I’ve ridden the Guvnor for over 3500 miles through busy central London streets, without ever seeing a single other example of this marvellous bicycle. I have glanced, looked, scoured and stared, to no avail. Every cream tyre or promising handlebar in the distance turns out to be fruitless. I’ve even seen a Phantom Roadster, only eighty of which exist, but other Guvnors have escaped me, until today.
I saw two.
This chap in Trafalgar Square:
Deciding against the perilous 18 metre alley between bendy bus and double deckers
And 15 minutes later, this gentleman in Camden:
Guarding the Guvnor and the Princess while shopping occurs
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations on a great site- its linked to all the sites of note already and our PR actually developed the Chap Olympiad for Hendricks- I love your font and layout!
We actually have a Guv’nor parked in our office for inspiration as an example of dogged best of British bespoke- an item that like a Bugatti probably costs more to make than it retails for…….
It sits alongside a Gramophone, the Rear of a DB5, the Front of a DB4, the Wheel from a DB6, the Steering Wheel of a DB5, Donald Campbells Teddy Bear (Mister Whoppitt) and the whole front end of a current DBS Engraved in William Morris Acanthus- the whole collective signifies what is still best about British Design and manufacture- eccentricity, overengineering, practical victorian solutions etc.
Congrats on a fabulous website and keep up the good work- Benedict Fine English Company
Thank you for your kind words Benedict. It’s so heartening to see the Guvnor recognised outside of the cycling fraternity, and to situate it amongst such lofty objects, cripes.
It sounds like you have enough Aston Martin parts to put something of a beast together! We greatly admire the mid-late V8 ourselves.
The very best of luck for the Fine English Company.
Fri 12 Feb 2010: Saw my first Guvnor today in Chenies Street, off Tottenham Court Road, at about 11am. Was it you?
Benedict; in fact, the closest cousin to the Guvnor may just be the Morgan 4/4 Sport, currently being manufactured and having amongst many other traits, its 1930s styling in common!
Jolyon, no idea who you saw, anyone else know?
I do cycle parallel with Tottenham Court Road almost every day, but not today.
Spotted: Clapham Common, near Old Town. Was strolling along on a sunny afternoon, when a Guv pootled past.
Anyone from here?