Dawes Audax

[Boris Dog]

This is my 1995, Reynolds 501C, Dawes Giro 600 Audax bike. It was originally my father-in-law's until Alzheimers took hold and he was no longer able to ride. He was a member of the East Kent CTC and, once upon a time, we rode some centuries together and took some trips across the Channel to ride some randonees in northern France. You can't beat an organiser provided lunch stop of ham and cheese baguettes and bottles of Kronenbourg.
Originally it was Shimano RSX 7 speed equipped but I upgraded it this summer to 10 speed Tiagra shifters and a 105 long cage mech. I retained the RSX cranks and front mech but increased the rings from 46/36/26 to 48/38/30. I think the front mech may be a little wide for the 10 speed chain and it can throw the chain over the top ring occasionally. It is, however, a pleasure to ride and comes with memories attached.

 

[Blacktopdisciple]

Thats a lovely looking bike. A well put together resto mod bike.Is that a Brooks saddle?

 

[fatfixie]

Re:

Lovely bikes

I sold a bunch of em in my LBS days. Some of the last UK built ones (last year UK built 1997 IIRC )

And a great back story too

Andy

 

[Boris Dog]

Re:

Thank you.
The saddle is a Brooks. It's a Swift that was a bit of an e bay bargain.

 

[Boris Dog]

I found a few brevet cards and certificates that are a part of the Dawes' history and include some of the trips that we made to ride in northern France. The Cap Griz Nez ride was the short option because we had to ride from the ferry port in Calais to the start at St Omer. For some reason, which my schoolboy French didn't allow me to get to the bottom of, everyone was given a cauliflower by a local farmer at the end of the ride. I remember having it stuffed into my jersey on the way back to the ferry: I'm not sure why I didn't just leave it on the verge.

 

[zerogravitas]

Great looking bike for some proper distance rides, and fantastic to see some of it's/your history together.