Some thoughts on the Guvnor itself are long overdue. It being so elegant a conveyance from which to view surroundings (and reach destinations), it is as easily taken for granted by the rider as admired by the passerby. After more than a year’s ownership here follows some reporting.
The Guvnor
Above all else, it is a pleasure to ride, comfortable and agile. You may dawdle for a mile then race for a half, whatever your fancy. The confident momentum encourages downhill freewheeling, and sweeping carves where a generous path allows. When the lights go green a forward-leaning stance delivers desired acceleration. Yet it promotes the wearing of everyday attire, as the Guvnor likes to regulate the rider. It says “We are going to ride at this speed and it’s just right for you, don’t fight it. There is no battle here, only pastime.”
The frame tubing is Reynolds 531, which needs no explanation to many. For those that do this 1930s steel alloy treatment was the gold standard for decades, winning several Tours de France and — while now superseded by modern compositions — will remain hankered after for years to come.
As you will have noted the supplied Schwalbe tyres are cream in colour which — while dirtying quickly — come good with a joyful puddle or a drizzly commute. The first set lasted 3500 miles, and were only replaced through tear rather than wear, glass fragments being the unassailable enemy. Spa Cycles of Harrogate will replace them for £11. There are no mudguards; this requires a philosophical stance for true acceptance, but we wholeheartedly recommend wooden mudguards from Sogreni of Copenhagen if insisted upon.
Retired Schwalbe Marathon tyres, pockmarked by countless glass fragments after 3500 miles of London streets
The Sturmey Archer hub brakes are considered by some on the soft side and of only medium effectiveness. But aside from their great aesthetic advantages they work perfectly well in every circumstance I have encountered: city, country, dale and fen. They have controlled 40mph down the Chilterns and 4mph through Friday night Chinatown, gravel towpaths and rain-sodden A-roads without a single problem or the slightest adjustment of any kind over 12 months. Will many other brakes achieve this?
Unserviced, unadjusted, undeniably brilliant
I took an accidental shortcut to wearing in the marvellous Brooks B-17 saddle, with a 40 mile adventure from central London to the M25 and back in a biblical deluge. I returned with a worryingly asymmetric saddle shape that is now gloriously comfortable to me, and me alone. Regular application of Brooks Proofide formula has since perfected the finish and I expect it to last for decades. The titanium specification may seem odd for a steel-framed, sturdily-spoked bicycle, but what you fail to gain in major weight-saving is delivered in style and distinction.
No choice but to trust me on the moulded perfection of this saddle.
I know of only two flaws with this bicycle: the apostrophe and the lengthy puncture turnaround. The former can be simply ignored, the latter mitigated with a well selected toolset.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
I love everything on the Guv’nor and agree with your comments. The only surprising thing I regret because it must look like an ancient monument is the fact that the wires have to ends. So, it’s impossible to replace them when broken or even to adjust them well like before. I always supply two cable holders for each Guv’nor.
Philippe from France
M. Vielliard? The M. Vielliard from Goussainville? Bienvenue!
Sir, your thoughts are held in high regard here, thanks to your dedication to the provision of Pashley bicycles in Paris. You’ve supplied at least two of our readers with the Guvnor, who both felt you’d given exemplary service. Thank you for visiting.
It is a fair point about the cable ends, but not something that has affected me yet. Any other readers? I ride single speed, does it impact the 3 speed adjustment?
When you supply spare cable holders, what sort are they?
James
Hello again,
Well, in fact it doesn’t impact the 3 speed adjustment but only the cable brakes. As you can notice both ends of each cable have a solded (brazed) bowl so, when you need to replace one, you must fit a standard cable (ATB one for example) but you cannot fixed in the brake. So, you must add a cable holder with a little screw of the same shape that the end. Do you understand what I mean or is it necessary I make and send to you one picture?
Glad to help you
Philippe
Yes it is clear thank you, I hadn’t seen the 3 speed fixing up close as yet. It is most generous of you to supply brake cable spares off your own back, fantastic service.
Gentlemen, please purchase in Goussainville!
Thank you in advance to buy Guv’nor in Goussainville.
Philippe
Hello James,
A London question: In your experience, would you say it’s practical to keep a Guvnor as your main town bicycle, all year round, rain or shine? Let’s say for a 30 minute daily commute? In particular, have you found the lack of mudguards a problem, or do you just resign yourself to getting soaked? Indeed, do you get soaked?
Best,
Morgan.
Hello Morgan,
Entirely practical. I very happily ride year round, all weathers, 12 miles a day. Two points about lack of mudguards:
1 . A ‘rainy day’ still leaves you with an exceptional chance that the short time you spend on the road will remain dry. This is a reliable rule, despite forecasts and dark clouds portending otherwise.
2. Riding the Guvnor in light rain has little impact on an outfit of natural textiles for such a short distance. In heavy rain you are going to get wet. I wear a Duxback cape from the wonderful Carradice, so my source of liquid refreshment comes from the road.
For this reason all you need do is keep a spare pair of trousers at work, and swap them over when used. Perhaps socks too, depending on your footwear. This situation happens to me probably around once a month, but of course sometimes it’s many weeks of good fortune, other times it’s five days of squelchy arrivals.
James
PS Cream tyres love the rain!
Thanks James, that is good news.
I’d temporarily forgotten about capes! I grew up sailing in full-body waterproofs so maybe a return to my youth. Bright yellow fisherman’s mac with matching hat, possibly some red wellington boots. I’ll see if they come in tweed.
I had heard that brooks saddles don’t like their undersides sprayed, if at all possible. Some kind of waterproofing there too? Yours seems to be in decent (if slightly odd) shape. And the leather grips, all holding up fine too?
Morgan
In fact, leather saddle doesn’t like the first rain, which make it spoiled but after that, the saddle having taken the right shape (if its the owner whom use it in this very first rain), it will be allright and will be not modified anyway. Obviously, put Brooks grease sometimes and after years dont forget to put it interly in the water during one night. You will see the dye in the water. After that you take it and place several ball of paper underneath and put three leather strap from old toe-clips and tight them enough to get a nice shape allround. When it’s dry, let say one day, you take away the stap and paper and put either cow-leg oil either Brooks grease (you can heat the grease) underneath the saddle and put it on the seat-pin immediatly after and with the handle of a hammer you brush hardly the saddle from the back to the front. After that, when it is bright (more than one hundred mouvment) you tight a little the leather with the screw of the carriage with the special key. And then you have really a new saddle very soft and confortable. Never tight it when wet.
After several decade, if the screw is to its end, you have to get away the rivet of the neck (front) and cut the leather and put new rivet and rescrew the screw to its initial position but generally the saddle die before this age.
Regarding the leather grips, no problem with any rain, only the colour could change.
Philippe
I think Brooks would have a fit if they witnessed the treatment Philippe suggests! It would certainly invalidate Brooks guarantee.
An old toothbrush is ideal to work warmed Proofide into the underside of the saddle and leave on, as Brooks recommend.
I’ve also found that by slackening off the 6mm Allen key tensioner by several turns can help with the breaking in of the B17 saddle, along with the recommended regular dressing of Proofide.
Safe riding one and all, Geoff.
Hello,
Lee from the USA.
This question is for Philippe VIELLIARD . In regards to the brake cable issue. I would like an image of the cabling in question if you do not mind. I deeply appreciate the Pashley line of bicycles and would much like a Guvnor. Has anyone seen a Guvnor 4 with the brass lugs. Supposedly a rare build of only 50 or so. I hope you do not mind an American stumbling onto your webpage. I was just browsing for Guvnors.
Thanks so much and have a great day.
Lee
Lee…….in response to the latter part of your question check out:- Founder’s Notes – Guvnor – One Plus Four……..safe riding one and all, Geoff ‘Duchy Wheeler’
Answer to Lee Russell from USA:
Here is Philippe VIELLIARD. I’m proud you ask me any question about the Guv’nor. You are not stumbling onto my webpage and you coud be browsing for Guv’nors as you want.
To be able to send you a picture of the “serre-cable” I furnish to each new owner I need to find a guy who has a digital camera. So wait a while, it will not be long. And I’ll need your e-mail for that.
Yes the Guv’nor 4 is a limited edition of exactly fifty items with a decided number of each size. I’m afraid, I’ve seen the last one to be sold two weeks ago. It was a 20.5
Do you know how go the four speeds?
Regards.
Philippe
Just from what I have read here on the forum. It looks like I will have to settle for a single or 3 speed anyway. I’m saving my money up for one in the near future. The Four is just simply beautiful with the brass lugs.
Thanks
Lee
Hello Lee, just to say as a recent 3 speed buyer I’d heartily recommend them. The second gear is an almost perfect direct drive, quick acceleration, nippy through traffic, easy up gentle slopes. Third gear really goes some, you’ll race round the park. No London slope has yet demanded first, so I keep it in reserve until I meet one. That said, if you don’t mind missing out on full throttle, I’m sure the single speed will handle just fine, I do most of my travels in direct drive in any case.
Morgan.
Hello, another yank here who just stumbled upon this blog. I’ve been checking into the Pashley Guvnor and am truly in love with that bicycle. By far the most beautifully elegant cycle I’ve ever seen. I guess it doesn’t help that I’ve turned into a Britophile in the past couple of years. It all started when my late great father bought a Mercian road bike. I have a Triumph Bonneville and love British cars and culture! I’m still debating purchasing a Guvnor or maybe building a replica using updated components. For the price that my dealer here in Utah is quoting, I could probably have something similar built for a little less. I’m confused! Any thoughts?
By British! The Guvnor leads where others haven’t even followed yet.
Ride on!
Or you could even “BUY” one…… how embarrassing! Sorry chaps.
Ride on!
Rest assured Mike, you won’t be satisified with anything less than the ‘proper job’.
Look forward to you joining our ranks!
Safe riding one and all, Geoff.
Thanks for the feedback! A rather dumb question. I should’ve known what responses I would get! I’m kicking myself right now because I discovered the Guvnor while I was having another mountain bike built. For what I got (Surly Pugsley) I could’ve gotten a Guvnor for around the same price! Also I’m finding lately that a majority of my riding is on paved paths instead of in the dirt. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll put a very lightly used Pugsley up for sale. I’m thinking that a 3 speed would fit the bill seeing that I’m in the Rocky Mountains and the Pashley is a somewhat weighty machine.
Dear Mike,
The Guvnor is not such a heavy old steed, if you take a peak here: http://www.guvnorownersclub.com/forum/the-public-house/the-weight-of-your-guvnor-is/?value=weight&type=1&include=1&search=1&ret=all you will probably find that it’s around the same as your Pugsley.
Regards,
Adam
Thanks Adam. I had just read about the actual weight after my post. My mistake. It’s quite a bit lighter than my Pugsley. I really am seriously considering selling the Pugsley and getting a Guvnor. Is there a U.S. distributor? Also, is it a limited production bicycle that is about to finish? I must have one!!!
Hi Mike,
Personally I would have both lol … possibly why there are 13 bicycles outside my back door.
I took my Guv off road at the weekend & I can report that it is quite capable of light trail use (I was able to outrun my brother on his Cotic Soul with no trouble at all).
As far as I know only the Plus Four was limited edition …. so go on … treat yourself … you won’t regret it.
TTFN
Hmmmm…. I wonder what my wife would do if I bounced a mortgage check. Something to think aboutI Really, I would like to keep the Pug, but it’s just not economically feasible right now. Maybe I’ll have to wait. Will they still be around?
Hi Mike,
I suppose it’s really down to what you want your bike to do, if you want to carry loads, tow trailers & generally work the thing then the Pug ticks pretty much all boxes, but if you want something a bit special, something that makes you think “im not ramming this one up kerbs”, something that leaves you with a huge grin & something that just looks simple, solid & classic then the Guv delivers in abundance (it’s also a doddle to clean).
Luckily my good lady is just as passionate about bikes as I am & we are a car-less family of 4 (for now at least …depends on the lunacy of our privatised rail networks).
So either way you will have a fantastic bike.
TTFN
Mike, we are a long time dead…….
Shuffle your finances, (as politicians do with ‘our’ money)
and enjoy the Guvnor!
Ride on!
Wacth this music video closely, and in it the best bicycle ever : )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEPVfq1tB1M
eva
{ 1 trackback }