Dawes Escape 1989 updated

Henne · Mar 2, 2016

One frame I picked up locally last year with some bits attached and naff wheels (not those pictured). It's had a clean and strip and as I had a day off thought I would do a mock-up with some bits borrowed off another bike to see what it looked like. Reynolds bombproof 500 tubing and 80's slack angles for comfortable rides.

archiebroge1 · Mar 5, 2016

Re:

Love the old dawes bikes. Will be watching this one

otherself · Mar 5, 2016

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Looks good man. Would be a great base for a rugged tourer, what with those robust tubes, slack angles and all. Is this what you intend it for? Or just and old skool canal path potterer?

Henne · Mar 7, 2016

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Ta for comments guys. Had no real plans other than a build up and ride it to see how it performs, but I do like the idea of a summer cruiser.
BTW, has anyone got a Dawes 1989 catalogue with one of these in it? Would like to see how it looked in it's day.
I have been doing a little reading about Dawes as a company in the 80's and if the info is correct, Dawes handbuilt their frames and bikes in England up to around 1990ish. If this is true, then this is handbrazed/ built? The chainstay sticker says handbuilt but I am unsure to what degree i.e. components added by hand.
If anyone can shed any light it would be appreciated. Cheers.

Muddy paw · Mar 7, 2016

Re: Dawes Escape 1989 (pics now loaded)

I was told when i bought my Dawes Celeste 501 framed road bike back in the 80s that it was a handbuilt frame and it was a great touring bike and the frame quite happily did 500 - 700 miles a month with no issues so i bet that frame you've got is stress free as it looks in top shape

..

jimbo-xc · Mar 7, 2016

Re: Dawes

Further up the 1989 Dawes range was the Quest. 531 forks, possibly frame too but there's no sticker on the seat tube on mine. I recently rescued this one locally then, determined not to add a 13th bike to my collection, sold off most of the MT60/62 parts to people on here. Now I've started thinking it might be fun to build up a drop bar clunker. Still got the original bars, stem & tapered grips if that doesn't work & have most of the other parts I'd need although not all period-correct.
Dunno, might do it - it would be my earliest mtb ever but would I ride it?

Muddy paw · Mar 8, 2016

Re: Dawes Escape 1989 (pics now loaded)

I know from past experience that riding off road with drop bars can be quite fun and that was on an old 3 speed BSA sports bike with nobblies so putting drops on the Dawes should make for a great ride even if it's only on light trails ..

Henne · Jun 4, 2016

Re: Dawes Escape June update

Thanks all for the previous comments.
Since my last post I have been pretty busy doing other stuff but recently found time to rebuild this Dawes Escape.
I have not ridden it properly yet, only around the garden, but it has a nice relax and comfortable feel.
Tubes are Reynolds 500 and gears and brakes are MT62 Deore and hubs exage 450 (I think)!

mikee · Jun 4, 2016

Like that , maybe change the saddle tho , or maybe not

Mike

Henne · Jun 5, 2016

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Ta, the saddle was cheap and they only had tan left but black would have looked better though. I was wanting to make it look similar to a mid eighties mtb.

Dawes Escape 1989 updated

Henne

Retro Guru

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archiebroge1

Retro Newbie

otherself

Henne

Retro Guru

Muddy paw

Old School Grand Master

jimbo-xc

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Muddy paw

Old School Grand Master

Henne

Retro Guru

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mikee

Henne

Retro Guru

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