Gentlemen, show me your Guv’nor…
Discussion
(Starting with an apology to the ladies, but one assumes that any discerning tweed wearing, velocipede riding lady would do so on a machine such as a Princess, and not ride anything so horribly brutish as a path racer with no mudguards!)
Pashley Guv’nor…I’ve always loved them, and as it’s my birthday this weekend and I’m getting old enough to actually suit one, I’m picking one up from an eBay win. 22.5” 3 speed model, and I absolutely cannot wait.
No, I don’t live in London, own tweed, own a moustache or a beard or drink deconstructed coffee. I’m just a regular MAMIL normally riding either a carbon roadie or Ti gravel/bikepacking bike, but there’s something about the Guv’nor that just appeals in absolute spades to the stupid British masochistic part of me that makes me love my Caterham so much. Expensive for what it is, built by some bloke in an archaic factory, realistically not particularly competent at going from A to B, but impossibly pretty and just bloody good fun.
Anyone else got one? Care to share pics or experiences?
(No, this isn’t mine, but I’ll post some pics when I’ve picked it up and given it the once over)
Pashley Guv’nor…I’ve always loved them, and as it’s my birthday this weekend and I’m getting old enough to actually suit one, I’m picking one up from an eBay win. 22.5” 3 speed model, and I absolutely cannot wait.
No, I don’t live in London, own tweed, own a moustache or a beard or drink deconstructed coffee. I’m just a regular MAMIL normally riding either a carbon roadie or Ti gravel/bikepacking bike, but there’s something about the Guv’nor that just appeals in absolute spades to the stupid British masochistic part of me that makes me love my Caterham so much. Expensive for what it is, built by some bloke in an archaic factory, realistically not particularly competent at going from A to B, but impossibly pretty and just bloody good fun.
Anyone else got one? Care to share pics or experiences?
(No, this isn’t mine, but I’ll post some pics when I’ve picked it up and given it the once over)
Well, I picked it up, and the eBay ugly duckling has been transformed with nothing more than removal of a lot of plastic and a bit of a clean. Took it out tonight and I love it! Totally different to anything I’ve ridden before, stable, comfy, very long, and just great fun. I’ve got a bit more of a full “detail” planned for it and a few accessories, will post some more pics when fitted if anyone is interested.
EBay pic…
Plastic and dirt removed…
EBay pic…
Plastic and dirt removed…
Had my Guvnor about 8 or so years now. Used it daily for 3 years as my main commute to work and around town.
Added Pashley mudguards which suited it. Then moved house and had a kid and it's been sitting in my shed for 5 years.
Pumped up the tyres and took it for a spin the other day and forgot how smooth and lovely it is to ride.
Added Pashley mudguards which suited it. Then moved house and had a kid and it's been sitting in my shed for 5 years.
Pumped up the tyres and took it for a spin the other day and forgot how smooth and lovely it is to ride.
Edited by jodypress on Thursday 12th May 22:52
Hard-Drive said:
That's a beauty sir! Mudguards look great. What front lamp have you got there, and what's the brown thing around the bars?
Not sure about front lamp as bought a long time ago. But similar here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09VKZLMRQ/ref=sspa_dk...The brown thing is a Brooks trouser strap: https://www.brooksengland.com/en_uk/trousers%20str...
I've also got a vintage style water bottle on a cage on the handlebar too.
https://www.velo-heaven.co.uk/products/aluminium-d...
James6112 said:
Not the Guvnor, but I have a Pashley Roadster sitting in my attic after barely being ridden over 4 years.
I should sell it, or weigh it in
I had a Pashley Roadster Double Top from new for about 14 years, it was without question the worst bike I have ever owned. Every time something went wrong with it (which was often) it turned out to be using exceptionally rare if not unique parts that were almost impossible to find. It had various add on “extras” (front light bracket; mudguards; stand; rear dropout adjusters; etc.) that were all super cheaply made, with no rust proofing and either rusted solid or simply evaporated away in the British weather.I should sell it, or weigh it in
And as for doing maintenance on it … Christ almighty … just repairing a rear puncture was an hour long job. The day I collected it the shop brought it downstairs, as it came down the stairs the chain bounced off the chainring; it took them half an hour to refit the chain and once I had had to do any work on it myself I understood why.
tertius said:
I had a Pashley Roadster Double Top from new for about 14 years, it was without question the worst bike I have ever owned. Every time something went wrong with it (which was often) it turned out to be using exceptionally rare if not unique parts that were almost impossible to find. It had various add on “extras” (front light bracket; mudguards; stand; rear dropout adjusters; etc.) that were all super cheaply made, with no rust proofing and either rusted solid or simply evaporated away in the British weather.
And as for doing maintenance on it … Christ almighty … just repairing a rear puncture was an hour long job. The day I collected it the shop brought it downstairs, as it came down the stairs the chain bounced off the chainring; it took them half an hour to refit the chain and once I had had to do any work on it myself I understood why.
Wow, that's pretty bad luck tbh. I was using my Guvnor daily for about 3 years, about 8 miles a day. Never missed a beat. Only issue I had after that was not staying in 1st gear properly and it turned out to be a little cog had broken in the Sturmey archer hub (which isn't a bespoke part) and local bike shop fixed it for me.And as for doing maintenance on it … Christ almighty … just repairing a rear puncture was an hour long job. The day I collected it the shop brought it downstairs, as it came down the stairs the chain bounced off the chainring; it took them half an hour to refit the chain and once I had had to do any work on it myself I understood why.
Hard-Drive said:
That's a beauty sir! Mudguards look great. What front lamp have you got there, and what's the brown thing around the bars?
Found the light at a Pashley dealer.https://www.traditionalcycleshop.co.uk/pashley-acc...
Been doing a bit more tinkering. Machine polished the chainset, brasso’d the bell, sorted most of the corrosion on the bars with the old “rub with wet tinfoil” trick, and added a Pashley frame protector, Gusti Leder chainstay protector and saddle bag. Bit of Proofide on the saddle too. I also added some dual sided SPD’s, apologies to the purists but they give much more support on the flat side compared to the originals, and will also be better on longer rides with SPD shoes obviously!
Hard-Drive said:
Been doing a bit more tinkering. Machine polished the chainset, brasso’d the bell, sorted most of the corrosion on the bars with the old “rub with wet tinfoil” trick, and added a Pashley frame protector, Gusti Leder chainstay protector and saddle bag. Bit of Proofide on the saddle too. I also added some dual sided SPD’s, apologies to the purists but they give much more support on the flat side compared to the originals, and will also be better on longer rides with SPD shoes obviously!
Looking lovely. Maybe a pair of Vittoria Men's 1976 Classic SPD Cycling Shoe: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vittoria-1976-Classic-Cyc...Forgot to add, worth joining this forum too: http://www.theguvnorsassembly.com
jodypress said:
Wow, that's pretty bad luck tbh. I was using my Guvnor daily for about 3 years, about 8 miles a day. Never missed a beat. Only issue I had after that was not staying in 1st gear properly and it turned out to be a little cog had broken in the Sturmey archer hub (which isn't a bespoke part) and local bike shop fixed it for me.
Not really sure it was bad luck more bad design. And certainly the Sturmey-Archer hub was just about the most reliable part of the bike, though the little LED light on the back mudguard was surprisingly good.jodypress said:
Looking lovely. Maybe a pair of Vittoria Men's 1976 Classic SPD Cycling Shoe: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vittoria-1976-Classic-Cyc...
Forgot to add, worth joining this forum too: http://www.theguvnorsassembly.com
Ooo nice, although not cheap for occasional use! I’ll probably just stick with my very understated grey NW gravel shoes for now. However I could not resist a pair of these from Gusti at a very reasonable £13 a pair! Forgot to add, worth joining this forum too: http://www.theguvnorsassembly.com
I've had my road bike for 10 years now. WHile i love it I have always wanted a more leisurely bike such as this, or a dutch bike, or those cheapo chinese ones something I could just ride along at a more casual pace and focus more on enjoying the surroundings.. I've a bad habit of wanting to just cycle as quickly as possible/maintaining speed, which can be quite annoying for breaking a sweat and sometimes stressful in trying to maintain it.
ambuletz said:
I've had my road bike for 10 years now. WHile i love it I have always wanted a more leisurely bike such as this, or a dutch bike, or those cheapo chinese ones something I could just ride along at a more casual pace and focus more on enjoying the surroundings.. I've a bad habit of wanting to just cycle as quickly as possible/maintaining speed, which can be quite annoying for breaking a sweat and sometimes stressful in trying to maintain it.
Agreed. Don't get me wrong, I love chasing some Strava PBs, fast club rides and the odd TT on the road bike, and I love some touring/bikepacking on my gravel bike where times and speeds don't matter as long as I'm not putting the tent up in the dark. But there is something rather lovely about NOT having a Garmin on the bars, and just trundling along for the sheer pleasure of getting out in the countryside but going way faster than walking. TBH the Guv can actually crack on at a fair old pace...on the flat of course! But it is soooooo comfy, it really is.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff