Forum | wheelbase of Guvnor 

Howdy folks,

i have been looking at the Guvnor’s for a while now, only on the net, i’ve never seen one in the flesh. I think i liked the idea of the 2 speed model (and of course the four was brilliant) the most though i am not sure how comfortable/practical/easy it might be in reality to change gear that way in real life situations (can anyone here can relate their experience?).

anyhow, i keep reading about the long wheelbase of the Guv but as hard as i look i cant find any actual specifications on what the wheelbase is for any of the three sizes, the medium 22.5″ would likely be my size …can someone please duck out to the shed and measure one for me! lol, well thats my simple question thats been bugging me…you know axel to axel, center to centre :-)

i am very curious just what it might be and it will give me a much better idea of what it would be like to ride, i already have a mid fifties poor mans (in the 1950’s) ‘path’ racer x utility bike that has a pretty decent long wheelbase (about 1130-1150mm from memory) that i like riding , frame is a lot like the pashley in construction, fork ends, stays, my fork crowns are different though,

but looking at pictures i think the Guv may be a little longer and the head tube looks more relaxed, maybe 68* i am guessing, which is slightly more relaxed than mine i think (been a while since i measured it)..i also have what is considered a genuine 1926 path racer x as well and it as similar geometry to my much later bike but has much better quality forged fork ends etc, i havnt got that one on the road yet though ..

so sometimes i think about buying a guv and getting it sent to me either from across the country or from the UK may even work out cheaper, sight unseen, mostly i can imagine what its like to ride as the frame is basic like my utility bike but i am curious just how much different it might be in reality concerning the geometry. particularly the wheelbase, also curious what the duo 2 speed is like in a practical sense to ride, whether changing is awkward at all or not, perhaps it is as i think pashley might of discontinued that model but i am sure if i really wanted that model either pashley or the LBS could make it happen

regards

Primo

Post edited 9:26 am — Jun 25, 2011 by Biscuit

The shed? The shed?

Walks off muttering, measures 20.5″ (crank centre to top of seat tube) bike in hallway.….….…. The shed dear god!

Anyway given that Pashley’s CNC digital bike manufacturing facility is a little way off I reckon the axel to axel centre on my bike is about 44 and 5/8″ ish and there is some wriggle room in there for .….….….….….…how shall we say .….….….idiosyncratic manufacturing tolerances

Duchy Wheeler said:

Primo.……welcome,

The wheelbase on the 22½” frame model is 44¾”, or if you prefer this Johnnie foreigner system 1135mm. But bear in mind there’s about an 1″ adjustment fore and aft on the rear dropouts, the measurement I’ve given is just rear of the midway point.

Safe rides ‘One & All’.

DW.

Sorry Primo… welcome! And DW can I just thank you for the rather perceptive inclusion of a significant issue, i.e. the position of the rear axle in the drop outs mine too is midway ish.

On a more qualitative basis — the Guv’ rides like the Humber when I had the Humber’s bars upside down — sort off — you know all front end boat tiller like if that makes sense).

What I have noticed is during ‘spirited’ riding and leaned over in the dry the front tyre sounds as if it will scrub much earlier than a ‘modern’ road bike due to no doubt the head and seat tube angles, in the wet I always keep an eye on how I’m cornering as my sense is it will wash out earlier during extreme angles of lean.

Despite this I love its ‘quirky’ handling and its my main road bike. i couldnt ride a modern racer type for long. I am looking forward to The Avon Cycleway 85 miler at some point in the next couple of weeks to enjoy the bikes rlaxed and yet sporty stance.

Hope that helps

Primo, let me clarify. Yes you can take the Guv’ to the man-cave but no you cant store it there it lives in the house if at all possible.

 In fact an application for a new mortgage giving the following reason ‘need more room to store my Guv’ would were I a bank manager be swiftly processed! regardless of income or tangible assets.

Post edited 2:06 pm — Jun 26, 2011 by Duchy Wheeler

Look here Primo ol’ bean, if you wish to embrace the Guv’nor cycle and style, then I suggest you fire up your Babbage and take a peek at our allied thinkers electronic site:  http://www.tweed.cc/index.html

Safe rides ‘One & All’.

DW.

PS: the shed certainly isn’t the place to keep your Guv’nor, how very dare you make such a suggestion!