Within the early 1990’s, there weren’t practically as many obtainable touring bike fashions as there are right this moment. It was throughout this time that mountain bikes had been changing into mainstream and the picture of the tough and difficult off-road rider was attracting first-time cyclists to the game/exercise in a means that had by no means occurred earlier than.
On the time, the touring bicycle was on the reverse finish of the biking spectrum and hidden within the shadow of the mountain bike. The touring bike, due to this fact, was a minority buy.
For British cyclists within the 1990’s, there have been two predominant touring bikes to select from: The Raleigh Randonneur and the Dawes Galaxy. Each had been iconic touring bicycles with metal frames and forks, Brooks leather-based saddles, Continental tires, and paint jobs that might by no means exit of style. However right here we’re within the twenty first century: The Raleigh Randonneur is now not and Dawes now sells three completely different fashions of the Galaxy touring bike.
The query is… What makes the Dawes Galaxy such a preferred vendor? How does its design praise the long-distance bike owner? Does the Galaxy actually dwell as much as its status? And most significantly, must you buy one for your self?
What Makes The Dawes Galaxy Perfect For Bicycle Touring?
The Dawes Galaxy household, which right this moment contains the Galaxy, Tremendous Galaxy, and Extremely Galaxy, is a variety of off-the-peg touring bikes which might be prepared to make use of straight off the showroom flooring. Manufactured within the far east, however offered primarily within the UK, they arrive outfitted with rear carriers (also referred to as “racks”), mudguards (“fenders”), bottle cages and are fitted with a gaggle set that, even on the lowest value level, is able to dealing with any terrain. After buying a Galaxy for your self, simply add a set of panniers and also you’re able to hit the street!
Just like most touring bike fashions, Dawes makes use of metal framesets (frames) on their bicycles; Reynolds 631 butted tubing on the Galaxy and Tremendous Galaxy, and Reynolds 853 butted tubing on the Extremely Galaxy. Metal is an efficient alternative for touring bike fashions as a result of it offers riders a cushty but responsive trip with the bonus that working repairs are a chance if the worst had been to occur and your body had been to crack or break. ‘Butted’ merely signifies that the body tubes are thicker on the ends the place they’re welded collectively (which makes the weld stronger) and thinner within the center (which saves weight). When you faucet a butted tube along with your finger, for instance, the sound modifications as you progress from thick to skinny tubing.
Each frameset within the Galaxy vary has braze-on mountings for entrance and rear carriers, mudguards and water bottle cages. These ready-made fixing factors provide a safe dwelling for closely laden carriers and virtually the rest you would possibly prefer to bolt on. All fashions have two bottle cage fittings, with an possibility for an additional beneath the down tube – a useful place to place the gasoline to your cooking range.
A Tubus provider is fitted on the rear of every bicycle. These are tremendous high-quality racks usually solely seen as an aftermarket buy, however come included with every Galaxy mannequin.
The Galaxy’s chromoly entrance fork is able to settle for a entrance provider if crucial (however a entrance rack will not be included with every bike). That stated, anybody considering a self-supported tour could be clever to contemplate becoming entrance carriers as they not solely they allow you to carry extra gear, however they make the bike extra secure, and due to this fact simpler to trip.
Lastly, a pair of SKS full-length mudguards assist to maintain you and the bicycle clear.
The wheels, brakes and drive practice on the Dawes Galaxy are additionally designed with the lengthy haul in thoughts. After an excellent high quality body, all bikes profit from an excellent pair of wheels. With touring bikes, reliability is the general purpose of the wheel builder because the fatigue that heavy masses and tough roads carry to those elements is the touring bike owner’s biggest downside. Even the fundamental Galaxy has Shimano hubs, stainless-steel spokes and double wall alloy rims. In an effort to make the trip extra snug, and to supply a bit insurance coverage to the wheels, the bicycle’s tires are wider than what you discover on a standard street bike, which helps the bike to hold your additional weight and take in bumps within the street. Lastly, all three Galaxy fashions are outfitted with 700×32 Schwalbe Marathon tires. The Schwalbe Marathon is a well-liked alternative amongst long-distance riders due to their reliability and low put on charge.
The essential Galaxy has a Deore rear derailleur married to a pair of Dura Ace bar finish shifters, while each the Tremendous Galaxy and the Extremely Galaxy have Tiagra STI gear levers and upgraded entrance and rear derailleurs. The gear shifters mounted on the bars are nice for first time cyclo-tourists as a result of you may nonetheless management the bike whereas altering gear. One of many first surprises that newcomers get is how unwieldy a totally laden bike feels; leaving go of the handlebars is initially a really daunting maneuver.
All three Galaxy fashions have Shimano cantilever brakes and vast ratio chain units. Cantilever brakes derived from mountain bikes are the best alternative for a heavy bike, and naturally a variety of drugs ratios are welcome too. The Shimano chain units used on the Galaxy and Tremendous Galaxy have ratios of 48/36/26 and the 9 speeds rear cog is 11-32, giving a low gear of 21.5”, which ought to get you up any gradient. The Extremely Galaxy has an upgraded Sugino chain set with barely larger ratios.
Does The Galaxy Actually Come Tour Prepared?
As a result of these Galaxy touring bicycles come so effectively outfitted off the showroom flooring, they’re an ideal bike for a primary time long-distance cycle tour or as an improve for somebody who has tried cycle touring previously on a motorcycle that wasn’t as well-suited for the job. Even dedicated cyclo-tourists take into account the upper spec Galaxy fashions to be dream machines.
Whereas any bike can normally fulfill quite a lot of roles, the Galaxy has the potential to tackle most duties. Okay, it isn’t sensible as a mountain bike, however as a commuting bike it excels; snug, weatherproof, it could actually carry all of your purchasing or garments or laptop computer, and its not that gradual both.
The Galaxy touring bikes do come able to trip. You gained’t have to purchase pedals, a rear rack, bottle cages or mudguards. However remember that there are three completely different fashions within the vary and that the upper up within the vary you go, the higher these additional add-ons turn into. The Extremely Galaxy, for instance, has the best high quality body and the very best elements/tools.
To ensure that the Galaxy to really be tour prepared you’ll need to purchase panniers and a handlebar bag or a trailer. A set of lights could be a wise addition as effectively.
How Can You Buy A Dawes Galaxy?
Other than the USA, the place there’s a model of the identical title, Dawes has distributors in most international locations. If there isn’t one the place you reside, FreeFlow Bikes in Glasgow is the corporate’s predominant exporter.
Dawes additionally has quite a lot of specialist touring bike sellers all through Nice Britain who’re ready that will help you. There may be nothing like really sitting on the bike to see the way it suits, but when you already know what dimension bike you usually trip that can be a assist. {Most professional} outlets will ask an entire bunch of questions to make sure that you purchase the fitting dimension bike should you can’t be there in particular person.
Your new bike ought to come from the seller completely able to trip. If you’re receiving it within the mail, nonetheless, you’ll in all probability have to suit the pedals and switch the handlebars straight and modify their place.
How A lot Do Galaxy Touring Bikes Price?
In Nice Britain, these bikes promote for:
Dawes Galaxy – £1,199 GBP ($1,910 USD, €1,402 EUR)
Dawes Tremendous Galaxy – £1,399 GBP ($2,230 USD, €1,637 EUR)
Dawes Extremely Galaxy – £1,699 GBP ($2,707 USD, €1,988 EUR)
Do You Suggest The Dawes Galaxy?
Sure. The Dawes Galaxy, Tremendous Galaxy and Extremely Galaxy are reliable bicycles that can be utilized for commuting, touring and extra. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the worst and 10 being the very best, I’d charge the Galaxy line a strong 8. I personal two Galaxy bikes myself, my son has one, and I’d purchase one other sooner or later if I needed to.
Arthur Lamy is a tour information in Jersey, within the British Channel Islands, who makes a speciality of biking and strolling excursions. Among the many folks he has proven across the cycle-friendly island is five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault. He additionally writes articles, books and biking/strolling guides, along with writing a biking weblog for the native newspaper. For 30 years he ran a widely known native bike retailer.
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