Old Dawes (Potentially 1948 GB OLYMPIC) bike, Help on model!

Hi there,

Never use this forum but I wondered if there was anyone specialist enough to clue me up on what bike i have here.

Its a Dawes road/touring bike, Didn't come with wheels so cant tell you how many gears, but it did come with one single cog up front so I expect by the looks of the age 4/6 speed.

Dropped bars, Dawes head badge and was up until today dark blue (faded alot to a lighter blue)

Frame was pretty impressive, nice geometry and weight.

To the point: The bike has a set of stickers that up until closer inspection I hadn't realised were actually Olympic torch and logo stickers, metallic, very faded but nonetheless do contain a picture of the olympic torch surrounded by the olympic rings.

this got my questioning its age!

It's got a Cottered type bottom bracket and cranks

threaded heaset, and a pump holder along with a bolt on the forks for a light or dynamo or something?

My question is: Is this bike from the UK Olympics 1948? I just dont see any other reason for them to put these decals on it unless it wasn't.

Excited to hear back!

Cheers, Kieran

Heres a few photos of the bike as it stands, note that it was once a faded Royal blue.

Pictures: http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8429954/

Hi, you will need to search for old catalogues, but my guess based on the badge ( late sixties / seventies ) and the chrome decals ( early seventies again ) is surprisingly early seventies. The old Dawes badge had a flame in, so it maybe at the switch over between badges and the Olympic rings have been used by most manufacturers at one time or another. Terry

I had a Halfords Olympic...:shock:
Sadly I don't see anything about your bike that gives it any Olympic track provenance.

I'd pop a front brake on it unless you ride it solely on the track (which I doubt with those tyres and pedals) as it's a deathtrap without one. :shock:

hamster":2tmk7fp2 said:

I had a Halfords Olympic...:shock:
Sadly I don't see anything about your bike that gives it any Olympic track provenance.

I'd pop a front brake on it unless you ride it solely on the track (which I doubt with those tyres and pedals) as it's a deathtrap without one. :shock:

Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I have a Weinmann brake, I restore and sell them, It has a brake on now.

Would it be this Dawes Olympic road bike?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mobi ... elID=85463

hamster":pc88ths1 said:

<SNIP> as it's a deathtrap without one. :shock:

Click to expand...

Not that old chesnut.

I suppose you tell everyone to ride with a helmet on too, do you?

Brakes on fixies are a personal thing.

Personally I ride my fixie (when I do ride it) with a front brake only. Not exactly, strictly speaking, street legal, but it is my choice.

As long as you are able to make an informed choice that is influenced more by your a) willingness to break the law AND b) the knowledge that you can stop the bike with no front brake in an emergency and not by hipster fashion, then go ahead.

OldTel":2f8xsyq8 said:

Hi, you will need to search for old catalogues, but my guess based on the badge ( late sixties / seventies ) and the chrome decals ( early seventies again ) is surprisingly early seventies. The old Dawes badge had a flame in, so it maybe at the switch over between badges and the Olympic rings have been used by most manufacturers at one time or another. Terry

Click to expand...

Awesome, Yeah that makes sense, It was interesting to see if it was anything to do with the GB Olympics, but i suppose it could have been any nations olympics.

Cheers for the response, Kieran

tiermat":1aursn0y said:

hamster":1aursn0y said:

<SNIP> as it's a deathtrap without one. :shock:

Click to expand...

Not that old chesnut.

I suppose you tell everyone to ride with a helmet on too, do you?

Brakes on fixies are a personal thing.

Personally I ride my fixie (when I do ride it) with a front brake only. Not exactly, strictly speaking, street legal, but it is my choice.

As long as you are able to make an informed choice that is influenced more by your a) willingness to break the law AND b) the knowledge that you can stop the bike with no front brake in an emergency and not by hipster fashion, then go ahead.

Click to expand...

He is right, considering its a non fixed hub!

However my fixie has no brake too

hamster":1itt1f0n said:

Would it be this Dawes Olympic road bike?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mobi ... elID=85463

Click to expand...

Sweet Ride man!