Oldairhead 

These look pretty cool to me, and at under $1500 they actually seem like a good value! I think it falls under the category of "neo-retro" since it is all new construction and purpose built. They appear to be available in the US too. This one is the Pashley Speed 5 but they have other models, including the Guv'nor.



https://www.pashley.co.uk/products/speed-5

tkamd73 

Actually $1695.00 if you live in the US, and can find one. Cool bike though, and Reynolds 531 frame.
Tim

BFisher 

@jamesdak has a Pashley and he has commented on how much he likes it.

I think they're very cool.

Velo Mule

I had a Raleigh DL-1 a while back and liked the geometry of it. So, it got me thinking, wouldn't it be neat to have a DL-1 with some more modern brakes and other contrivances. And then I saw that Pashely, had just that.

Their whole lineup is the stuff that many of us on the C&V thread love. And no painting, sanding or parts hording required.

Are those wingnuts on the front axle? They have some good retro details on that bike. I like the drum brakes too.

Bad Lag

I tried to actually BUY one (a Guv'nor).

I spent weeks emailing and inquiring about price and delivery, all to no avail.

I never got a single response from any of the shops or distributors I tried to contact, not one.

I built my own, instead. It did not cost $2k, either, not even close to that (well under $1k). For that price, I got not a 3 speed IGH but an Alfine 8 speed. The donor bike was like new and complete and cost $350. It is a light weight, lively Cro-Mo frame, not some dead, boat anchor.

If you want it to be more "racy", you flip the handlebars and remove the fenders and lights. A racing saddle also looks more "racy" but the sprung saddle is great if you ride upright - get both.

Maybe using more narrow tires looks "racier" but these tires are surprisingly fast.

Want an "old world" look, get white tires and a honey Brooks.

It really is all up to you.

jamesdak 

I got my Guv'nor from Loring at Belmont Distribution with no real problem. For some reasons my emails did keep going into his junk mail. I think it took around 4 months to get once ordered. Ordered mid January and arrived early April. This was in 2021 so everything slow due to Covid. I will say that communication from Loring was very limited in comparison to Steven at Amsterdam bikes when I ordered the AZOR.

https://www.belmontdistribution.com/

https://loring@belmontdistribution.com

jamesdak 

I bought a Guv'nor and love it. Great cruising bike that I've taken for over 40 mile rides with no problems and in total comfort. I do sometimes wish I had gone for the Speed 5 as I sometimes feel like I don't have the right gear on the Guv'nor for fast, hard riding up longer mild hills. Of course to be honest that's not what the Guv'nor is really about.

These bikes are beautifully done and I think quite the steal for the cost when you consider the parts you are getting with a new Reynolds 531 frame. The paint has held up just fine so far and has a really deep, wet, gloss to it.


How I'm riding it now.

RustyJames 

Universal cycles had one of the drop bar versions (I forget what it was called) that was HEAVILY discounted. Sadly, it was not my size (too small) so I passed.

Bad Lag

Certainly, yours is a great looking bike. I added a Brooks saddle bag just in time, just before Brooks withdrew them from the market - a classic bag.

It is about comfortable riding not speed. What I found surprising is how easy it is to go fast, even riding upright.

Also, I bought the 8 speed Alfine for exactly the reason you mentioned - I've been spoiled by my 10 speed bikes.

I consider mine an homage to Pashley and the other English Clubman bikes.

cocoabeachcrab 

no painting, sanding or parts hording required? but what would i do with my life? and my money?

Murray Missile 

Where's the fun in that?

Velo Mule

I agree. I get to apply my skills (or learn new skills) and justify my hording of parts. And I also get to envision a project bike and plan and plot and think "What if?". For me that is the fun. I have also met some good people along the way.

If it is all done, that does take the a large chunk of the fun out of it for me. There was a show on British TV where an older guy with a project car and health problems gets the car completed by a team of experts. While the show is good and fun to watch from so many points of view, I can't help but to think that the enjoyment for me is the planning, gathering and work to get to the end. But this show has a mandate to skip over this because of their health challenged recipient of the finished product.

That Pashely has to at least serve as a reference for some of us.

Bianchigirll 

Great looking bike. I’d like to find a frame like that for my IGH wheels, but they’re 700c, so the cantilevers would have to go.

cocoabeachcrab 

i have to admit that even though i'd rather do it myself, these bikes have been an inspiration some of my projects, and was probably behind my latest project. and for folks who are happy with a turn key machine of this type, it's really a great bike! sometimes i wish i could let it go and just go the turn key route... i would have been riding this fall instead of still awaiting for parts to be discovered, ordered and arrive in the mail, (and groody bros to finish my paint job)!

jamesdak 

I get that. I looked a long time for a true pathfinder frame to refurbish before going this route. Even did a 650B conversion to an old Fuji S-12s but really wanted the super relaxed frame. This and the Azor were very rare new bike buys for me.

Lattz

I always liked the look of the pathracers, and when the Guv'nor came out we were staring at the pictures with biker colleague for like an hour it is, just perfect (of course but applause for Pashley for building such a thing but also to the styling department, resp. all those racers, builders and various handymen who created these racing machines back then).

So when I street picked an anyway totally normal Dutch PON (may their name be cast in gold for the VW Transporter) in British Racing Green, it was obvious, that it doesn't need fenders and will eventually need white tires and upside-down handlebar. Unfortunately, the "process" came to an end after removing the rack and flipping the bar and the only 2 pics I have is a "as it came home" and a "after bar flip" not even one with a somewhat socially more acceptable saddle. It is one of the assets I had to turn over to the scrapper guy and while I don't mind the rest, this one hurts even today, as I'm sure It would have totally satisfied my needs for the "stylish non-road and non-utility bike.... one just for being what it is".

tcs

I've read that brand new Guv'nors are accepted at L'Eroica events (despite their index shifting! LOL)

Fun fact: 28" wheels are larger than 29" wheels and will really roll over stuff.



FYI: the Pound Sterling has rebounded from its low against the dollar on September 27th, but is still depressed vs. historical average.

jamesdak 

Well, if anyone get's a Guv'nor there's a really nice Wool Jersey available for it. I got one, and then a custom matching Walz cap and black crochet leather gloves. Gotta look the part.

https://www.soigneur.co.nz/product/P...Cycling-Jersey

Bad Lag

Very cool web site.

There are three or four different Pashley jerseys on the site. Keep looking!

They even have a BOB JACKSON jersey, with the family crest embroidered on the shoulder. :-)

The Golden Boy 

I like your bike- it's way cool, it's got a cool pedigree, and it's in way better shape than my Stumpjumper Sport. But despite the IGH, I don't look at that as anything like an old British path racer type bike.

Bad Lag

I know. I just couldn't help myself, given the "origin story" for this bike build.

Do me a favor, use your imagination. Flip the bars. Delete the fenders. Maybe put smaller diameter tires on it. After those changes, does it better represent your image of a Pashley "...an old British path racer type bike"?

I ask because I used to have it set up that way (but no photos).

I converted it to this version for commuting to work and because, if I wanted a go fast bike, I have another that is more highly evolved to do that.

The Golden Boy 

Again- your bike is awesome!!!

It just doesn't fit in the 1930s-50s aesthetic the way those old Raleighs and these Pashleys do. Maybe it's the riser stem, maybe it's the riser bars and maybe it's just me because I know it's a Stumpjumper...

Bad Lag

LOL No, that's totally okay by me. I have a conventional stem for it and had flipped the bars at one point. I even bought drop bars for it (an expensive experiment). It ended up as a commuter rig.

One discrepacy I thought you might point out is the unicrown fork. To me, it is the biggest disappointment in this build. One year earlier (1984) they had dual plate fork crowns. I missed by > < that much.

Maybe I should reset it back to being a pathracer-ish bike and photograph it. It would be an exercise in both wrenching and photography.

I apologize for taking this thread so far off-topic.

rudypyatt

Linus Gaston 3, an homage to the old club/path bikes, complete with Sturmey-Archer hub. Fast bike that I bought new in 2014.

FrejusFlyer

Some nice bikes! I had looked at the Pashleys and in person, they really give off a high-quality vibe. Really nice. Here's my "Path racer", a 40's or 50's boy's bike. I flipped the bars and put on a nice saddle. Just rode it today to pick up the car from the auto repair guy.