the work bike clearly wasn't going to cut the mustard for a trip across the varied landscape of Europe. So I looked around for a new one.
Though dearly loved, and perfect for what it was bought for, the work bike clearly wasn't going to cut the mustard for a trip across the varied landscape of Europe. So I looked around for a new one.
My last touring bike, and here I show my age, was a Claud Butler Majestic, vintage 1980. It seems they don't do these anymore, so I had to look elsewhere.
The bike for 2007 was a Dawes Galaxy, which I got because I'd heard of them. A Super Galaxy or even an Ultra Galaxy wouldn't have been out of the question pricewise, but I really don't like the 'compact frame' they both have nowadays. I know what size frame suits me - 23.5" - 24" until osteoporosis sets in - and I don't mind converting to metric measurements, but even reputable bike dealers seemed unable to give me an absolute value for what that meant in terms of a slopey head tube.
I trawled ebay looking for touring bikes, and there are quite a few, but decent ones tend to go for not much off the new price, and you're relying on someone else's description as well as their choice of equipment. It's also strange how many people proudly advertise a 'broken in saddle', which is really a good selling point only when the backside of the purchaser exactly matches that of the vendor.
So I checked around for new prices, and eventually went for Spa Cycles of Harrogate. I rang them up, ordered the bike and was promised next day delivery. Came the next day, which was a Saturday, and after jumping up and down in anticipation all day, I rang Spa at 4:30pm and asked when it would be there as I needed to get to Tesco. It appeared that 'next day' meant 'next working day', and although the bike had got as far as Huntingdon by 5:30am, it wouldn't be shifting from there till Monday. Grumpily, I accepted this failure of communication, and in fact the bike was delivered at about 8:15am on the Monday.
The first thing that struck me was that the box it arrived in was a bit smaller than I would have expected a bike to be, even after my absence from the sport. All was explained when I opened it and saw that the front wheel, handlebars, brakes and pedals remained to be attached. The documentation included something from Dawes congratulating me on buying a 'handmade bicycle.' I would have been more enthusiastic about this had it not been my hands that were going to be doing the making.
Still, not to worry, and I have to admit that at £560 + £20 delivery for the 2006 model, it was quite a bargain. Though since then, I've been pointed to Picton Cycles who at the time were offering the same bike for £570 + £10, but fully made up. That doesn't seem to be the case any longer, but it might be worth checking them out if you're looking for a bargain at the start of a new season.
I also have to admit that it might be useful in the long run to know how the brakes work and are adjusted, though that was difficult to appreciate during the long hours spent adjusting the three Allen key screws on each side of each of the brakes. Especially when the littlest one disappeared through the threadhole and had to be scrabbled for on the garage floor. Imagine how I laughed.
2008, and I was in Germany, last year's Galaxy was in the UK, but I did have a much older Galaxy which I'd bought on ebay just to travel to work and back. Sadly, no picture, but it was perfectly good enough, so I decided to stick with that for the Italian trip, rather than flying out the previous year's bike.
So to 2010, and here I must reveal that in late 2008 I splashed out on a rowing bike. Given I cycle everywhere given a chance, and I've been rowing for more than 30 years now, the only thing missing to make it the perfect lifestyle solution would be a trumpet welded to the handlebar. Sadly, they don't do that as an option, so my lip will have to get floppy while the rest of me tones up.
Created on ... April 11, 2007