dawes? yes or no?
- Thread starter jax13
- Start date
I remember Dawes back in the day. They had / have a very "traditional" cyclist flat cap and touring bikes images. In the early nineties mountain biking was as far away from this as you could get, the US brands Specialized GT etc were FAR cooler. We didn't see ourselves as "cyclists", we were cool MTBers dammit! Dawes didn't try to compete with this (they couldn't?) so didn't sell many.
Nowt wrong with the bikes, in fact they were pretty good, but brand image didn't fit the "new, fresh, exciting" MTB market. The top line "the edge" bike would always draw respect though!
Nowadays flat caps, touring bikes, cyclo cross, road bikes and lugged craftsman built construction are all back in fashion, so we are drawn to these classic MTB's.
I would say a 90's mid-high end Dawes is more desirable now than it was when it was new.
Nowt wrong with the bikes, in fact they were pretty good, but brand image didn't fit the "new, fresh, exciting" MTB market. The top line "the edge" bike would always draw respect though!
Nowadays flat caps, touring bikes, cyclo cross, road bikes and lugged craftsman built construction are all back in fashion, so we are drawn to these classic MTB's.
I would say a 90's mid-high end Dawes is more desirable now than it was when it was new.
I've never had any respect or affection for Dawes as a brand. I rode most models late eighties through to mid nineties and can't remember any of the being anything above average for the price; and always over weight for the price point. As a company, they never did innovate.
In 2003 I rode an Edge as a shop demo bike and guess what? It was surprisingly good for an £850 bike and I enjoyed riding it. (but I'd never pay money for one!)
In 2003 I rode an Edge as a shop demo bike and guess what? It was surprisingly good for an £850 bike and I enjoyed riding it. (but I'd never pay money for one!)
