Cycling UK Forum

lookoutmountain wrote: I'd say its versatility is up there

I'll probably give it a go at some point but the frame is around 61 cm so maybe a bit more prone to flex when loaded unless yours was a similar size? It isn't an aerospace, but there was a sticker on the frame claiming it was made in England. I've read that later production was overseas so its likely prior to that. Its got the headbadge that looks a bit art deco with the V. Yes 'Gran Touring'.

I'm thinking of braised steel frames and for no particular reason I realise other than habit, and as you point out there are some welded big-tube ridgeback tourers in 700s that are definitely budget and very nice ( and getting on a bit now), plus many other options out there.

I'm assuming that their golden era 'aero' thing still influenced the design of their 80s bike frames, cos the Grand Tourer frame I've just built up is too light and bendy for taking any extra weight beyond a sleeping bag and some biscuits (geometry somewhere between road and tourer). Its made a lovely bike for day rides and commuting though, comfortable on rough roads but it still feels fast. It had been scrapped due to a seized steerer and there was some superficial rust, I replaced the front forks with straighter threadless ones and paid £30 to blast and powder coat. I'd recommend keeping an eye out, the stock components are pretty crap, but you can build em up into something fun.

I'm a fan of Gerd Shraners 'the art of wheel building' and use the spoke calc http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/spokecalc/. My first errors were wrong spoke length, a small mistake in the lacing pattern and not getting all the nipples tightened so that just the end of the spoke thread protruded before starting to true the wheel.

The problem then is a lot to do with larger frame sizes and without wanting to go down to 26" wheels and with a limited budget, finding a stiff frame with longer chainstays is going to be a challenge - but thats outside the scope of this thread.

Marseille is in my experience fine to ride through. There's decent cycle provision with good bike lanes on the main routes in, a lot better than some French cities namely Montelimar. If you have any mechanical problems, try Velos en Ville (http://www.velosenville.org/) a very helpful bike workshop with a huge range of used spares where you can fix stuff yourself on the cheap. Cycling from Marseille into the Camargue can be a bit painful, busy truck roads feeding the refinaries and quite exposed, difficult when windy and it was very windy.

I've just returned from touring on an early 90s Galaxy and agree that it flexes noticeably when loaded. Its enough of a problem for me that I'm looking for a stiffer frame and one with a less lively head angle as climbing at slow speeds can involve a bit of wandering. I'm comparing with my previous tourer, a Stevens (a bit too small for me) and my companions Surley Long Haul Trucker. The chainstay length could also have benefited from being a bit longer, I've average feet size for my height, size 10 and 6 foot, and the frame is 59cm, but I need to place the panniers far back to avoid heel strike. Finally, shimmy - I've had unsettling speed wobbles coming down fast descents which didn't happen on my Stevens.

I know its considered a classic tourer, but from my experience, I'd peg the early 90s 531 ST Galaxys as light tourers. If you come across a cheap bike or frame, it does the job and is a pleasure to ride but I'd recommend not spending lots of money on one of these.