Questions before I begin modifying my road bike

[nikilov]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum so first of all...hello, I am Max and hope to get to know you all. I am new to road bikes. Out of necessity I started riding a mountain bike to and from university and totally (and unexpectedly) fell in love with cycling in the process (I hadn't ridden a bike since I was a child). Having little funds but still desperately wanting to upgrade to a road bike, but not wanting to buy a cheap factory one, I began looking for an old steel one. I have just bought my first road bike which is a 1980s Dawes Galaxy. I am completely in love with it, it is so much nicer to ride than my mountain bike. I probably paid too much for it at £200 but it was in good condition, has suntour components and reynolds 531 tubing so its not too bad. Plus once you fall for a certain bike there's not much you can do.

As is the case with many vintage bikes it has down tube friction shifters. A quirk I was really looking forward to trying out. In all honesty after the last few weeks of daily riding I am not getting any happier with them, being as I am, much more acquainted with shifting from the handle bar. I have come off twice already due to my inability to properly work these things and I have decided I want a change. My intention is to buy a set of Shimano 105 levers and derailleur and convert it. I have seen some guides on the conversion and it seems fairly straightforward.

I'm getting a little confused about the nomenclature of the gearing however and I want to fully understand before I buy. A lot of the levers available are for "7 speed" bikes, by which they mean 7 rings at the back. My bike has five chain rings in the rear and two up front which as far as I'm concerned makes it a ten speed. However when looking for the components for this conversion should I try and find ten speed shift levers or five speed (which would be more consistent with the "7 speed" naming system as that seems to be based solely on rear chain rings)?

 

[oldcrank]

A moderator will probably move this to the Bikes&Gear
section of this forum, my friend, so don't be surprised.

Anyway, I had a mate that rode around the world on
a 1970's Dawes Galaxy and I think he would say you
made a wise purchase. Have you considered just
getting bar end shifters and not changing anything
else? http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/dia-compe-ene-w-bar-end-shifters.html
I'm pretty sure they would work, and if not,
someone will hopefully correct me.

 

[stutue]

That's what I was thinking..

I think a conversion to STI levers would be expensive as you'd probably need a new back wheel. Your bike is as least 30 years old. Will have a freewheel rather than a cassette.

 

[fatsprintking]

I would leave it as it is. I am really enjoying riding my old steel winter training hack with down tube shifters and 7 speed cassette. Its simple, tough, quiet and there is a little bit of zen in riding it. No one would want to steal it but it rocks for training in the rain, riding to work, going to the shops etc. With the Dawes I think you actually have a really cool bike. In a world of contrived coolness - something that you could get on and ride 500km without fuss is actually pretty cool.

As stated to change to integrated shifters you are going to have to change you your rear hub, and your derailleur, your chain and get a cassette. There is a bit of coin in that lot.

Me - Id book in a weekend. Give everything a good clean and then look up on youtube how to service old school hubs, bottom bracket end headsets. Do these, oil up your chain, pump tires up and get pedalling. Repeat the servicing stuff every 12 months and maybe shout yourself some new tires and tubes if it needs it along with some decent bar tape.

You might still be riding that sucker in 10 years time and it would be the best investment you ever made.

 

[Hawkwood]

Dawes Galaxy

I started my cycling career back in about 1973 on a Dawes Dalesman, nowhere near as good as a Galaxy, the latter was what I aspired to. Just to add to what others have already said, converting the bike to Shimano STI wouldn't be a straightforward task. Firstly I think the frame drop-out spacing back then was different to what it is now, this was changed to accommodate the increased number of sprockets we now have. The drop-outs could be cold set by someone who knows what they're doing. Then you'd need the STI levers, a new wheel, cassette, front and rear derailleurs, chain, and cable stops to put on the lever bosses. Also the pull ratio on the STI levers might not work very well with the centre pull brakes which I think are on the Galaxy. You might also need a new rear tyre and tube as the Dawes might well be 27 1/4, and not 700. So a big conversion job, and not cheap. Alternatively try the bar end levers already mentioned, and perhaps try a new chain and possibly freewheel as these might well improve shifting. Sun Tour equipment really was beautifully designed, it's a pity it lost out somewhat to its much bigger Japanese rival.

 

[stutue]

Frame spacing not an issue. Its likely 126mm, and modern road is 130mm. Because its a steel frame it would have enough flex.

Another issue is that it might have 27" wheels rather than 700c, in which case new wheels would probably mean changing the brakeset too.

What tends to happen with frames of this vintage is a conversion to single -speed or fixed, because of the horizontal dropouts its an easy thing to do.

Maybe save your pennies, and at a later date buy a modern bike (£800 will get you a corker!) And convert the Dawes to fixed.

Its not exactly that you'd be throwing good money after bad, its just you'd end up spending about another £250-300 on top of the initial £200 and still have a bike that is worth £200 (or less...you paid too much in the first place)

 

[winkybiker]

I'd leave it as is. You'll gain confidence with the down-tube shifters. Just ride it. It's a classic. You'll hang it on the wall one day.

If you are really hankering for a more modern set-up, the best value would be a newer bike. There are bargains to be had if you look around.

 

[stutue]

+1

Also if you are crashing when changing gear, check your position is balanced on the bike. Is the saddle level? If it is sloping forward you'll find steering difficult and riding no hands almost impossible.

 

[JayKosta]

Switching to 'bar end shifters' (or even stem-mounted) would be the easiest and least expensive solution. They are either 'plain friction', or 'ratcheting'. They work very similar to the downtube shifters, so you still need to move them 'just right' to get good shifts - but without having to reach down for the lever.

Modern 'indexed' shifting has made it much easier, because all that's needed is to 'click' the shifter and it makes the change. But changing your bike to use them would be a lot of work and expense (many parts need to be changed....).

The key to using downtube levers is to NOT look at them (or the chain, etc.) while making the shift. Get hold of the lever, and gently rotate it, while listening to the chain clicking and rubbing. When the chain does jump into position you'll feel it thru the pedals and the clicking will stop. Sometimes it is necessary to move the lever BACK just a touch to make all the clicking and rubbing stop (called trimming the shifter'.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[avanti]

If you go to bar mounted shifters who probably need a pair of these
http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/cad3.htm

Currently I'm deciding whether to upgrade my 1984 Raleigh to modern drive system or just renovate it to its original condition. (it has sat in my garage since 1984 and has just a few hundred miles on it).

Incidentally there are at least two members of my bike club who use down tube shifter (and the infamous Lance Armstrong used a DT shifter for his front derailleur).