Velorum59
Active Member
After a 10 year break due to health issues I have now been able to return to cycling.
Initially I bought a mid 70's Triumph Roadster at a good price mainly for nostalgic reasons - I enjoyed riding bikes like this in the 70's when they were quite unfashionable unless you were an old guy wearing a cloth cap! This is OK for occasional use but boy is it heavy and the hills around here (Cornwall) can be steep.
Ive always loved the aesthetic of the Pashley Guvnor so despite it not being the lightest thing around (thinking of those hills again!) I thought that I would give one a try.
A new one at over £1K was out of the question and it took me a while to track one down in my price range. I managed to do this last month - an example described as fully working but 'cosmetically challenged'. It was however such a good price I went for it. The 'cosmetically challenged' description came from the fact that that areas of the original paintwork had bubbled and peeled the seller had rubbed these down and repainted with Hammerite 'Smooth'. Perfectly OK from a distance but a bit rough / uneven up close. Everything else was fine and the bike had obviously been maintained on a regular basis. The rear tyre was nearly new.
As usual with an eBay purchase delivery wasnt an option and the seller was come distance away in West London - however I managed to coordinate collection with a visit to my Daughter in Reading. Fortunately with the front wheel removed (quick release front axle - hurray!) I could fit the Guvnor in my tiny Kia hatchback so it wasnt long before I had the bike back home.
During the first ride I concluded that I made exactly the right decision - this thing suits me perfectly - how it looks and how it rides. Ive had to make a few small changes though. I found the original stem too long so fitted an alloy short reach one. Also the gearing (3 speed SA) whilst reasonably good was I felt a little too high - a 24t rear sprocket has brought it down to 1st: 36.5", 2nd: 49" and 3rd: 65". Perfect for local conditions.
I touched up a few areas of paintwork on the frame and added a seat post QR mount for my vintage Carradice saddlebag. The AXA led headlight is mounted in an alloy bracket from SJS cycles.
I am the third owner, the chap I bought it from had in turn bought it from the initial owner in Hampshire. He couldnt give me any other history.
After examining the frame I eventually found the frame number - this was on the rear drum brake torsion bar mounting bracket hidden under layers of Hammerite! Rather frustratingly Pashley does not have a structured linear frame numbering system so its not possible to look up the year of manufacture - Ive emailed them in the hope that they keep some kind of computer record. The frame number is 150569 and Im wondering whether this is a 2015 model? Hopefully they will get back to me about this.
Initially I bought a mid 70's Triumph Roadster at a good price mainly for nostalgic reasons - I enjoyed riding bikes like this in the 70's when they were quite unfashionable unless you were an old guy wearing a cloth cap! This is OK for occasional use but boy is it heavy and the hills around here (Cornwall) can be steep.
Ive always loved the aesthetic of the Pashley Guvnor so despite it not being the lightest thing around (thinking of those hills again!) I thought that I would give one a try.
A new one at over £1K was out of the question and it took me a while to track one down in my price range. I managed to do this last month - an example described as fully working but 'cosmetically challenged'. It was however such a good price I went for it. The 'cosmetically challenged' description came from the fact that that areas of the original paintwork had bubbled and peeled the seller had rubbed these down and repainted with Hammerite 'Smooth'. Perfectly OK from a distance but a bit rough / uneven up close. Everything else was fine and the bike had obviously been maintained on a regular basis. The rear tyre was nearly new.
As usual with an eBay purchase delivery wasnt an option and the seller was come distance away in West London - however I managed to coordinate collection with a visit to my Daughter in Reading. Fortunately with the front wheel removed (quick release front axle - hurray!) I could fit the Guvnor in my tiny Kia hatchback so it wasnt long before I had the bike back home.
During the first ride I concluded that I made exactly the right decision - this thing suits me perfectly - how it looks and how it rides. Ive had to make a few small changes though. I found the original stem too long so fitted an alloy short reach one. Also the gearing (3 speed SA) whilst reasonably good was I felt a little too high - a 24t rear sprocket has brought it down to 1st: 36.5", 2nd: 49" and 3rd: 65". Perfect for local conditions.
I touched up a few areas of paintwork on the frame and added a seat post QR mount for my vintage Carradice saddlebag. The AXA led headlight is mounted in an alloy bracket from SJS cycles.
I am the third owner, the chap I bought it from had in turn bought it from the initial owner in Hampshire. He couldnt give me any other history.
After examining the frame I eventually found the frame number - this was on the rear drum brake torsion bar mounting bracket hidden under layers of Hammerite! Rather frustratingly Pashley does not have a structured linear frame numbering system so its not possible to look up the year of manufacture - Ive emailed them in the hope that they keep some kind of computer record. The frame number is 150569 and Im wondering whether this is a 2015 model? Hopefully they will get back to me about this.
