Dawes Cougar: Mutton dressed up as lamb.

1980's All terrain bike converted to a functional touring bike.

Any mountain bike purists please look away now.

The start, 1984(ish) 531AT Dawes cougar.

The last owner got plenty of use out of it. Really nice guy, knows alot about vintage mountain bikes.

Having only recently discovered these 80's lugged mountain bikes I have been a little enchanted by them. They are very well made robust frames that have classic look, braze-ons for racks and mudguards. They have a cult following, but on the whole seem to end up rusting away at the bottom of someones garden. The idea of changing the use of a bike that is often overlooked really appealed to me. This one was in no way an immaculate show piece it. It has been well used, has a little donk on the TT and the hanger was a little bent. It had grit and dirt in every possible orifice. So I don't feel too bad about diverting it from its true path.
The plan is to keep it a ATB at heart. I will use as many original components as possible, any i don't use i will keep, as i may want to swap it back to its original state one day.

Most conversions are very practical, but look shamefully fugly....I want to try and inject a little class(if i can).

I striped it down, re-greased headset and bottom bracket. The decals just flaked off when i was cleaning it. i prefer it simple anyway.

I found a hardly used set of period correct wheels. Shimano large flange hubs on Weinmann concave rims.

fat franks and tubes

steel stem and 1930's tandem bars. the bars have an Ankh stamped on them?

After cleaning the components from grit, caked-on grease and dirt i re-assembled it.
Temporary foam grips, pedals and saddle. I was a little temped to stop at this point, so much fun to ride.

with mudguards.

So fresh!

Better without guards mind.

the guards are back off...... i had a vision of turning it into a functional touring bike. i'm having a internal battle.

Excellent. Better with for me.

thanks guys, glad i'm heading in the right direction.

I have these two abominations of MTB kind to bash around on. I wanted something with a little class to tour with. i'm going to push forward, i can always strip it back again.

These are a few other components i have picked up.

vintage alloy mudguards, hoping they will polish up.....

Dawes looks like a whole lot of fun. Looks rad too.

nnnggggggg i want an off road tourer, I still regret passing up on this:

Really cool 1986 Muddy Fox, which was built for them by Araya. It actually comes with Araya rims and Suzue hubs.

Maybe I should get some like a cheap courier comp

Man that looks like fun. Amazing build Luke

thanks Tom. really looking forward to a long ride.

spotter: the muddy fox is so rad, but so big. 60cm frame?
Those forks look really great. shame you had to let it go...... what model is it?

I think it's so big because it's such an early example 1983'ish. It's not even a muddy Fox as we'd know it, it's an s&g cycles 'muddy Fox' which as far as i can tell was the very first model that then led to the start of the brand itsself.

That one went with everything you see in the photo for £70 posted :(
Fantastic looking bikes though:

Really really great!

I should say ... yeah get mudguards on there, just the clearances weren't enough.

I acquired a Peugeot effort that was a knock off of these bikes: lugged, cantis, horizontal TT, 700 wheel I think?! Nah maybe it was 26". Can't remember. Confusingly it was called 'Urban Express'.

Oh man those concave weinmanns are rockin'.

Maaaaaaan. I have two unfinished builds but this is making me really consider a third.

subbed. Looks like loads of fun.

You've inspired me. Went past my local thrift shop and they had a beaten up MTB outside which I picked up for £20.
It will become an abomination. Just need the spare parts I have in London.

I've been all over Ebay looking for something but I'm thinking I should source something local In Brighton. There's some really fun bikes out there for this conversion.

I should say ... yeah get mudguards on there, just the clearances weren't enough.

Yup, the guards are rather tight. I had not fully adjusted them, but have a feeling they will ru even when set up....I have a back up 1950's set pictured above, i think they will also be too tight. Suggestions would be appreciated. Maybe these?

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/fenders/vo-fenders-stainless-60mm-26-atb.html

I acquired a Peugeot effort that was a knock off of these bikes: lugged, cantis, horizontal TT, 700 wheel I think?! Nah maybe it was 26". Can't remember. Confusingly it was called 'Urban Express'.

Even with the dodgy name i would ride the urban express, i bet it would have a funky electro soundtrack.

Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F (Extended Version) - YouTube

Oh man those concave weinmanns are rockin'.

i know right. they were quite a lucky find.

You've inspired me. Went past my local thrift shop and they had a beaten up MTB outside which I picked up for £20.
It will become an abomination. Just need the spare parts I have in London.

what is the frame? pictures? you can pick them up for cheap. i really like the idea of recycling and reusing a bike that could just as easy end up in the skip. think about how many classic lightweights and beautiful track frames must have ended up being binned before the fixie trend kicked in.....

I've been all over Ebay looking for something but I'm thinking I should source something local In Brighton. There's some really fun bikes out there for this conversion.

i saw this tall guy the other day, but looks like tt is bent....could be the light.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DAWES-Mens-Yellow-Mountain-Bike-Bicycle-Cycle-Reynolds-500-531-15-Speed-23-ins-/321452245278?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item4ad80c011e

and this bad boy. seller has had it up for a while, think he would take an offer. rad paint, the soundtrack above would also be applicable.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-Dawes-MTB-constructed-from-Reynolds-500-531-/111404894777?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item19f03fca39