A blog promoting the wonders of Pashley bicycles - reviews of bikes, parts, interesting rides to assist in getting people on the best british bike you can buy!
Been a while since posting, but in news that seems entrirely fitting for a site about Pashley, we just ordered an Elephant Bike...
What's an Elephant Bike you say? Well it's technically a Pashley. These are the ex Royal Mail postal delivery bikes that have been withdrawn from service. A charity in Staffordshire has re-purposed them by stripping them down, restoring and repainting them and selling them on. The Elephant bit? Well for every one you buy they donate a bike to Malawi where they are often used on Elephant conservation projects. What a lovely idea.
The bike itself is a Pashly Pronto, and will be with us in about 3 weeks. For now though, check out the Elephant Bike site
If you have recently bought a bike with a genuine Brooks leather saddle (or any other leather saddle for that matter) you need to know about treating it for a long life.
I personally recommend the Brooks product called Proofide which is pretty cheap and does a good job. It's basically just Tallow, and you may find alternatives out there that do the same thing. This is not just a leather polish or cream, its an animal based treatment to deeply feed leather to proof it and stop it drying out and cracking.
To apply proofide, get a clean, lint free cloth and follow my instructions below (these are for a NEW saddle)
1. For a brand new saddle - remove it from the stem of the bike and bring it in the house - it will be easier as the first coat will be rather heavy. Using a finger underneath the cloth, apply a thin-ish coating to the outer of the seat paying particular attention to the edges, the breathing holes and around the Brooks badge. The final finish should look shiny and almost wet.
2. Turn the saddle over and apply a LIBERAL coating of proofide to any exposed leather under the saddle. This is not essential but will not do the seat any harm. You may find areas that you cannot reach, but do your best - this coating is to protect the unfinished leather from rain spray.
3. Leave the saddle overnight to dry, refit to the bike, and buff off the outer of the seat (you need not worry about proofide applied under the seat unless it is likely to drop off or get on your clothes). You need to polish the outer away until there is no greasy-ness on the saddle.
4. The best advice is to repeat this outer treatment after one week, then after one month, then after two months. Thereafter, think about an application before the onset of each winter or if your saddle is looking dry.
Well, our Pashley bikes are approaching only 4 months old and whilst they have not been ridden in anger in terrible weather, as we approach spring and summer it is worth giving them a once over.
I knew however, when I bought them, that they are almost maintenance free. The sealed hub gears, drum brakes and enclosed chain covers really need to be left alone until they are a year old (at least).
That said, a couple of perfectly normal niggles had developed.
First one was cable stretch on the Sturmey Archer hub - perfectly normal, so those were adjusted at the weekend. Back to running (and tick tick ticking) smoothly!
Second, was my wifes saddle needed a dab of oil on the springs as they were creaking! (I am saying nothing more!!)
And finally, a clean and wipe down and another treatment of Proofide for the leather saddle. In fact this time, following a tip from a fellow Pashley rider, I also put a thin coating on the brooks leather handlebar grips to help protect them.
All looking good, and both bikes looking as sparkly and stunning as they did from day one. They still turn heads when they are ridden through town. We are no posers, but its hard not to crack a smile when you see it happen!
Am now on the hunt for some vintage styled panniers for my bike, and will promise a review of my wifes princess sovereign soon!
I know there are some classic bike riders out there who play the ukulele ( I think they really go together well), so you may be interested in my ebook (its only a couple of pounds!)
"What Ukulele Players REALLY want to know" is published in ebook format.
I have been toying with this idea for a while now, and for the past few weeks have been collating, expanding and re-writing a host of beginners guides for people to download and read on their ebooks. It's a book aimed at absolute beginners that tries to break away from the rigid rules of the normal tuition books and answers questions those guides just dont deal with.
The idea is that it becomes a resource that is always available, when the internet is not around.
I have also added a useful glossary section and reference guide.
Its been a few weeks now since I fitted the Brooks leather grips to my Pashley - sadly we have had nothing but bad weather which has curtailed many planned road trips. Happy to now report that I have put these grips through their paces.
The first thing I would say is that I think these grips look the absolute business - they are formed out of a row of leather discs held together via spokes that run through them, and capped at each end with very classy looking aluminium ends. The aluminium is stamped "Brooks", and there is also a leather end label with the Brooks logo too.
They come in a range of colours, but as my Pashley is in black, I went for black grips (though they look more grey)
After removing the nasty stock plastic grips that come on the Pashley, fitting is as simple as sliding them on and tightening both aluminium end caps with an allen key. These grips are longer than the standard grips, so I did need to move my brake levers along a little, and in the case of the left hand grip, move the bell too. No biggie though.
So what are they like in use? Well they are large and substantial, that is the first thing I noticed - you really feel you are gripping the bike. On my first rides with them, I must say they felt a little rough, but having now used them lots, the leather is smoothing out and conforming to my hands They feel just great.
The real bonus (in the weather we are currently having) is that without gloves on these things get nice and warm - they are actually a joy to hold in cold weather!
I really cant complain, think they look great and feel great. Well done Brooks
About time I gave this wonderful bike a proper introductory review with pictures. Apologies for the untidy state of my garage! (click the pictures for large hi res images!
Pashley Roadster Sovereign
The Roadster Sovereign is the flagship model in the Pashley range, with a handbuilt frame, hand assembled in Stratford Upon Avon, UK. Pashley are one of only two remaining hand made frame builders in the UK and were founded in 1926.
Its a sit up and beg style bike, very solidly built and gorgeous to look at. Its a traditionally lugged and brazed frame painted in Buckingham black. The quality of the frame is clear to see as is the deep tough paint finish - this is a bike built to stand up to the elements. You will notice that it is a large bike - this is a 22.5" frame but it has a characteristically high bottom crank, so when you ride it you really are quite a way up in the air!
As you will see from the picture, it has a fully enclosed chain case, integral stand and rear pannier rack all included and again, all hand brazed by Pashley. It has front and rear metal mudguards, nicely finished and tripped with chrome detailing at the front. The pedals are alloy with rubber grips.
Brooks B33 saddle
As you will see it comes with an enormous Brooks B33 saddle in black leather, which is sprung at the front, and also at the back with hand coiled springs. I think the saddle sets the bike of wonderfully and is very comfortable (and should last a lifetime)
Chrome handlebar
On to steering, the Roadster Sovereign has a high chrome plated handlebar with swept back grips mounted to an alloy stem. It comes with standard brake levers, the gear lever for the Sturmey Archer gearbox, and a Pashley bell. (incidentally, about the bell - it aint a girly bell - this is a big loud ding dong bell, not a tinkle - I use it regularly, it really makes people jump and know you are there!) You will note that I have changed the grips on the bike - the only thing that lets the Pashley down in my book is the cheap plastic grips they come with - I find them uncomfortable, and in the winter, cold. I have replaced them with Brooks leather and alloy grips which are supremely comfortable and look great.
Those brake levers (front and back) operate internal Sturmey Archer drum brakes - no maintenance at all and no ugly brake calipers messing with the look of the bike.
The gear lever operates the 5 speed Sturmey Archer gearbox mounted in the rear wheel - again, maintenance free gears and no external derailleur to ruin the look of the bike.
Front hub and wheel
That front hub, as well as housing the front drum brake, also houses an internal dynamo which powers the halogen front light. The tyres as you can see are Schwalbe Marathon Plus puncture resistant tyres - they are also huge - this bike 28" rims!
Rear of bike, coatguard, lights and rack
At the back of the bike is the integral stand and pannier rack. You will also note the rear wheel has a coat guard to add further protection from spray on a longer coat. Fitted to the back of the rack is an LED rear light - this one however is operated by battery not dynamo for obvious reasons. You will see my pack on the rear of the bike - its a Carradice Barley and I will be doing a review on that in due course - suits the bike well I think.
Lock and pump
Other extras include an aluminium vintage looking pump and an integral lock. The lock is very clever, and when closed makes the rear wheel inoperable. The key lives in the lock, only coming out when you close it - meaning you always have a lock and key with you. I dont recommend relying on this lock for long periods, but its fine for a quick trip into a shop for a few minutes.
So those are the features - but what is it like to ride?
Well, its sublime. The size of the bike is the first thing you notice - its huge and that really gives you an imposing feel on the road. The sit up and beg nature gives you a really really comfortable position, no bent backs, no aches and pains. Its a lovely way to ride a bike, and you really feel like you are gliding along.
Its a heavy bike, and certainly no speed bike. Severe hills can be a challenge with only 5 gears, but honestly, they would need to be very severe to be a problem. The brakes will take a bit of bedding in, though these sort of brakes will never stop you dead (its not the kind of bike to be going fast enough to worry about stopping dead) - rather they glide you to a stop. And I think that really sums the bike up - its a bike for cruising, for pootling, for posing.
I think its absolutely gorgeous and am delighted with it. Highly recommended.
These are my black grips, and my wife has a brown pair.
These will be fitted to the Pashleys tomorrow, and I might then get around to a proper review!
These grips are just beautiful, machined alloy ends, connected with spokes that thread through a set of leather washers. Warm, comfortable, breathable. Cant wait.
Any prepared rider should carry around a simple toolkit with them - you never know when you will get caught short.
What do I carry in mine?
Puncture repair kit - for the obvious
13mm spanner - for wheel nuts and seat post
Allen key - to fit gear levers, brake levers and handlebar stem
Rag - to clean hands
small phillips screwdriver - to remove chain case if necessary
Couple of tyre levers
Some cable ties - handy for tying back anything that comes loose
Small amount of duck tape - just because!
That is perfectly fine for day to day riding. If I was touring I would probably add a spoke key and perhaps a wider range of allen keys and spanners for more serious tinkering.
On my Pashley, I want the bike to be functional. I have some larger clip on panniers for the rear rack, but I wanted a larger saddlebag to carry a waterproof, saddle cover, and still have a bit of space for a bottle of milk (or wine!!) if I am out and about.
The obvious choice was Carradice - handmade in Nelson, Lancashire, UK, these are old favourites amongst touring cyclists, so couldn't resist. I bought the Carradice Barley, and it fits on the saddle and rack wonderfully.
I'll be doing a fuller review of the bag in due course (when I get around to a review of the bike itself!). In the meantime, here is a picture!
Well, I say saddlebags, toolbags. My wife will be attaching hers to her Pashley saddle, but on my saddle I have a Carradice Barley bag fitted, so mine is going on the handlebars.
Real leather bags from Selle, for a great price - sorry for the picture, but this is them sitting waiting for a coat of leather proofing (tallow Proofide) to dry...
Modern neoprene stuff just wont cut it on a Pashley!
Pulled the bikes out of the garage as the leather treatment on the Brooks saddles had dried and been polished off.
This allowed us to refit the saddles, check the bikes over properly, and figure out how to operate the child seat (more on that in a later post, but we bought a rear child seat for our daughter)
I adjusted my brake levers slightly so they are in easier reach of my fingers without stretching, and fitted my Carradice saddlebag (again, more on that in a later post) but otherwise, all was good.
Now for upgrades... honestly, the Pashleys dont need much if any upgrading, but I am not a fan of plastic grips on handlebars. Therefore couldnt resist Brooks leather grips to match my Brooks saddle. Placed and order and they will be fitted later in the week.
These are very clever grips and reported to be supremely comfortable. The grip is made of rings of leather held together by aluminium ends and spokes running through them. Good eh?
Well, the bikes are home and safe. This afternoon my wife and I went to pick up our new Pashley bikes, one Roadster Sovereign and one Princess sovereign. The roadster is in Buckingham Black, and the Princess is in green.
Our first ride too - we picked the bikes up and cycled them the five mile trip home.
I can honestly say I have never had a bike experience that has put such a permanent smile on my face. Perhaps the only thing that would compare was when I got my first bike as a child, but the memory aint what it used to be.... We didnt even come straight home, despite it starting to rain - no, we went the long way so we could have a pootle through town...!
These things are such fun to ride - the riding position is supreme and I love the way you are high above the traffic. Oh, and they turn heads - afraid they do - cycling behind my wife I could see the amount of folks on the pavement turning and looking as the bikes went past.
The comfort level is brilliant, you really do feel you are swooshing along or gliding.
And, to those who worry that they are too heavy for hills, well, the bikes are heavy, but the gearing works brilliantly. There is a particularly long steady hill on the way home that I had worried about - all I can say is that I never found myself having to stand in the seat - just dropped the gear - sure you make slow progress, but the Pashley aint about fast progress is it?
We are overjoyed. The bikes are now in the garage and the seats are in the kitchen getting their first ever coat of Brooks Proofide.
Ridiculously over excited. Despite being told by Pashley that our bikes would be on a 3-6 week turnaround, just had a call from the cycle store to say they are in - in ONE WEEK!
Will be heading out shortly to pick them up and cycle them home.
One of the nicest things about Pashleys (aside from their handbuilt frames) is their choice to use Brooks for saddles.
Brooks are a handmade leather saddle maker from Smethwick in the West Midlands, UK and they make such beautiful things. They started in 1866
My roadster will be coming with this saddle, which is the Brooks B33 - I mean, just look at it!
After breaking in this thing will be supremely comfortable and with care and attention it will last a lifetime. Pretty good huh?
The sad thing is (as far as my wallet goes) is that Brooks dont only make saddles - you see I now want to kit the Pashley out with brooks accessories too!
