Dawes Giro Rebuild

[willie]

Some of the more observant members may have already noticed that I was lurking in the Buy&Sell section again, and scooped up Davy's Dawes Giro.

Decided to start a thread to post a few pics to as I tinker at the rebuild. It'll be a bit of a long winded one, but at least it'll let Davy watch progress if nothing else.

Here it is as I lifted it from Davy McC.





This is what he described as "Frame and Fork", so I was well pleased when I saw it, and felt a bit guilty that he wouldn't take any money for it...all it needed was a set of wheels to be ridable.

Stripped it down to frame and fork and stored all the bits in my trusty parts basin.





I had initally been thinking of making it into a bit of a TT bike with a set of aero bars...but I'm changing my mind. With my TT ability, I doubt it'd get the use. Now thinking to build it as a winter road bike with crud catchers, and that'll justify me upgrading my TCR to dry weather only use.

Any suggestions on colour & colour schemes appreciated. I love white bikes, but for a winter bike, maybe not a good idea. Mossy green, postbox red or royal blue?

[johnmcg]

For a good old rural winter bike, Massey Ferguson red or Dexter blue

[Gavin]

dyno rod orange .... Good winter colour

[willie]

Well, that took a while...but better late than never.

I posted the below in 2013, when I got a bike frame, fork and bits from Davy. Not that long after that I kinda got out of cycling for a bit, and have only just got going again this year. I now have a 36mile round trip commute, which I've been doing since June on a 1970s Dawes Shadow, downtube shifters, 5spd...proper man's bike.

I decided to turn Davy's Dawes into my almost perfect commuter. Wee bit of lathe work, cut some slots, then some brazing to remove various frame gubbins and fit panner rack and mudguard mounts. Hidden cables (Note the rear brake cable...yes, I drilled a brand new Thomson seat post), pannier, full mudguards, built in lights (Hardwired to the battery pack), drivetrain off my old TCR and then slap on custom Dudd decals just to confuse people!  C36 - Commute 36miles.  The white decals are reflective for a bit of added visbility.  Bar end plug lights are a good job too.





It doesn't show in the photos, but the frame is a deep red with a sparkle lacquer.  It looks much better than it sounds.  More gansta bling than Gok Wan twinkle.

Just wanted to update this, and will also throw a post on FB as I'd like Davy to know that his bike has got a new lease of life.