lonelybikeboy

For all you C&V experts. Does the bikes Pashley makes count as Classic/Vintage or just a fad? They're a little pricy but is their price justified? I am looking to buy a bike that will grow old with me. Something enduring and not disposable. For those of you who own pashley bicycles, how do you like them and how have they held up?

thanks

puchfinnland

I see 2 of them in the LBS all the time, I have looked very closely at them and they are very nicely made, even the brooks has Titanium rails.

She is not lightweight but very fine.

have you considered a made to order bicycle? I think you will appreciate that even more.

repechage

I found a shop that had a few, they were on sale, at even the sale price though, I spent the same on a Vintage Colnago that suited my overall needs more before I splurged.
If I really really needed an exclusive Espresso fetch bike to hopefully impress the young maidens hanging out there that I should not be concerned about anyway...
I would buy one.
But riding a full bore legitimate Track bike to get coffee might work as well.
Cinelli steel bars, full Campagnolo, tied and soldiered wheels...

Velognome 

What are you looking at: The Roadster, Clubman, Guvnor? Pashley has been around a long time and build very nice bikes. The Clubman series seems like a very traditonal line, well thought out, same with the Roadster. The Guvnor is a bit of a fancy of sorts and even so, it's been copied a few of the forum members. If you want a new bike, and can afford it, go for it, I'd say, Pashley is a respected name.

clubman 

Hate to be the naysayer but the 90's models had terrible chrome, paint and fittings. I watched one deteriorate badly over the course of a year or two in use as a full time commuter. Everything rusted prematurely.

I can't speak for the new ones except that I've looked closely at them and they seem to be well made. But a guvnor is about $1200...ouch! You can get a number of quality original Raleigh's for that money. Go original or stay home.

Velognome 

Isn't the current Guvnor a rehashing of the original also built by Pashley?

Captain Blight

Considering Pashley's been around a good long while now, I'd say the current models *are* originals. Don't forget that the original Sports sold for a goodly price; three weeks to a month's wages for a workingman. They were solid bikes near the top of their range.

Now, that being said, for the money a Pashley would cost, you could get a 531 frame, have the fork re-raked, and outfit it with very nice components... and still have money left over.

clubman 

True that. I'm just a little more leery of QC on the Sports models than I would be with a 50's 60's Raleigh. The Pashley I mentioned earlier was also a re-release of their original. !'d love a guv because there's nothing out there like it.

JPizzzle

I've was in a similar situation a few weeks back. Trying to find the "final" city bike to grow old with. I eventually ended up purchasing a retrovelo classic paul-it's absolutely fantastic-but certainly expensive. It's deff something your want to put a lot of thought into and make sure that it would be the last city bicycle that you would possibly want for that kind of cash. -Contact me, if you want the name to a good dealer who has a somewhat cheaper price.-

On the point of the pashley, I've heard very good things about them, but not much my style. They look very similar to the workcycles/azur bikes-except for the guvnor-which I like the most of the line up (however this is more of a sporty ride rather then an upright city utility). Not sure how the construction is in terms of lugs and components used....

puchfinnland

now I can get this QUALITY Atala for less then half the price, we have them in our LBS,
made in Italy-not India

https://www.atala.it/index.php?option...10774&Itemid=0

lonelybikeboy

Dear Velognome, I was thinking of getting a clubman urban in Ivory https://www.pashley.co.uk/products/clubman-urban.html

I would then fix on fenders and would use it for commuting. Definitely not as an exclusive Espresso fetch bike. In fact, I am sorta surprised the Pashleys have such a reputation. I regard them as very traditional and conservative bicycles. The kind that don't get much looks or "Attract the girls" but it is fine because the true nature of this bike is as a utility cycle that will last a very long time because of old steel and handmade craftsmanship.

Grand Bois

Which bikes "attract the girls"?

Captain Blight

Any bike I'm riding!

gna

https://www.craigslist.org/about/best...624333458.html

Velognome 

Pashley Clubman Urban. Nice bike, expensive for what you get but very nice indeed. Here is my take on it and my experience FWIW. The Pashley routes the shifter cable for the s3x hub down and under the BB to the rear wheel. Some forum member dislike this route citing it is not the optimal route, others see it as a viable option, I am in the latter camp. The track style bars, while cool may not be so cool on the street.

I built up a simular bike using the s3x hub and the frame of a Raleigh Comp ( no bike was harmed, bought it as a frame only and no dremel has touched the frame)



The build complete with Brooks saddle and tape came in around 1/2 the cost of the Pashley. After a year or so, the drop bar configuration became less that optimal for city riding, so I opted for a set of Mustache bars.



A little more upright and a lot more control, I'm 100% satisfied with the bike. It still doesn't have the Pashley headbadge but i don't think anyone really cares.


That said, I really love the Pashley Clubman Country and have at time really considered it if I limit my collection to just one or two bikes.

wrk101

This I don't get. If you are looking for durability, a Raleigh or similar from 40 to 50 years ago are plentiful, relatively cheap, and have proven the durability test for sure. I have a 1961 Gazelle 3 speed. Obviously pretty durable. Its already old, so I don't have to wait for it to grow old.

And I must admit, I just like the "patina" of the older original bikes, along with the headbadges, decal work, etc.

As long as the original surviving specimens are out there, at reasonable prices, I would stick with that route. And financially (I can't help it), a nice vintage Raleigh or similar will continue to go up in value, while a new Pashley will take a > 50% haircut value wise in a couple of years (at least around here).

Velognome 

^ Live long enough, grow old with the Pashley and it too will become an endearing old bike complete with patina. Sure the cash outlay will be much higher, but no doubt Pashley's are every bit as respectable as a British made Raleigh. Plus the OP's looking at a lighter faster bike than a Sports or DL. I understand his desire, but haven't been able to part with the folding $ to aquire one....mostly cuz really cool old frames keep popping up!

noglider 

You just gave me an idea for rebuilding my Cross Check. I'll keep the drum brake front wheel, convert the bike to fixed, and it won't be excessively heavy any more. I won't even install a rear brake.

Velognome 

Brakes?...don't need no stinkin' brakes!

or as they say is SS&FG group

"can't stop, don't want to"

I'm guessing you can only say that so many times huh?

lonelybikeboy

Velognome, this is a beautiful, beautiful take on the clubman style. Congratulations on the fine work!

I am thinking of getting the clubman 2 speed kick shift because I am not accustomed to riding fixed gears. Should 2 gears not prove adequate, I would upgrade it to a 3 speed with coaster brake using a Sturmey archer quadrant shifter mounted on the top tube. Thoughts?

wrk101 Thanks for the suggestion and it certainly is a more affordable option. However, scouting one on craigslist, finding the right size, color, condition etc are all difficult for someone such as myself to do. Hence, the more convenient pashley option albeit expensive.

Velognome 

Truthfully, I use only 2 or the 3 gears on the s3x. I'm in the midst of building another "Clubman" this one will be a 2 speed kick back and Lauterwasser bars so I think your on the right track. 2 gears is enough for some moderate climbs or short steep hills, around town or for a good workout if need be.


I like the quadrant shifter for that vintage look but they can be a pain to shift compared to the SA bar end units. I wouldn't rely soley on a coaster brake, I'd use a front brake also.

lonelybikeboy

What do you mean by the quadrant shifter being a pain to shift? Is it because of the top tube position or were they just not mechanically sound and efficient?

As for handlebars, I understand the major taylor bars that come with the clubman are not comfortable for street riding being as they are track bars. Can you recommend a suitable clubman style drop bar replacement?

And yes, I would use the coaster brake together with a front brake. Can't wait to see your new clubman build!

Velognome 

Either can I! I got into this one too far, still waiting for parts to come back from being painted and I still need the wheel set and Brooks Swallow ....but time and $ cures all our bicycle ills. This one will be a very simular bike to the Pashley in construction and style and unfortunatley price, so I'm not convinced the building a vintage is less expensive....It can be but it also depends on what you want to do.

Maes bend bars were the most common I think and still plentyfull at swaps or ebay

It doesn't have detents or stops so you have to fish around for the hole for the post to catch on, it soes have little ramps but they don't always catch the hole. Once you get used to it, it's reasonabley fast but you still have to take your hand off the bar to shift. The barend or trigger has detents and you don't have to move off the bar to shift .

lonelybikeboy

Thanks Velognome. Do you know if it's possible to use the SA quadrant shifter on the downtube? Or is it strictly a top tube shifter?

Velognome 

Traditonaly it is used on the top tube with a pulley at the seat tube lug. It's used on the downtube for loop frames. Running on the down tube appears to be less than optimal and brings in some issues as the cable passes the crank, namely adjustment and danger of the cable getting caught in the chainring during flat repairs.