3speedslow

Might be, hard to tell if it is a Galaxy model. My take, it's not.

3speedslow

You're right about that. Did not think they would revamp the Galaxy model that much. I see no decals denoting the name where they usually are.

quite the story about dropping the old headbadge cause their factory burned down, huh?

loss of all records though.

Bulgiers might have a 77 cat to look at.

Lazyass

Ah, you're right. It could be a pacific blue Echelon?

3speedslow

Interesting possibility. Hope it does not become like one of mine, never to be identified, but loved when I ride it.

Did is the ad one have a braze on brake bridge ?

oddjob2

At last, finished and ready to ride. Fully overhauled, alloy wheelset with Suze hubs via a Holdsworth Cyclone to replace chrome rims, Suntour barcons, Suntour Cyclone FD & RD(replacing Delrin Simplex), Weinmann levers without turkey wing levers, new alloy seat post to replace the chromed steel post. Brooks Narrow came with the $56 ebay local pickup. Need to order longer TC straps. Based on a quick round the block, I think I like the ride quality of my Raleigh SC MK II better. Maiden voyage later today down to the gym.






Seller's Photo

ElTejon

Here is my early 70s (I assume) yellow and blue Galaxy, with new cranks, shifters, derailleurs, pedals, and brakes (the original centerpulls were in good shape, but these dual pivot brakes work much, much better, and it's hilly around here). All the rest of it is original. Got it off Craig's List and once I got going on the drivetrain I kind of kept going. The stock crankset was way too high for hills, and this IRD 46-30 crank is awesome. Also added long cage to the Campy rear derailleur, and it works much better with the 28 cog in back. This is a great riding bike, like a Cadillac. I love the paint scheme and the name "Galaxy" has to be one of the all time great bike names. Now if I could only get my hands on an old Realm Rider ...

3speedslow

Most excellent!

Love that build, it looks so stately. I think you are correct with the early 70 estimation. I was wondering if I was going to use a Carradice bag with mine or go with a Cannondale bar bag, guess I know which now. Carradice always goes well with a Brooks.

Same colour paint I have on mine though yours is in much better shape. I have those cool end caps on the bars but with be switching out to GB rando bars with Suntour barcons. I will miss those caps!

Bar tape fits right in with the blue bands around the seat tube, I chose that as well.
Drive train is Suntour but crank is TA cyclotourist. The IRD crank looks right at home on your Dawes.

Enjoy the riding, they are smooth.

ElTejon

Thanks! Post some pictures of your Galaxy if you have time. Do you have any information on when the Galaxy was made in the yellow/blue paint? Mostly I see the green and some brown ones.

3speedslow

Sorry for the late get back. Info about models were all lost when the records burned in the factory fire.

Yellow does not seem to be a common colour. Mine is in the active build rotation now with the before mentioned GB bar change.

Dang! Pic file fail again.

cmouzakitis

Bumping this for the 1/8" bearings for the funky TDC headset - at least 50 total for top and bottom --as reading this 2 days ago would have saved me a ton of headache in trying to use the 5/32 bearings that one of the newer (by like a year) TDC ads I was referencing said were the size. 1/8 all the way!

Has anybody noted that the grooved part of the fork (which accepts the keyed washer) is opposite normal forks (i.e. the groove in the fork faces forwards rather than at the rider)?

This complicates the use of a new headset-mounted front cable hanger (housing stop).

I'm noticing this on my 60s/early-70s Galaxy which I got for free as a bare frame/fork/headset without the original cable hanger.

SurferRosa

I refurb'd this '77 a while back.



Thought it was really pretty. Had the coolest Dawes bar end plugs that matched the hoods.

Rather flexy in the rear when mashing up hills, though.

3speedslow

I have the caps as well, very cool. That’s awesome you have the matching hoods! Rare items I think.

JJScaliger

Grocery store
I commuted to work today and stopped at Dave's Market on the way home. Someone came up to me and said, "That bike is a classic!" I think the Brook saddle probably made him say that, but it made me feel pretty good about a short ride.

KCC74

Know your post is very old but I have a 70s Dawes I'm refurbishing and need the Dawes & Galaxy decals. Can you remember how/where you got them?

Please & Thanks.
KCC

nlerner

Yeah, that was a long time ago! I don't believe I replaced the decals on that one or the one or two other Dawes bikes that have come through the fleet. Best to check with the usual decal vendors:

https://h-lloyd-cycles.myshopify.com/
https://velocals.com/

swampyankee2

Adding to this zombie thread since it called for info to compile year info. I'll post my Galaxy, which I believe to be all original, Allegedly hung on the wall of someone's garage for 25 years, then bought and kept, not ridden for another 10 years by the guy I bought it from. Circa '72 by the date on the Simplex Prestige rear derailleur. Original equipment includes the Brooks BN5 saddle, Simplex system, Weimann center-pull brakes with "safety levers" (soon to go), stub fenders, steel seat post, 27" aluminum rims with Sunshine wide flange hubs. So far, my only planned upgrades other than bringing maintenance up to date will be better quality-but period correct front and rear derailleurs, and adding a set of full fenders to make it a tourer.

I took many closeup pics showing decals, torch headbadge, hardware, etc. if anyone cares to see them for their own research.

steve21108

I just came into a very similar Dawes Galaxy. It has Pelissier hubs, Lycett L'Avenir leather seat, Frame is very small, likely a 19". Crankset is a Nervar cottered, which I will be salvaging.

Shop sticker on the down tube is Dick Sonne Bicycles, and old shop near Utica, NY. (According to an Google search.)

EVlove

Not sure this is the right thread as mine is (probably) from 1984 but this seemed like the best and most recently active thread in a forum search. Bought a Super Galaxy semi-locally from FB today, seller got it at Dawes US headquarters in CT back then. It was toured heavily and then put away for the last 15 years or so. Several original components long gone but I do have the Brooks saddle and the rear rack, missing in the photo. Not planning any long tours but who knows. Primary usage will be short exercise rides on our "lovely" roads around here that are no joy with the Bianchi on 23c tires. Managed to get a quick test ride in today, in between downpours, loving it even though at 25 in. it's technically at least one size too large for me.

Photo may not show, bear with me, still a newbie around here.

EDIT: Photo is in my album. Two copies in fact, somehow. I'm sorry but this seems more complicated than it needs to be.

EVlove

Please let me know if you're not planning to keep the stub fenders, I'd love to try them on mine which for the moment will not see more than short exercise rides.

swampyankee2

Since I originally posted that, I actually gave those fenders to a fellow Dawes owner on the Bike Forum. Here's the bike in its current state. Still haven't wrapped those bars. LOL

EVlove

Ah bummer. Well, if anybody has a pair of those, hit me up. I know they're not terribly useful but I actually like the look, somehow reminds me of a Lotus Seven.

So, exciting news, that new-to-me Super G must be a good bit older than the seller remembered, because by 1984 the frame had cable guides and bottle threads, and didn't come in black, either. The hubs have 1980 date codes so I suppose it's a 1981 model year at the latest.

EVlove

OK now for some photos. I'll spare you the goriest bit of previous owner ingenuity (that would be the bottle cage attached with one (!) oversized automotive hose clamp, free end ready to slash the rider's calf) but some of you may still want to avert your eyes. I should admit that I know nothing about the realities of long distance touring, I guess it was hung up in the garage right after a trip and not looked again until the moving sale. Mechanically it works surprisingly well as-is, except for one broken spoke.




Original Suntour shifters...


...and Cyclone FD, but the drilled Stronglight crank is long gone. Deore LX with 48-38-28 rings, with the small ring locked out because of...


...this short cage ST Edge doing RD duty. WTH? However, I have a V-GT Luxe I can put there, and the move the Edge to the Bianchi.


Now, I'm far from the most experienced bike mechanic but this, this just ain't right


Why would you even?? I managed to straighten the right hand adjuster but the left one was bent too far and broke. Please tell me these are a reasonably common screw thread.

EVlove

The freewheel is a Sachs 6 speed, 13 to 32. Looks serviceable to me but I'll have my LBS take a look-see when they fix the spoke, I don't fancy my chances of getting the freewheel off.

It came with a Brooks B.17 saddle but I'm not sure it can be saved. Piggybacking someone else's saddle restoration thread here in C+V to find out.

EVlove

I fitted the V-GT Luxe RD, clips and straps, a fresh pair of tires (Sunlite Hybrid V-Track, which is really a Kenda and embossed as such) and a new SRAM 8-speed chain, fettled a bit, and went off on a 32mi/50K today. My longest ride ever if you can believe it, and I'm 55. Well, the Super G got me to mile 20 before I broke another spoke, but that's my own fault, I shouldn't have trusted the old spokes. My wife in the "team car" arrived with the Zizzo folder in the trunk and I was able to complete the ride. Excuse the left side pic and the very improvised bag setup; I haven't even gotten around to re-fitting a bottle cage. I'm really enjoying the bike and it's going to be my winter project--including a fresh set of spokes!