My Dawes SST-AL
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My Dawes SST-AL
All,
I wanted to follow-up from previous threads and post a couple of pics of my Dawes SST-AL. I was choosing between this bike and the stripper/Kilo. What won me over was the carbon fork, aluminum frame and slightly more "relaxed" geo.
Special thanks to Mike @ BD, Scrudzilla and others for helping me with all the questions I had.
Here are some details about the bike:
- 52cm
- Everything is stock except: risers, grips and cane creek cross levers.
- Also added Vittoria's 700x28c to them (the ride seems more comfortable)
- I added my toe cages which are not seen in this pic
- converted to single speed (came with freewheel and also came fixed)
- I've also removed the reflectors on the wheels
Question to the group:
- what should I do next / upgrade?
- Any criticism/thoughts on the bike itself?
The bike rides real smooth.
Mike @BD - if you come out with this bike with no decals I will be soooo sad.
If anyone has any questions - don't hesitate to ask. Let me know.
Cheers,
CD
I wanted to follow-up from previous threads and post a couple of pics of my Dawes SST-AL. I was choosing between this bike and the stripper/Kilo. What won me over was the carbon fork, aluminum frame and slightly more "relaxed" geo.
Special thanks to Mike @ BD, Scrudzilla and others for helping me with all the questions I had.
Here are some details about the bike:
- 52cm
- Everything is stock except: risers, grips and cane creek cross levers.
- Also added Vittoria's 700x28c to them (the ride seems more comfortable)
- I added my toe cages which are not seen in this pic
- converted to single speed (came with freewheel and also came fixed)
- I've also removed the reflectors on the wheels
Question to the group:
- what should I do next / upgrade?
- Any criticism/thoughts on the bike itself?
The bike rides real smooth.
Mike @BD - if you come out with this bike with no decals I will be soooo sad.
If anyone has any questions - don't hesitate to ask. Let me know.
Cheers,
CD
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I have been looking in to this bike the last few days. Seems like not many reviews on it. The one thing that people have been saying is that the ride might be stiff due to the aluminum frame. Do you notice that?
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I rode other steel frames in the past (lager) - the ride if stiffer is stiffer by just a bit (from what I can tell.)
The ride was stiffer on the original tires that came with the bike - they were 25c's.
The carbon fork if anything seems to absorb shock better. Call me crazy. I live in NYC and ride around the city there as well.
Regards,
CD
The ride was stiffer on the original tires that came with the bike - they were 25c's.
The carbon fork if anything seems to absorb shock better. Call me crazy. I live in NYC and ride around the city there as well.
Regards,
CD
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This bike just doesn't get alot of coverage for some reason.
I think if you go through all the threads, you'll hear many argue that this is arguably one of the best deals on BD, which are deals to begin with.
This bike also comes with a free wheel. Mike at BD is amazing. Ask him questions and he will be patient with you. He was of great help.
Good luck.
CD
I think if you go through all the threads, you'll hear many argue that this is arguably one of the best deals on BD, which are deals to begin with.
This bike also comes with a free wheel. Mike at BD is amazing. Ask him questions and he will be patient with you. He was of great help.
Good luck.
CD
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is it much lighter than a kilo? i expect it would be, but the numbers i heard have been close.
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bike looks good, just a quick question though, after you installed 28s how much room is left to go bigger? I like this frame a little better than the WT but the selling point would be if it would fit up to a 32c tire. I know the previous model with the chromo fork could fit something larger but since the carbon fork upgrade I have no idea.
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I've had mine for over a year now. It's been a great bike. I wish BD had offered the CF fork when I purchased mine.
So far, I've:
1. Stripped the clear coat and removed all decals and polished the aluminum frame
2. Swapped out the stock drops (they're crappy) for a Profile T2 bullhorn.
3. Swapped stock wheels/tires for a set of dp18's. I may polish the front wheel in the future. The rear one was a pita to do and i'm not looking forward to doing anymore in the near future.
4. water cage.
Surprisingly, the stock seats are pretty comfortable. I'll replace it when it starts wearing out.
So far, I've:
1. Stripped the clear coat and removed all decals and polished the aluminum frame
2. Swapped out the stock drops (they're crappy) for a Profile T2 bullhorn.
3. Swapped stock wheels/tires for a set of dp18's. I may polish the front wheel in the future. The rear one was a pita to do and i'm not looking forward to doing anymore in the near future.
4. water cage.
Surprisingly, the stock seats are pretty comfortable. I'll replace it when it starts wearing out.
#9
Your cog is slipping.
Hey chief - your bike is coming along really nicely. Glad I was able ro help out a bit. As far as other upgrades go, I wouldn't rush right into it. Wait until stuff nweds replacing, do your research and upgrade when necessary. Your wallet (and bike) will thank you in the end.
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Hey Rivets, how did you manage to remove the clear coat and the decals? Can you tell me the things you used and your step by step, would love to remove the decals off of my dawes.
I have a Dawes Lighting 1000, which i converted into SS. It weighs a little under 19lbs and i quite like it. The geo is a bit relaxed and handles well during my commute.
The crank i have currently is a origin8 (not pictured). Gear inch of 84 or something like that (46x14).
I have a Dawes Lighting 1000, which i converted into SS. It weighs a little under 19lbs and i quite like it. The geo is a bit relaxed and handles well during my commute.
The crank i have currently is a origin8 (not pictured). Gear inch of 84 or something like that (46x14).
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The DP18 was done using the same process except I used "Eazy Off Oven cleaner" instead of the aircraft stripper.
I may clear coat it in the future but I'm simply too lazy right now.
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Hey chief - your bike is coming along really nicely. Glad I was able ro help out a bit. As far as other upgrades go, I wouldn't rush right into it. Wait until stuff nweds replacing, do your research and upgrade when necessary. Your wallet (and bike) will thank you in the end.
Ya, I am holding off until my gear starts to wear out. Thanks for the tip
Now I need to get comfortable cranking up the mileage for a 1/2 century or something like that.
Regards,
CD
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Will come with time!
Is it bad that I didn't bike to work today because there's a chance of rain?
haha.
#21
Your cog is slipping.
I ended up riding though, you big wuss!
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I was caught in a random thunder/lightning storm a few months back, and it sucked.
I thought it was just raining really hard, so I thought it was not a big deal. Yeah, no. Lightning struck, then thunder roared immediately, literally shaking everything around me. Car alarms started going off. Worst time to ride home, ever.
I thought it was just raining really hard, so I thought it was not a big deal. Yeah, no. Lightning struck, then thunder roared immediately, literally shaking everything around me. Car alarms started going off. Worst time to ride home, ever.
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I was caught in a random thunder/lightning storm a few months back, and it sucked.
I thought it was just raining really hard, so I thought it was not a big deal. Yeah, no. Lightning struck, then thunder roared immediately, literally shaking everything around me. Car alarms started going off. Worst time to ride home, ever.
I thought it was just raining really hard, so I thought it was not a big deal. Yeah, no. Lightning struck, then thunder roared immediately, literally shaking everything around me. Car alarms started going off. Worst time to ride home, ever.
(jokes )