NormanF

I have the Pashley Guvnor and its a beautiful bike with a ride that can only be described as "plush." They don't make bikes like that any more and I'm glad I have it.

markroder

Has anyone bought the new Pashley Roadster 26? (Sovereign or Classic)

I'm wondering how the ride compares to the regular 28". Slightly speedier up hills? Noticeably lighter? Geometry as good at this size? Is there any reason to choose it other than the "easy mount"?

It gets a lot less coverage than their other bicycles, indeed almost none at all.

NormanF

I think that would be an excellent model for smaller riders. I'm betting the wheels are 650A rather than 650B commonly found on roadsters. The Pashley 26" Sovereign/Classic reminds me of my Raleigh Superbe.

MichaelW

A few years back at a bike show I tested a Pashley Princess, the girly 26" version. This was on a simulated urban circuit with about 30 other grab-and-go test bikes of all kinds (hybrid, folder, utility etc). The Pashley stood apart from all the others because of the quality of the ride. It just seemed to flow along in a very regal fashion.
I dont know if the Pashley is good because of its old fashioned tech or in spite of it.
If you live in a flattish town and you're in no particular hurry, it is a fine commuter bike.

gna

See TenorClef's post above. He seems to enjoy the ride.

Sixty Fiver

The Girl and I went out to do some shopping today and as she enjoyed her newly minted Peugeot UE19 townie and I rode my hybrid we happened upon a new Pashley Sonnet... she was smitten with it's looks and it looks like one of the first complete bikes I will have to build is a custom lady's roadster.

She is tall enough to handle 28 inch wheels and would prefer an 8 speed IGH to the the Sonnet's triple... a custom frame would take into account her unique proportions and fit issues.

On the other hand, she is really enjoying her Peugeot as it is about half the weight of a a Sovereign and much lighter than her current roadster.

TenorClef

People seem to get to hung up on the weight of the Pashley Roadster. I'm not a muscle guy by any means but it presents no issues to me. I use my Pashley mainly on flat terrain and only have 6 steps to get it into my office again no big deal. In fact once your moving on the bike i do wonder if the weight is actually an advantage? Its certainly feels very solid on the road and the 5 gears are well set if you do have to deal with inclines.

I could have bought Roadster styles bikes for a 1/3 of what i paid for my Pashley but it just felt good to buy a British Bike from an old established British firm. Terribly patriotic i know.

macteacher

Hi there Markrode,

To be honest, I never even saw the bike you mentioned until your post. I would have seriously considered it, because I barely have the height requirements for the 20.5" Pashley Sovereign frame. I would have liked to have had another option.

That being said I do not regret my purchase at all, the weight is a non issue and a full review is forthcoming. Im still waiting to complete my setup before I write one. Don't let the weight keep you back, its a non-issue and this bike is just fabulous to ride

NormanF

The weight is not actually an issue. If a bike is well built, the weight won't matter. That's the difference between "gaspipe" and dealer quality bicycles. The former are barely rideable for even a short distance. On the latter, riding the bike is just pure pleasure.

markroder

Thanks chaps, that's all very good to know.

I ask about the weight because the other choice is a Guv'nor. No problem with paying for Pashley quality, at least in principle! For an all year round London bicycle, the dynamo light would be handy. Are mudguards / fenders essential too? Buying a Guv'nor and fitting these things raises the price to about 1000 UK pounds, but buying the Sovereign and giving it some Guv'nor styling costs as much as the Guv'nor ... but then you don't have the classy Reynolds 531 steel. What's a boy to do?

Anyone know what kind of Reynolds they use for the Roadster? I hear the weight difference is Guv'nor = 13kg, Roadster = 20kg, or there abouts.

Perhaps a Roadster Sovereign stripped of the "inessentials" - pannier, wheel lock, pump (would only get stolen in London), chaincase (?) - and fitted with these would do the job:




(Brooks B17 + Pashley leather grips)

markroder

I guess it would look something like this (my photoshop skills aren't good enough to remove the chaincase..) :

Add some cream tyres, take the mudguards off in the summer ...

NormanF

The Roadster is probably mild steel. I'd recommend on a 26" a B-66 saddle and the Roadster of course will come with the B-73. No one is going to steal such a heavy bike. And those "inessentials" are very much of what it makes it a utility bicycle.

markroder

I adapted the image of a 26" because it was easier to do in a rush than the 28", but I had in mind a B17 on the 28", with the handlebars suitably lowered. If not, then yes, the B66 would certainly suit a more upright riding position.

In London, nobody's bicycle is safe, heavy or no. We need very heavy duty locks to survive (discussed here). That said, I was referring to the frame-fitted pump, and not the bicycle as a whole; this wouldn't last a week parked by the universities in Bloomsbury, for instance. I'd have to take it with me every time I locked up. Nothing utility about that!

On the topic of utility, I'd suggest it's a relative term, relative, that is, to the uses you have in mind. For me, that doesn't include carrying things on a pannier, the wheel lock would be useless in London (it's a low security lock, and I'd be carrying this in any case - which probably makes my question about weight obsolete), the stand too. The things I do need are reliable lights, durability, weatherproof breaking, and not to be downplayed, beautiful design. Does one need a chaincase? Perhaps, I'd need to try without to see. Does one need mudguards? Probably, but again I'd say this depends on your philosophical stance. Short rides in light rain, maybe not. Heavy downpour, and you're going to get wet anyway. Why not carry some waterproofs instead? Of course, why not do both?

markroder

P.S. how about the Brooks Flyer? Wrong genre?

NormanF

The Brooks Flyer is good. Its the B-17 top with springs and I like it because the springs soak up road chatter and bumps. Weatherproof braking can be had with drum brakes and as for lighting, a dynamo hub is all that is needed to generate sufficient light in well lit places. If you're out in the country, you'd want to look into more powerful battery operated lights.

Mudguards or fenders as they are called here in the States, do more than just protect your bike from rain. It keeps the road crud from soiling the bike. And they're not really that heavy - not the plastic Bike Freddy Fenders I have installed on my Pashley Guvnor roadster.

markroder

Thanks Norman, less road chatter sounds good.

I think the Pashley's drum breaks and hub dynamo suit well. If only the Guvnor came with the hub dynamo too! It would save me the expense of having a front wheel built. I was more thinking about protecting my trousers from rain, and the underside of the brooks saddle. But yes, the less road grit and winter salt on moving parts the better I'm sure.

On the off chance you've experienced both the Guvnor and the Roadster (28"), how would you say the ride compared? Can you feel a difference with the Reynolds 531? I realise your Guvnor is now converted, but perhaps you took it for an outing before the work was done?

If the difference was enough to justify the expense, I'd consider buying a Guvnor for the frame, and fitting the extras I need.

coolio

I think it would be cool to get your bike in the morning and say to it, "Good morning, Guvnor." Then you straddle it.

Mos6502

The weight is only a problem if you're used to riding bicycles that weigh in at a reasonably low weight. But if you're stepping up from your 38lbs. Schwinn Collegiate, or Phillips Roadster, you probably won't care about the pounds.

NormanF

I only rode the bike after it was converted. You can keep it as a path racer but for me what made it attractive was the lighter frame. It still rides differently from what it would it if it was made of hi-ten steel like the 28" Roadster.

The only things I changed on the Guvnor was swapping the B-17 saddle to the more appropriate B-73, installing a fold-down rear rack, installing a dynamo hub to the drum brake in front, adding a front Holland style rack and mounting a period appropriate headlight on it and in the rear wheel, I swapped the single speed hub for a Sturmey Archer 8 speed hub. And of course I installed a full chaincase and coat guards on the real wheel. Those where the extent of my upgrades to create a dream Roadster.

markroder

I'm currently riding a vintage british triumph, a heavy rod-break affair, slowly rusting away. I'm quite used to the weight. Though I must say, I picked up a friend's Pashley Princess the other day and was surprised to find that my old bike was outweighed.

Norman, have you been in touch with James from the Guvnor Owner's Club? He'd probably like to run a profile on your conversion. They posed one about a leather bound Guvnor-style bike a few weeks back. Maybe you could send him some photos?

I suppose I'll have to pop down to the local dealer and give them both a try. The hardship.

markroder

Oh, another question for Norman if I may: how much work was it to install a dynohub and light on the Guvnor?

Other than a wheel rebuild, what things had to be done? I know the Pashley Sovereign runs the cable up the inside of the fork, and out the top where they mount the light, but I'm guessing that the Guvnor forks aren't drilled ..

NormanF

Upgrading a Guvnor requires work relacing the wheels and installing a front rack, etc. If that's too involved, you could get the Roadster instead since its already built up the way it should be.

Good luck on your decision.

fatsoforgotso

I'm curious about that bike, mostly because I'll be assembling an IGH'ed bike soon, but what's the gearing like on that Pashley?

The spec page on their website is very poor...
"Sturmey Archer 5 speed hub gears" Yeah, but which model? S-RC5 with a 256% range or whatever?
"28 inch wheels" That means... 700C x ??mm tires ? ISO 630mm? ISO 635mm?
How many teeth does the sprocket have? No mention of it anywhere...

Seems the Pashley people are more bent towards selling a bike on its looks, than they are towards selling it on, dare I say it... its "performance"?

NormanF

28" inch in UK usage would be 635mm. They should make that clear. Good question - all Sturmey Archer hubs today are made in Taiwan. There are some things that could be cleared up at Pashley.

Sixty Fiver

The Guvnor comes equipped with 635mm rims and tyres which is a nod to it's retro origins... believe the other Pashley roadsters comes with 700c wheels as the tyre availability for 635's is slim.