>From: Russ Fitzgerald
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]rediscovering the Dawes
>Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 20:50:02 -0400
>
It also emerged that mine is probably built
>of Accles and Pollock steel - I'll know for sure whenever I get
>around to pulling the headset apart for servicing again.
I know you look for rifled tubing to ID columbus tubes, but what do you look for to ID Accles? And is there any method to determine Reynolds?
>So I did. It was a mind-altering experience. This is a bike that I
>bought for next to nothing six years ago at a flea market, back when
>it was a total rustbucket. I'd commuted for a while on it with
>upright bars, and liked it some - but I'd never really ridden it
>with drops before yesterday.
>
>The handling is simply dreamy. The bike is stable until you want to
>change direction, and shazam, it's right there. My position on it
>is well nigh identical to what I get on my Rivendell or my Mercian.
>The long wheelbase soaks up road shocks beautifully.
Snipped
>
>Right before the ride, I let the manager of the LBS take it for a
>quick spin. He came back with a stunned expression on his face. "I
>know it's a 40-year-old bike," he said, "But it rides so WELL!" We
>weighed it - with the FW hub, steel Williams cranks, steel seatpost
>and 27-in rims and Pasela tires, it's a whisker under 27 pounds.
>Not too shabby at all ...
>
>best regards,
>Russ Fitzgerald
>Greenwood, SC
I've also been tremendously impressed by the road manners of old bikes this year. Prior to '03, all of my machines have been mid 70's or newer. I've put a lot of miles this year on a '49 and '54 machine. The long, wispy stays, elongated wheel bases and lavish fork rakes led me to expect a soft bottom bracket, steering like a truck and generally noodly performance. What I've found, though, is a ride that is smooth, refined , comfortable and fast when it's time to hammer. In fact, it almost seems that the compliant ride allows me to stay in my spin longer and go faster through rough patches compared to a shorter frame that makes me quit pedaling and stand up to absorb shock. I can't get the front derailleur to rub on hard efforts, something I can't say about more modern frames I've had. Handling is reasonably agile. Not as fast as a racing bike, but with some care to setting up your line, you can zing through the corners competently, and again the compliant ride keeps the tires planted. Plus, it doesn't dive for the ditch if you sneeze, a big plus on long fatiguing rides. These old builders weren't dummies; and bicycle geometry is, after all a fairly mature field of knowledge. And again, this ride quality may be a unique capability of steel frames; being able to be drawn into these extended tube lengths and rakes without compromising handling and durability.
Congrats on the Dawes, and I hope we see each other down the road.
Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ