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Are you happy with 3 gears

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5:21 pm
Aug 1, 2010

Mick Parry

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posts 12

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Post edited 5:22 pm — Aug 1, 2010 by Mick Parry

Chaps

I run a Pashley Paramount which is pretty good at nipping around town. It has 5 gears and I use all of them.

I fancy a Guvnor (although I would immediately fit some mudguards) but the thought of just 3 gears puts me off from making the plunge.

I have a simple question .… are you experienced Guvnor riders happy with 3 speeds and have you ever felt the urge to “upgrade” to say 5 speed.

Regards

Mick

7:15 pm
Aug 1, 2010

The Cycling Photographer

Moderator

posts 407

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Sacrilege dear boy.…… such a machine should have just the one gear,

as the originals would have.

Ride on!

8:11 pm
Aug 1, 2010

Duchy Wheeler

Cornwall. UK

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posts 395

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Post edited 10:47 pm — Aug 1, 2010 by Duchy Wheeler

Mick.….….……this question is going to open a can of worms! It already seems to have divided members into two camps. So it’s very much horses for courses. Personally I wouldn’t mind having some lower ratio gears. Cornish terrain and my age, 63!

Another run of the Plus Four model could be possible, using the new Sturmey Archer S2C-2 hub matched to the Schlumph Speed Drive front crank. There’s also a new Sturmey Archer wide ratio 5 speed hub, both of these new SA hubs are going to be used on various model options on Pashley’s new Clubman model. So it is possible they could find their way onto future Guv’nor models?

Safe rides one and all, Geoff.

PS, mudguards are another contentious issue!

9:26 pm
Aug 1, 2010

topper-hardy

Luebeck, Germany

Regular

posts 63

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Mick.…,

before becoming a proud owner of the Guvnor I was using a bike with 21 gears around town and cruises through the country and I was using pretty much all available gears (which brings it down to probably 14 real gears). Nowadays I am perfectly happy with the 3-speed Guvnor and I do not look back at all.

But like Geoff has already pointed out it depends a lot on your personal preferences and the terrain.

Kind regards from Germany,

Hartwig

7:20 am
Aug 2, 2010

The Cycling Photographer

Moderator

posts 407

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Post edited 7:22 am — Aug 2, 2010 by The Cycling Photographer

Hee, hee!

10:46 am
Aug 2, 2010

Mick Parry

Regular

posts 12

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Chaps

Thank you for the replies. I am interested in the possible 5 speed gearing coming up in the clubman and will hold back until then.

I have experimented with my 5 speed and to be fair I think I could get away with 4 speed but 3 speed may be a bit tough. Having said that, I used a 3 speed for years as a boy and was fine with it.

I may have mentioned once before that I was once employed by the Royal Mail as a Purchasing Manager for 22 years and a for a large proportion of that time, I was responsible for the purchase of the Post Mans bicycles, nearly all of which came from Pashley. They used 3 speed SAs and considering they had a fleet of 33,000 bicycles, all of which were work horses, the old 3 speed was remarkably reliable.

On a seperate note, what is the objection to mudguards, I think they protect the bike and the rider and it streamlines the appearance.

Regards

Mick

12:43 pm
Aug 2, 2010

Duchy Wheeler

Cornwall. UK

Regular

posts 395

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Hello again Mick.….….……I personally have no objections to mudguards.

But there appears to be two camps of thought within the GOC. One thinks the Guv’nor should be kept in its pure form, a single speed path racer. The others who admire the Guv’nor style but who maybe want to have gears and make it a more practical cycle for there needs and requirements.

I think, you pay your money and you take your choice, it’s still a lovely looking bicycle whatever camp you fall into!

Safe rides one and all, Geoff.

PS: the Pashley Clubman is overdue, their website states it was due Spring 2010.

3:37 pm
Aug 2, 2010

Dogbreath

North Herts, England

Regular

posts 62

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Te He, I have 4 gears…recently built a SA 5 speed, good enough for most traffic

Plus Four no. 4 :)

3:44 pm
Aug 2, 2010

Fenrir

London

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posts 165

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Post edited 3:45 pm — Aug 2, 2010 by Fenrir

One speed does me fine, once I got used to the extra push when moving off. When I occassionally scoot about on the wifes Poppy after tinkering with it, three speed seems more than sufficient.

Mudguards — not a problem with me, although I wish Pashley would jivvy jivvy and release the Guv accessories.

4:41 pm
Aug 2, 2010

Duchy Wheeler

Cornwall. UK

Regular

posts 395

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Dogbreath.….….…..more details and photos please!

Is this SA 5 speed on a Guv’nor? If so, which hub did you use, was it their new wide ratio unit?

Safe rides one and all, Geoff.

11:41 pm
Aug 3, 2010

Mick Parry

Regular

posts 12

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Post edited 11:43 pm — Aug 3, 2010 by Mick Parry

Chaps

This seems to be going from bad to worse. I want to buy a Guvnor ( I really do because it looks so sexy and the quality is self evident) but I drove around today on my Paramount and restricted myself to 1st 3rd and 5th gear as an experiment. It was bloody hard work, I need those two extra gears.

So simple question, can I buy a single speed Guvnor and fit a 5 speed SA as a direct replacement?

Secondly, reading another thread, it appears difficult to fit mudguards, this is lunacy, someone please tell me I have mis read it and that fitting mudguards is in fact dead easy.

Thirdly, I would like to fit a prop stand, why is it I have not seen one photograph of a Guvnor with a propstand ?

I take it they can be fitted.

Regards

Mick

8:20 am
Aug 4, 2010

Fenrir

London

Regular

posts 165

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Post edited 8:40 am — Aug 4, 2010 by Fenrir

Mick Parry said:

So simple question, can I buy a single speed Guvnor and fit a 5 speed SA as a direct replacement?

Secondly, reading another thread, it appears difficult to fit mudguards, this is lunacy, someone please tell me I have mis read it and that fitting mudguards is in fact dead easy.

Thirdly, I would like to fit a prop stand, why is it I have not seen one photograph of a Guvnor with a propstand ?

I take it they can be fitted.

Gears and Speed — I don’t see why not, although it may be easier to buy a three speed and upgrade that as the cabling and fittings are already in place.

Mudguards — Not so much the fitting of mudguards, but the styling seems to be the main question mark. Theres plenty of options out there, but the correct one is the problem.

Stand — I believe some of the fellows have added a stand, sure they’ll be able to direct you to a picture. Duchy/Adam?

P.S. Anyone know how to quote and reply so that the quoted text isn’t a single block?

9:21 am
Aug 4, 2010

topper-hardy

Luebeck, Germany

Regular

posts 63

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Hello Mick !

Replacement gear hub — comparing the specifications of the two SA 3-speed (X-RD3) and the 5-speed (X-RD5) I am afraid that they will have a different hub flange diameter and a different over locknut dimension (117mm for the X-RD3 and 130mm for the X-RD5). I don’t know if it would be possible to change the axle since it also accommodates the clutch or if the axles are offered in different sizes. In any case it seems that you might need a wheel specifically build to your needs.

Mudguards — fitting mudguards on the Guvnor is probably not as easy as on other bikes, but using these clamps might be a possibility, though I have not tried it myself. http://www.tubus.com/images/st.….lenset.pdf

Kickstands - you will find a thread about kickstands with some photographs here: http://www.guvnorownersclub.co.….kickstand/

Kind regards from Germany,

Hartwig

12:10 pm
Aug 4, 2010

John C

Guest

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I recently looked at feasibility of fitting the SA 5-speed hub. The different dimensions made it a non-starter for me as a DIY job. I wrote to Pashley who said they would not be interested in doing it as a 1-off factory modification and that I should consult a wheel-builder. I find that in my hilly corner of the Hampshire/Surrey/Sussex borders the lowest gear of 45″ is just about OK, albeit a real grunt up the sharper hills. I’ve now abandoned any notion of modifying my Guv’nor and instead I’m enjoying the challenge of adapting my riding style to the nature of the machine.

Regards,

John

1:41 pm
Aug 4, 2010

Adam

Manchester, England

Moderator

posts 399

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Good Afternoon Gentlemen,

I’m sat here with my head in my hands, I appear to be reading an online version of “Pimp my Bike”, what ever next? Tassels from bars? Spokey-Dokes?

Regards,

Adam

1:50 pm
Aug 4, 2010

Duchy Wheeler

Cornwall. UK

Regular

posts 395

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Post edited 6:16 pm — Aug 4, 2010 by Duchy Wheeler

Good afternoon Mick,

Looks like you may have to wait for the new Pashley Clubman ‘Country’ model, see: http://www.pashley.co.uk/news archive dated 15 October 2009. New SA 5 speed wide ratio hub and mudguards fitted as standard original equipment.

It also looks to be a desirable retro style bicycle and could well take sales away from the Guv’nor, if Pashley don’t get there act together with regard to the promised mudguards etc..

Safe rides one and all, Geoff.

PS: There you go Mick, I said this question would open a can of worms!

3:52 pm
Aug 4, 2010

topper-hardy

Luebeck, Germany

Regular

posts 63

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Adam said:

Good Afternoon Gentlemen,

I’m sat here with my head in my hands, I appear to be reading an online version of “Pimp my Bike”, what ever next? Tassels from bars? Spokey-Dokes?

Laugh Laugh Laugh

Kind regards,

Hartwig

6:55 pm
Aug 4, 2010

Duchy Wheeler

Cornwall. UK

Regular

posts 395

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Post edited 9:46 pm — Aug 4, 2010 by Duchy Wheeler

Mick.….….……some information that may or may not be of interest to you, regarding the Sturmey Archer XRD-3 hub with 28″ wheel, taken from the Guv’nor Owner’s Manual.

Gearing: Three Speed Gear: 44″, 59″, 78″. Internal Ratios: 0.75:1, 1:1, 1.33:1.

It also states: “Gear ratios may be modified by substitution of a smaller or larger sprocket,.….….”

Safe rides one and all, Geoff.

PS: this website and links may also be of interest: http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopD.….TabID=3521

12:36 am
Aug 5, 2010

Ian Martin

Darwin, Australia

Regular

posts 12

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Speaking of the Clubman, does anybody know what’s happening with it? Pashley have been long delayed in releasing it!

10:10 am
Aug 5, 2010

Duchy Wheeler

Cornwall. UK

Regular

posts 395

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Ian.….….……rung Pashley this morning regarding the Clubman.

They indicated a production model would be at the Cycle Show in October and the Clubman would be availalbe for retail by the end of the year.

When I mentioned the new SA 5 speed wide ratio hub, see my previous post, there seemed to be some doubt, so what the production model range line up will finally be we will have to wait and see.

Safe rides one and all, Geoff.