Touring Bike Recomendations

Taz said:

Would it be worth me paying the extra £300 for the Super or
would'nt I notice the difference.

Facing a similar decision with similar criteria some 12 years ago, I
didn't bother with teh Super. I remain happy with my choice, but I'm
not sure how relevant that is to this years model!

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

Taz said:

I am thinking of upgrading my Dawes Kalahari to a full on tourer. I have
seen the Dawes Galaxy and Super Galaxy and drooled. I do evening, day and
the occasional weekend rides. It was while doing a weekend ride around
the
IOW into a strong headwind that I thought how nice a bike with drops
would
be. When I do weekend rides it is B+B and hostels so I wont be carrying
camping gear. Would it be worth me paying the extra £300 for the Super or
would'nt I notice the difference. As another thought, is there another
make
of bike with the same top componentry at a lower price.
TIA
TAZ

IMHO the Dawes Galaxy/Super Galaxy are both shadows of their former selves.
I understand that the build quality is nothing compared to its former
self, and I notice from the website that the current Galaxy frame is now
listed as being "quality aluminium" - personally I don't think this is an
inherently bad thing (the Cannondale T800 is a nice touring bike), but I
suspect it is being done as a further cost-cutting excercise rather than
something to improve the actual quality of the bike.

The Super Galaxy is a bit faster/lighter. Problem is, it's less like a
touring bike, too. A "proper" Super Galaxy was originally the Galaxy frame
(for many years thought of as the best touring frame money could buy) but
with slightly better components. True, the current one does have better
components than the galaxy, you don't get that much of an improvement for
a couple of hundred quid.

I thought about buying a complete Galaxy myself (see thread "A bike of
many hats"😉, but after looking at one and getting advice from several
local dealers (including a Dawes dealer, in case you were wondering)
wouldn't have one now. It makes me feel a bit sad to say that.

I have had a recommendation for Roberts cycles (cheers Mark!), their
website is

http://www.robertscycles.com/

and I would like to find out more about

http://www.merciancycles.com/

and

http://www.byercycles.co.uk/

but haven't ridden either and have only spoken to Mercian so far. A lot of
the Mercian options aren't really in the same price bracket as a Super
Galaxy either.

BTW, I'm selling my Galaxy frame at the mo - might it be something you're
interested in? Choose your own components, or take some from your current
steed - why be stuck with what Dawes is saying you ought to use? I'm not
looking for a huge amount of money, more interested in seeing it go to
someone who is going to enjoy and use it. )-:

Let me know how you get on.

Chris

--
|C|H|R|I|S|@|T|R|I|N|I|T|Y|W|I|L|L|S|.|C|O|M|
Remove the bars to contact me

Taz said:

I am thinking of upgrading my Dawes Kalahari to a full on tourer. I have
seen the Dawes Galaxy and Super Galaxy and drooled. I do evening, day and
the occasional weekend rides. It was while doing a weekend ride around the
IOW into a strong headwind that I thought how nice a bike with drops would
be. When I do weekend rides it is B+B and hostels so I wont be carrying
camping gear. Would it be worth me paying the extra £300 for the Super or
would'nt I notice the difference. As another thought, is there another make
of bike with the same top componentry at a lower price.
TIA TAZ

It has always been the case that the SG and G frames are the same, but
the components on the SG are from higher in the range. Latterly,
Dawes had a scheme where you could customise an SG but the G was
available off the shelf.

As far as I am aware, the frames are still the same.

I have had a Galaxy for a few years, the components work well, I am
happy.
--

Cheers,

Al

Chris Davies said:

I have had a recommendation for Roberts cycles (cheers Mark!), their
website is

http://www.robertscycles.com/

and I would like to find out more about

http://www.merciancycles.com/

and

http://www.byercycles.co.uk/

http://www.hewittbikefitting.co.uk/ would be another to check.

--
Best regards
Richard

http://www.ceresgames.co.uk/

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

Quoted message said:

I am thinking of upgrading my Dawes Kalahari to a full on tourer. I have
seen the Dawes Galaxy and Super Galaxy and drooled. I do evening, day and
the occasional weekend rides. It was while doing a weekend ride around the
IOW into a strong headwind that I thought how nice a bike with drops would
be. When I do weekend rides it is B+B and hostels so I wont be carrying
camping gear. Would it be worth me paying the extra £300 for the Super or
would'nt I notice the difference. As another thought, is there another make
of bike with the same top componentry at a lower price.
TIA TAZ

I have Galaxy Tour and it is excellent. Is built to carry gear and is
a bit sturdier than some.
Probably better value than anything else if you buy it at the discount
price - look in CTC mag and others, there is always someone offering
them at 'sale' price. I guess no-one buys them at the 'normal' price
unless they are impatient and have loadsamoney.
Don't know about the value of the 'Super' extras - if you can afford
it then try it perhaps.

cheers

Jacob

Richard Lucas said:

Chris Davies said:

I have had a recommendation for Roberts cycles (cheers Mark!), their
website is

http://www.robertscycles.com/

and I would like to find out more about

http://www.merciancycles.com/

and

http://www.byercycles.co.uk/

http://www.hewittbikefitting.co.uk/ would be another to check.

Cheers!

--
|C|H|R|I|S|@|T|R|I|N|I|T|Y|W|I|L|L|S|.|C|O|M|
Remove the bars to contact me

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

Quoted message said:

IMHO the Dawes Galaxy/Super Galaxy are both shadows of their former

selves.

Quoted message said:

I understand that the build quality is nothing compared to its former
self, and I notice from the website that the current Galaxy frame is now
listed as being "quality aluminium"

A quick look confirms the G & SG are good old Reynolds 531 while the Ultra G
is 853.

http://www.dawes-cycles.co.uk/bikes/ultragalaxy.html

Nowt wrong with ali. But steel is still the real deal!!

T

Just got my C+ today and there is a road test for the Dawes Super Galaxy in
it.

Regards, Bob

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

Quoted message said:

I am thinking of upgrading my Dawes Kalahari to a full on tourer. I have
seen the Dawes Galaxy and Super Galaxy and drooled. I do evening, day and
the occasional weekend rides. It was while doing a weekend ride around the
IOW into a strong headwind that I thought how nice a bike with drops would
be. When I do weekend rides it is B+B and hostels so I wont be carrying
camping gear. Would it be worth me paying the extra £300 for the Super or
would'nt I notice the difference. As another thought, is there another

make

Quoted message said:

of bike with the same top componentry at a lower price.
TIA TAZ

Oooops. It's actually a Dawes Ultra Galaxy

Regards, Bob

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

Quoted message said:

I am thinking of upgrading my Dawes Kalahari to a full on tourer. I have
seen the Dawes Galaxy and Super Galaxy and drooled. I do evening, day and
the occasional weekend rides. It was while doing a weekend ride around the
IOW into a strong headwind that I thought how nice a bike with drops would
be. When I do weekend rides it is B+B and hostels so I wont be carrying
camping gear. Would it be worth me paying the extra £300 for the Super or
would'nt I notice the difference. As another thought, is there another

make

Quoted message said:

of bike with the same top componentry at a lower price.
TIA TAZ

Chris Davies said:

and I would like to find out more about

http://www.merciancycles.com/

One of my clubmates has a Mercian and it is gorgeous. If you are lucky
and you get the head honcho building your bike rather than one of the
lackeys you get the added bonus of beautifully ornate lugs on the frame
joints.

d.

davek said:

If you are lucky
and you get the head honcho building your bike rather than one of the
lackeys you get the added bonus of beautifully ornate lugs on the
frame joints.

Doesn't matter who builds the bike... if you want the lugs, you can have
them! They come as standard on the Vincitore frames.

Regards,

Pete.

Tony W said:

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

Quoted message said:

IMHO the Dawes Galaxy/Super Galaxy are both shadows of their former

selves.

Quoted message said:

I understand that the build quality is nothing compared to its former
self, and I notice from the website that the current Galaxy frame is now
listed as being "quality aluminium"

A quick look confirms the G & SG are good old Reynolds 531 while the
Ultra G
is 853.

http://www.dawes-cycles.co.uk/bikes/ultragalaxy.html

Nowt wrong with ali. But steel is still the real deal!!

T

Isn't that curious. It's 531 or quality aluminium depending on what
browser you're using:

http://www.dawes-cycles.co.uk/galaxy.asp

To be fair it doesn't look like ali in the pictures. Hope it is 531, Dawes
- if so all is forgiven! (;
Although I have been told by a couple of members of staff in bike
dealerships that the quality of the frames isn't what it has been in the
past.

Chris
--
|C|H|R|I|S|@|T|R|I|N|I|T|Y|W|I|L|L|S|.|C|O|M|
Remove the bars to contact me

Taz said:

I am thinking of upgrading my Dawes Kalahari to a full on tourer. I hav=

e

Quoted message said:

seen the Dawes Galaxy and Super Galaxy and drooled.

Sounds familiar. I used to aspire to one of those very machines.

Quoted message said:

I do evening, day and
the occasional weekend rides. It was while doing a weekend ride around =

the

Quoted message said:

IOW into a strong headwind that I thought how nice a bike with drops wo=

uld

Quoted message said:

be. When I do weekend rides it is B+B and hostels so I wont be carrying=

Quoted message said:

camping gear. Would it be worth me paying the extra =A3300 for the Supe=

r or

Quoted message said:

would'nt I notice the difference. As another thought, is there another =

make

Quoted message said:

of bike with the same top componentry at a lower price.

Actually rather more expensive still, but my ultimate choice for a=20
full-on tourer was a recumbent, the HP Velotechnik Streetmachine GT (see =

http://kinetics.org.uk/html/streetmachine.shtml). It's much better=20
into a headwind than drops (or at least if you're in a position to=20
actually pedal at the same time for more than a few minutes), and is an=20
order of magnitude more comfortable. Just did a week long tour on mine=20
with 300 miles including plenty of off-road tracks, no contrived padded=20
clothing and no discomfort in my backside, arms, wrists, neck or back at =

all.
The Streetmachine will do really full-on touring, carrying very heavy=20
loads and with the lowriders under the rider and between the wheels the=20
handling is much less affected by weights than a trad tourer. But if=20
you don't need the camping gear and are happy with two panniers there's=20
a bigger choice of tour compatible bikes. Staring with the HP Vel=20
Grasshopper and Speedmachines (see the pages for those at the Kinetics=20
site), and plenty from other 'bentmongers (Roos rides a Nazca Fiero=20
Tour, which is quite a bit lower than mine but with recumbent specific=20
panniers still carries 55 litres of luggage before you start strapping=20
stuff to the rack).

If you have the extra money and don't mind being a bit different I think =

they make for genuinely superior tourers. They are much, much more=20
comfortable and give you a better view of where you're going than a drop =

bar upright, where the default view is the road just in front.=20
Componentry is actually mainly quite standard, so there aren't=20
particular fears about getting stranded on a tour with no chance of fixin=
g.

Like I said, I used to aspire to a G or Super G, but now there is no=20
upright tourer on the planet (custom builds notwhitstanding) that I=20
would sooner do a long touring ride on than my own bike. If you like=20
relaxed riding over distances you can't do much better. Caveat on any=20
'bent is try before you buy to make sure the seat and ride position suit =

you well. Fortunately shops that sell them generally have demo models=20
in stock you can try.

Pete.
--=20
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/