Forum | The Handlebar End Cap Mystery

Good afternoon Gentlemen,

A couple of weeks ago I took my Guv’nor S.S. to where I bought it from for it’s first service. I told them about a strange clunking noise I had whilst pedalling and said I was quite happy for them to take as long as they want, as I wanted the bike to be perfect! A week later after they had ‘upgraded’ the rear sprocket to a Shimano, I happily rode the 12 miles home.

Alas on dismounting at my abode I noticed that one of the handlebar end caps was missing. I rang the shop, they said they knew about the missing end cap, and that is was missing when I brought it into the shop for the service! I was a bit taken back, and said, sarcastically, that it must have fallen off on the ride to the shop! Thinking that an end cap would only be a few pence, I asked him to order one for me. Alas, Pashley do not sell these individually, they are only available by buying a new pair of grips, for £50! Anyway, the dealer rang Pashley to see if they had one lying around the factory. I am still waiting for their call back, and have been too busy to chase it up, but I will do soon.

However, I know for a fact that my precious Pashley has never been dropped, crashed or mishandled (whilst in my possession anyway). So if it fell off whilst cycling to the shop, shouldn’t that be a warranty claim? If a wing mirror or steering wheel fell off my brand new car, I would surely pursue this as a warranty issue!

Also, does anyone know if the grips and handlebar end caps come pre-assembled on a new Guv’nor at the factory or is this a job undertaken by the bike shop?

And, is this a common problem with the Guv’nor’s end caps? Has anyone else had this issue?

Warm regards

Rich

Post edited 10:09 am — Jul 6, 2011 by Rich Senior

Morning Gentlemen,

Yes, agreed Mr MGcycleChap, Champagne corks would indeed add a little fizz to the ride, and as Mr Duchy Wheeler pointed out they would stop any dreaded top tube dinks.

Dear Mr Adam, that is indeed a very generous offer. I will see how I get on chasing up my bike shop, as from an aesthetic point of view the grip and end cap design was one of the key things that helped persuade me to buy a Guv’nor in the first place.

I will let you know how I get on with my bike shop. My feeling is that it was probably a shady ‘customer’ who unscrewed it whilst it was in for service…

Thanks to all

Rich

 I can well believe it fell off on its own, I noticed by chance that one of mine had come loose the other day so I tightened up the grub screw. Good thing too if they cost 50 quid each!

“… a pair of Moet corks just lying around”, such an ostentatious display from the clubs southern division 

MGcC

Post edited 7:45 pm — Jul 16, 2011 by Rich Senior

Sorry Mr. MGcC, did not mean to be so ostentatious. Truth be told, most of the corks we had were my wife’s Asti bottles and I often had a go at her for keeping the old corks in the first place.

Round these parts Mr. Adam, they will think me strange for not riding a horse.

My dear old dad and his dad often used to say “measure twice, cut once”. Alas, I still managed to drill the plugs not precisely centred… 

I think I will peel off the plastic top tube protectors…

Bon Voyage!

Rich

Dear Mr. MGcC, yes indeed, looking forward to meeting up with you at the Rattler, but I know with even this weight-reduction mod, I will need some other advantage to keep me within sight of you…

Thank you Mr. Adam, much appreciated.

Dear Mr. Alex McF, no trade secret… I don’t do that many miles, I never ride in the wet and I have never used Proofide on the grips. It’s still only a couple of months old. I am sure over time a certain amount of grubbiness will appear. I would like to think of it as ‘ageing gracefully’!

Warm regards

Rich