In 1902, about a decade before creating Bicycle Wheel, an early glimpse of a conceptual revolution in modern art, a teenage Marcel Duchamp uses bicycle parts as they were originally intended.

‘Cycle Michael’ sketch rejected for Simpson chain advertising poster

‘La Chaine Simpson’, the approved poster

More on this marvellous-looking contraption on Wikipedia. The first poster depicts champion cyclist Jimmy Michael from Wales, the second shows the French long distance professional Constant Huret.

Toulouse-Lautrec, a passionate cycling fan, was sadly unable to ride himself.

]]> http://www.guvnorownersclub.com/founders-notes/cycling/toulouse-lautrec-and-the-simpson-chain/feed/ 0 http://www.guvnorownersclub.com/founders-notes/cycling/instruction/ http://www.guvnorownersclub.com/founders-notes/cycling/instruction/#comments Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:01:01 +0000 James http://www.guvnorownersclub.com/?p=1366

Instruction courtesy The Cycling Photographer

Some excerpts from a wonderful US documentary on early cycling…enjoy!

Directed by Jim Kellett, see several more excerpts on his vimeo page.

A new bike from renowned Danish product design brand Normann Copenhagen. Single speed, north road bars, hub brakes, a sure nod to the Guvnor. Though perhaps not to everyone’s taste, there’s plenty to admire.  More details and pictures on Yatzer

One quarter of the shop floor at University Bicycles

The eaves are filled with museum pieces. Defiant, 1908

Sterling, 1895

Not Oxford or Cambridge, but Boulder, Colorado. Home of the legendary University Bicycles, a shop visited by tourists and Tour de France winners alike.

I found myself stranded in Denver all last week thank to the volcanic ash cloud, and an escape to nearby Boulder proved a refreshing move. An amazing bubble town: Southern California meets Glastonbury in the wild foothills of the Rockies. No wonder Mork & Mindy called it home. Travel 20 minutes in any direction and its back to rusty pick-ups and the National Rifle Association. Sadly I was resolutely Guvnor-less of course, and could only dream of a tour through the Rocky Mountain National Park with its epic 30 mile descents…

But it’s very good to be back, even on the scary streets of London.

Click any of the above images to enlarge

A magnificent day captured perfectly by The Cycling Photographer as ever.

Well, that’s it until next year. Sadly I didn’t get time to put a ride report together, but I think these photos tell the story better than I ever could. Thanks to the superb organisers, and all who took part, see you in 12 months!

James

Don’t forget to visit the magnificent sponsors:

Brooks England

Pashley Cycles

Hendrick’s Gin

Rapha

And the supporting sponsors:

Bobbin Bicycles

Bristol Vintage

The Chap

Dashing Tweeds

Geo F Trumper

Harris Tweed Hebrides

Huntsman

Lahloo Tea

Tokyo Fixed Gear

TwoNFro

Images copyright Mark Fairhurst 2010

Ever generous, stylish and humble. The man without whom there would be no Tweed Run. Mr Ted Young-Ing denies himself a moment’s rest in order to serve cucumber sandwiches.

Graham, the creative and dedicated gentleman leading the Guvnor Accessories project (shown with unique course bicycle), and good friend Nic.

Inspiring fundraisers Malcolm and Nick from the Angel Ride, and two ladies on penny farthings. On the street, in London. In 2010.

Dedicated GOC member Adam is shocked at the Founder’s completely unpolished bicycle. In the background, Mrs Adam relishes an afternoon’s cycling powered by marmalade and pluck.

The GOC’s resident officer and gentleman, “Flyer” Fairhurst returns home after a brilliant day.

]]> http://www.guvnorownersclub.com/founders-notes/cycling/tweed-run-2010-fine-folk/feed/ 5 http://www.guvnorownersclub.com/founders-notes/cycling/tweed-run-2010-a-grand-day-out/ http://www.guvnorownersclub.com/founders-notes/cycling/tweed-run-2010-a-grand-day-out/#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:07:42 +0000 James http://www.guvnorownersclub.com/?p=1101

Clockwise from top left: The MAPD accessorised Guvnor, GOC Member and upstanding gentleman Adam, Fine chaps Nick and Malcolm from the Angel Ride, Their Bikes resting during tea and cucumber sandwiches. Click image to enlarge.

Clockwise from top left: 400 Tweed Riders on the steps of Tate Britain, A stroll in Kensington Gardens, Unorthodox refreshment from the West Country, Yours Truly on a single speed, A Gent from Brooks on a Plus Four. Click image to enlarge.

Well it really was a grand day out, and I’m still rather speechless. We are seriously indebted to the organisers, volunteers, marshalls and sponsors of the Tweed Run. We still have many hundreds of photos to sift through and a full ride report is coming later in the week. Plus even more faces to GOC members’ names…

In the meantime, much appreciation for these shots to The Cycling Photographer, a generous and talented gentleman we are lucky to have on board.

Images copyright Mark Fairhurst 2010

And the caption is…

Ladies and Gentlemen…our first caption competition.  To help celebrate the glorious cycling event that is the Tweed Run, and the forthcoming launch of the Guvnor Owners Club proper, we have two tickets to give away!

How to win

1. Simply write a marvellous, humorous, savage or generous caption to the image above.

2. Enter your caption as a tweet via Twitter. Follow twitter.com/guvnorowners then reply to us.

3. Prepare your wardrobe for April 10th!

Rules

• The best caption in the opinion of the judges wins.
• Entry is open to absolutely anyone who rides a bicycle, it doesn’t have to be a spiffing Pashley Guvnor, (we’re generous souls you know!)
• All proper entries must be made as a tweet via Twitter, (no account? Get to it man, it replaced the telegram while you were dozing!)
• Entries MUST contain the @guvnorowners reply tag. That leaves you with 127 characters, cripes…
• If you are extra clever you’ll squeeze in #tweedrun too…118 characters left now, crivens!

For example:

• You can enter for fun too, simply use the comments section below this post.
• To enter for tickets you must use twitter.
• Competition closes on Friday 2nd April at midnight.

Good luck!

*

Thanks to the rather brilliant Ted at Tweed Run HQ for this chance. While you’re in the spirit of things why not pick up some beautiful Tweed Run merchandise? And a doff of the cap to Guvnor owner Andrew for digging out the vintage poster, and to The Cycling Photographer for the caption notion…

Design and pricing sketch

Parts acquired, ready for craftsmanship

After significant time and effort, an incredible reward

The rack. The light. The brake lever. The handlebar diamond. The leather.

Astonishing details everywhere

Fill with water or Armagnac, the choice is yours.

More amazing pictures and full details at Ateliers d’Embellie, whom we must thank for kind permission to reproduce these images.

And an appreciative nod to The Cycling Photographer for the heads up.

UPDATE:

27/02: The Tweed Run is now full, no more spaces are available:

http://www.tweedrun.com/london2010/

A significant announcement! And some critical information…

On the 10th April 2010, at midday, 400 finely-attired bicyclists will traverse the streets and adorn the monuments of old London town, at a pace ideal to keep a pipe lit.

You and I will be amongst them, owners as we are of the most inherently suitable bicycle for such a magnificent event, the Pashley Guvnor.

On the 27th February 2010, at some ungodly hour, countless pyjama-attired tea-sippers will perambulate the internet to the home of the Tweed Run

This is the only way to register. The ride will fill up very quickly.

Do not miss it!

Since last year’s inaugural event, tweed cyclists have spread across the globe, with rides in San Francisco, Chicago, Portland, Boston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Sydney, Canberra, and many more.

London’s second run is not to be missed. A short film about the first:

Don’t forget: 27th Feb, registration. 10th April, the run.

***

PS Do note, the first Guvnor Owners’ Club run — an entirely separate event — is to be announced soon.

Anyone who knows anything about cycling will tell you this:

“Most cyclists have their saddle too low. This makes pedalling inefficient and is an injury risk.”

This simple notion is so prevalent, so universally agreed, it has spawned a pseudo-science of half-baked formulae, cod-physiology, unquestioned propaganda and suspicious ergonomics. Here are some methods to achieve the ‘correct’ saddle height:

• While leg is fully extended ensure knee joint angle is 25–35° (Holmes method)
• Make leg straight when heel is on pedal at lowest point (common shop system)
• Saddle height = inside leg x 0.883 (the LeMond formula)
• Have your knee over the pedal when the cranks are level (anecdotal observation)
• Saddle height = inside leg x 109% — crank length (Loughborough measurement)

I’m sure these methods can help you achieve a saddle height. However, they all take the following assumption at their basis:

“Cyclists ride far, and should ride fast”

But the problem is:

Most cyclists do not ride far and do not ride fast.

So injury risk is virtually irrelevant, and efficiency demand is minimal.

Everyday cyclists mount and dismount throughout their journey, and stop and start unexpectedly. They scoot along on one pedal and sit side-saddle for fun. They enjoy cycling because of its incredible convenience. A convenience thoroughly marred by a complex myth that results in a saddle that is too high to:

• pop to the shops
• hop off through an alley
• take a leisurely pause, anywhere
• stop urgently and safely

A saddle height that commits you so thoroughly to the act of cycling at the complete expense of the act of stopping could be positively dangerous. See that dubious gap in the traffic at the road junction? The committed cyclist will use his momentum and readiness to slot himself in, safely or otherwise. The lower-saddled, more relaxed rider may stop safely for a moment; it’s just a case of extending a leg to the ground after all.

The Pashley Guvnor is the kind of bike you can ride gently to a picnic — stopping at the market — then race your friend home through the back lanes. I have absolutely no idea what would be gained by positioning the saddle other than by what looked right and felt comfortable, to you, for fun.

Please help dispel the myth of saddle height.

Keep it for Le Tour.

Cycling in London can be visceral and cruel. The city is packed with road users who — if they see you at all — see you as an obstacle or target. Bus, lorry, van and taxi drivers might spend all day in the traffic of central London, and all day their hopes of a quick getaway here and a green light there are continually dashed. Why, therefore, should they give an inch to a smug cyclist?

Our strategy to cope is simple, but devilishly so. We have found a way to circumvent much of the fumes, the shouted insults, narrowing gaps and the 20 tonne daydreamers.

The method takes some effort, planning even, but it eventually becomes self-supporting. And the reward is not limited to a peaceful journey, it exposes hidden backstreets.  What is this miraculous strategy?

Avoid bus routes.

…

What? That’s it?!

Yes. That’s it. If you take the time and care to avoid bus routes where possible, there’s an exceptional chance you’ll avoid other fast and busy traffic comprised of lorries, vans, taxis and so on. Buses are merely a useful indicator of traffic volume, and so it becomes a fair assumption that roads without buses are quieter.

But buses criss-cross the whole of central London. It must be impossible to avoid them. Well, far from it. It’s just difficult, that’s all. London is full of backstreets, parks, cut-throughs and squares that when linked together provide a buttery path from A to B.

That path takes longer, but it looks like this

You need to combine a little imagination with your knowledge of course. The one way streets and alleyways of Soho are known fair game for the considerate. Elsewhere you may have to hop and off to shimmy through Cockpit Steps, Parkland Walk or the urban delights of Clockwork Orange Banks in Wandsworth.

The free Transport For London Cycle Guides offer a great start to your planning, but the committee-approved routes offer few secrets or useful transgressions.

For those you need inquisitive eyes and hungry handlebars.

Leave earlier, turn corners, take pictures.

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We don’t know why, but the city cyclist battles rain as a foe. They arm themselves with Altura–this and Endura–that,  sweating and striving through downpours, only to shower once again at the office. This very approach positions cycling in the rain as an ultra-specialist activity, perhaps second only to the Ironman Triathlon.

But you cannot beat rain, and neither must it beat you. You can only enjoy it.

It is to be celebrated.

An ultra-specialist at work, fast

Instead, just once, aim here

Pause and reflect

Ident sculpture with umbrellas, Channel 4 HQ

After the rain

Everything Is Going To Be Alright, by Martin Creed

Use the cheapest, most convenient lock you can get your hands on. The one that you can find out how to pick in 30 seconds on YouTube. The one that offers the least protection, meets no industry ratings and is strongly warned against by the shop staff. The one that is so widely recognised as being useless it invalidates your bike insurance. The one that experienced cyclists look upon in horror as if you may as well be giving your bike away. The one you would never choose.

Why?

So that you will never rely on the lock. So you’ll never leave your bike where it will probably be fine. So you’ll never leave your prized bicycle in a perfectly reasonable, CCTV monitored place like this:

Bike racks, Tufnell Park Tube Station

Someone’s terrible day. Thankfully (selfishly) the Guvnor was not involved

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

This owner happily chose the single speed version, not for decreased weight, cleaner aesthetics, lower maintenance or reduced cost. But for two more important reasons:

1. Gears are simply unnecessary in a flattish city like London. Why fight traffic and topography, when you can avoid the former and let the latter be your regulator? Highgate, Telegraph, Muswell; the mild effort to ascend our little hills is duly rewarded with a CAMRA gem and a freefall descent.

2. Gears suggest demand for a wider variety of speed, but a congenial band like 8-12mph will get you anywhere in Zone 2 in half an hour or so. If urgency or distance must increase, weigh up placability with patience.  The Guvnor has an optimum range and speed, and it’s just our choice not to extend those things.

So, the demand met by gears can instead by quashed by a philosophical shift.  Yes, apologies.

PS Of course we support 3 (and 4) speed Guvnor owners, in fact we love them as brethren. But we consider the single speed model the most Guvnorish.

Consider the Guvnor Owners’ Club formally inaugurated.