dynne

I picked up a "Team Dawes" bike at my local thrift shop. It's a tiny little thing with 24" wheels that I'll have to special order replacements for.

It features Reynolds 500 Tubing(not a typo), the drive train is Sachs Huret, with downtube shifters, which I rarely see, but understand was decent in it's day.

The bike was not coated, so the decals are splintering off at points, but it does have one sticker that says hand-built, and supposedly in England, but so many of the components are french. It has Sachs Huret downtube shifters, 5 spd sachs huret cassette, and has a weinmann braking system, but all of a style and quality superior to most of the junk I come across. Fenders and brake pads also indicate little use.

Supposedly Dawes didn't have a racing team, and if they did, why would they make a racing model with 24" wheels? Is it possible to throw on 26" and remove the fenders so it rides for an adult?

I was hoping to get some history and information on it. It just doesn't add up.

I have attached some bad quality pictures, and there's a serial # I can provide if necessary, but I can't find a Dawes database.

All positive input is appreciated. Thanks everyone.


https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0861.jpg
https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0864.jpg
https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0868.jpg
https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0869.jpg
https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0871.jpg
https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0866.jpg

rhm

That's a kid's bike, and a pretty nice one, but not a professional racing bike. Just the thing for a small but ambitious rider; I have one of those (the rider) and wish I could find the right bike for her.

I've heard that sometimes you can fit 26" wheels --mountain bike wheels-- on a bike made for 24" wheels. You might want to give that a try.

Dawes was English, and this bike is from a period --late 70's-- when derailleurs etc were no longer being made in England. That's why you have French derailleurs, Swiss brakes, Japanese cranks, and so on. Perfectly normal.

dynne

Thanks so much for the advice.

Yes, the 24" wheels were sort of a tip-off that it wasn't pro racing built.
I don't know any kids that would appreciate a bike like this. It seems the tough look of mountain bikes is preferred. Perhaps a lady on the smaller side would be a happy fit.

Scooper

Reynolds 500 is a non-butted (straight gauge) version of 501 chromoly.

Vomer

There was a period of time when it was required to have 24" inch wheels for kids racing. So it very well might have been a racing bike, just for a 12 year old, not a pro. My girlfriend is tiny and I ended up getting her a similar bike. The 26" inch wheels will fit on the frame, however they probably wont fit with the fenders, and you might have to replace the brakes. I am currently putting a pair of 26" inch wheels on her bike, simply because its impossible to find decent road tires for a 24" inch wheel.

ftwelder

There is a 24" wheeled Peugeot Mixte locally. Cute 'lil thing.

You can certainly get racing tubulars in that size range. I think it's a 600

dynne

I can say with some confidence that there is no way a 26" will fit with fenders. I have an extra set of long-reach calipers that should fit if I could get a 26" to squeeze in, but I feel like I should leave that option for whomever owns it next. Which will likely be a smaller person with a taste for vintage somewhere in greater Boston.

You guys rock so hard.

unterhausen

there used to be a fairly active kids racing class that required 24" wheels. Most of the bikes were French. Those bikes all had tubular tires.

dynne

Young people used to actually ride their bikes? When I was a lad, not too long ago, most kids just had mountain bikes sitting on the lawn or in a garage. Anyone who raced was on a dirtbike.

Okay so I guess I have to ask the dirty question now, what would you estimate this is worth? This seems like an interesting bike, at least somewhat collectible.

ftwelder

In it's current condition I would want to pay $40.00. and would go to $75.00 and would forever regret walking away if you wanted more. If I bought it to sell and put the labor in to really making it sweet, I would ask $400 and hope to recover $300. I am pretty new at this and really have no idea what it would go for. I have noticed that, and have no idea why, the experienced people won't offer an opinion on the more rare items.

I have a nephew that has had a hard life and would ride the wheels off this thing. PM sent.

I built this DH bike for my son when he was nine

greengage

There's another Dawes for sale on the Boston CL, weirdly posted under Sporting Goods not Bikes. https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/spo/1834458795.html

dynne

I saw that listing, looks pretty decent to me.