Texasfietser

I have a Pashley Roadster Sovereign in the somewhat rare green color. Beautiful bike -- almost too pretty to ride, in fact. It's slightly lighter than my Dutch bike, but it's no lightweight. Nor is it fast.

macteacher

Please do post a picture!!!

Rhodabike

I have to admit, I really don't "get" the Pashley appeal. When I see the seat stays bolted onto the seat tube, and the hub gears of five speeds or less, it just reminds me of the CCM mens delivery bike that I learned to ride on at age 12. All it's missing are the little tubes on the head tube to hold a huge basket. I suppose it's like Harley Davidson motorcycles, it's very old technology, but if you like the look, you'll pay a fortune and put up with the limitations.

chipcom 

Not all roadsters have to be vintage, a Pashley or other European bike.
My Raleigh comes with an 8 speed IGH, dynamo hub, disc brakes and fair fenders and chainguard. I put on a Topeak rack, allowing me to use my current rack trunks and baskets, and had to buy and install my own lights. It comes stock with a wider B68 saddle that I replaced with one of my B17s, and more swept back Albatross bars that I replaced with a set of Arc bars (cuz I like a little bit more aggressive riding position).

At present it also has my studded tires mounted and is serving as my winter commuter for days when the roads may have ice or snow.

Mine



Stock

njkayaker

You can't "justify" it. There are many bikes that would work at least as well for less money. It's also liberating not to have to worry about using something so expensive.

It doesn't appear that you are rolling around in excess cash. Is there something else you could buy that is more interesting than stuff?

It's kind of a cool bicycle but it seems clearly intended for people who really have too much money.

A new bicycle should allow you to do more things or different things than what you are doing now.

(This sounds like quite a line. Don't expect magic.)

gna

I'm going to take a wild guess here, but I'll bet the OP is unmarried and doesn't have children.

I agree with Stray8. I ride a $50 Craiglist Raleigh Sports, but I'd buy a Pashley if I could afford it.

macteacher

GNA....You are correct, I am unmarried and no kids...although I wish I could turn both those things around...I guess we always want what we don't have.

Anyhow, ...im going to go to the store and check it out soon....i'll report back with my 'feelings' at that time.

Thanks for all the tips.....im also just tired of leaning forward on my bike and then tilting my head up in order to see....I just find after some time it becomes uncomfortable and I am more concerned about comfort than I am speed and I feel a Dutch or English style bike allows for this.

Cheers

Sixty Fiver

Your Raleigh is not a roadster and it bears no resemblance to the bicycle that made the "Superbe" name famous.

This does not take away from the fact it appears to be a nicely made bicycle but THIS is what comes to mind when I think of a Raleigh Superbe.

tblendell

pashley. awesome. i REALLY want a Guv'ner. so great. i first saw a pashley when it was on sale at Anthropologie my GF's fav. store. they were selling the deli bikes which had been used for decoration in the store for 350 bucks. i got one for each of us. so great. it has the little wheel in front with an enormous wicker basket, which i took off for space reasons and put on a large wald wire basket instead.
truthfully, i almost never ride it. but i dig it.

chipcom 

But it's still a Superbe Roadster.

Yeah, I loved my old 64 'vette too...


but I won't throw a 2010 out of my garage.

I_bRAD

You won't love it as much after your first rear flat!

I have a 3sp coaster cruiser that I commute on sometimes in the summer and I like it though. Not sure how the pashley would make you sweat less. Slowing down and enjoying the ride makes you sweat less. Also, don't count on climbing hills as easily on a ride like that!

gna

True.

Wanting it will stay, but affording it and having space for it will fly out the window once you have a "management team."

Sixty Fiver

It is a modern Raleigh hybrid that says "Superbe"...

I don't want to take anything away from what is a nice bike but that isn't a roadster in the classic sense and I always thought Raleigh should have named it something else.

I understand the nostalgic appeal and how Raleigh is badging their new bikes with classic names... but if you are gonna honor a classic then one should stay true to form like Pashley has done.

Mos6502

I dunno what the Pashley offers besides maybe snob appeal that you couldn't get from a nice old light roadster. In truth I think it is comparatively ugly (heck in looks may be the one area where I'd say the Flying Pigeon is head and shoulders above the Pashley).

That's not to say it's not a nice bike, but eh there are other nice bikes out there too.

neverman

I absolutely love my Pashley Roadster Sovereign! I found a brand new one on CL last summer and couldn't resist. I have yet to find the perfect saddlebags for the right look, though. My Arkel Bug pannier has been modded to fit, but boy it doesn't match the elegance of the Pashley! I'm thinking about these:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Large-Leather-Ca...item53df1361ba

I rode it all summer and fall as my daily commuter and didn't plan to ride it daily in the winter, I'm worried about all the salt and crap of my winter commuting ruining the bike. Plus, can't find studded tires for the 28 inch wheels. And now I haven't even been able to ride on the nice days this winter because it's been in the shop most of the season!

The only trouble I've had with it -- which is turning out to be more trouble than I thought possible -- is with the Sturmey Archer X-FDD front drum/dynamo hub. It developed a strange, esoteric clicking/clunking noise that I couldn't figure out. Took it into the LBS and he's been playing with it for weeks now, getting different parts from SA to try. I miss my Pashley. This thread has made me want to go check on the hub again and just take it back so I can ride the Pashley again, even if the hub still clicks/clanks!

Buy it. Ride it. You'll love it!

-K.

lambo_vt

Wow, sounds like a great bike.

HardyWeinberg

Well, now's the time to lock in the expensive gee-gaws for sure.

HardyWeinberg

Chainreaction in UK has (had) 28" continental nordic spikes, don't know if they're really 635 or just 622:

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=30212

tjspiel

Geez, what's wrong with you guys and who wears the pants in your relationships anyway?

Oops. Sorry. Got to go. Wife says I've spent enough time on the forum today.

macteacher

Not sure if anyone knows this but:

The Pashley comes in: 20", 22" and 24".

Is that the distance between the seatpost and the handlebars? Or is it the height: The distance between the seat and the crank?

Schwinnsta

BB to TT I think, but it has 28" wheels which raises it. They make a 26" wheel version too as I recall.

I would not let the weight stop me. I have an old Schwinn Wasp that probably weighs in 52 pounds. The stock gearing is low so it tops out at about 13 MPH but it easy pedal on flat ground. I live in a flat world. I grew up with these kind of bikes in the 50's. If I lived in a hilly area this bike would be impractical. You can't say what a good bike is without considering the use and the terrain. I have other more modern bikes too, but I still like this one, hence Schwinnsta.

Now if I had the money I would get a Pashley Moulton. I can't justify it.

bigvegan

The 20.5", 22.5" and 24.5" frame sizes are the measurement from the bottom bracket to the center or top of the top tube.

The 20.5" size is equal to a 52cm frame size.

How tall are you?

If you're much below 5'4", you may be happier with the Princess Sovereign - https://www.pashley.co.uk/products/pr...sovereign.html

macteacher

I'm 5'10...with an inside leg seem of 30"

Industrial

I don't see what's so special about a Pashley. I had a 68ish Raleigh Sports I fixed up as a grocery bike that looked just like those Pashleys and it costed maybe $100. Probably rode the same too. Slow and stable.

If you want a bicycle with some real magic, try a handmade Waterford. They are awesome.

bigvegan

Hmmm... The 20.5 = 52cm and the 22.5 = 57cm.

Neither of these is exactly ideal, since the 52 is going to be pretty small for someone 5'10, and a 57cm is probably going to be a hair too large.

You might want to roll over toward Toronto to https://store.curbside.on.ca/index.ph...ndex&cPath=216 and try one on for size.

I've got to tell you though, $1,400 for that bike is a rip off of almost historic proportions. It IS pretty, but it's grossly overpriced and overweight.

Spending $1,400.00 for this:



when this Flying Pigeon is $199.88



seems questionable, but it's not my money.

+10,000 on the preceding Waterford quote. If you're going to spend serious money on a bike, Waterford would be an excellent choice.