but that's due to the lengths being OK, the stems, the seat
pins, etc..

I wouldn't expect Spa Cycles to try to sell a turkey. In my dealings with
them, they've been one of the most helpful mail-order places I've found
(obscure bits dug out and sent on approval to fit old obscure bikes, etc),
and they seem to understand touring bikes, rather than just selling Mountain
Bikes and Race replicas. However, I'd be very reluctant to buy any bike by
mail order rather than checking it for size carefully; length is as
important as height.

- Nigel (6ft, long legs, long arms, short torso).

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Upon the miasma of midnight, a darkling spirit identified as spindrift
<[email hidden]> gently breathed:

Quoted message said:

Thank you, interesting stuff.

I'm six foot so from the above I'm tempted to go for the 53cm steel
frame and maybe replace the tyres with Schwalbe Marathon Plus and a
wider saddle and front panniers, rear come with the bike.

I'm 6' too, I rode a friends Dawes Galaxy a few years ago and it was a
supremely comfortable bike. The only thing I've ridden which beat it was
the Gazelle I test-rode in York a month or so back (and can't wait for
mine to arrive, just a month to go!). I'd certainly consider a Dawes
bike, esp at that price, as they clearly know what they are doing.

--
- DJ Pyromancer, The Sunday Goth Social, Leeds. <http://www.sheepish.net>

Broadband, Dialup, Domains = <http://www.wytches.net> = The UK's Pagan ISP!
<http://www.inkubus-sukkubus.co.uk> <http://www.revival.stormshadow.com>

I could test ride a 53cm tourer from Evans, if they do that model. My
old tourer was a Peugeot Savoie (sp?) but some GIT nicked it.

The new one will be used for a trans-Pyrenean and then commuting. Spa
cycles were really helpful when I emailed them.

spindrift said:

The aluminium frame. I've been told the steel version is less
comfortable.
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s21p437

I don't know if this is any help to you...

http://www.cycle-promotions.co.uk/touring.htm

They have the `compact' steel Reynolds 520 Dawes Horizon for GBP 299.

--
Callaghan