My Pashley Guvnor in 2015

It's time to make a few changes to my Guvnor. I need some new tyres and I'd like to get a new saddlebag as well. 

I was looking for a set of white or creme tyres to replace the original Schwalbe tyres, but after being super impressed with the look of black rubber on the Pashley Speed 5 I thought I'd get some black tyres.

Here's the overall look of the bike at the moment, it certainly has changed from its original configuration.

I was looking for a set of tan wall tyres with black tread and after much research found some for sale at a bike shop in Germany. Unfortunately high shipping costs prevented me from buying a pair. 

Instead I went for a pair of classic Raleigh Roadster 28 x 1 1/2 tyres, they are easy to source and present great value. These tyres have a slightly smaller profile than the OEM Schwalbe Delta Cruiser tyres and run on a slightly lower pressure...but they are very good and roll as smooth as silk. It certainly feels as though they have a lower rolling resistance than the Delta Cruiser tyres - they roll better and with far less effort.

I also like the more traditional tread pattern of the tyre and they look great on black Westwood rims.

Being a big Brooks fan I just couldn't go past a Brooks saddlebag. After much thought (and a bit of procrastination) I opted for the Brooks 'Isle of Wight' saddlebag. This is a lovely leather and canvas saddlebag that is made in Italy and is built to last! 

It is very sturdy and really suits the style of the bike. I went for the medium size bag, but it's also available in small and large sizes and there are other colour options too. They are readily available at many online stores and are well priced.  

I also decided to change out the pedals. Gone are the original MKS Sylvan rat trap pedals....and in are the more traditional Union block pedals. 

These pedals remind me of riding a bike as a child in the 1970's. When I was a kid block pedals were the only pedals available.

What takes me back is the memory of spinning a block pedal with your hand...when you did the pedal rotated for may turns as though it would never stop. These original Union pedals are exactly like that! One spin and it rotates forever (well nearly!) Pedals don't do this anymore, and for this reason it's a pleasure to have a set of blocks again.

Original vintage Union pedals are still available if you take some time to look. They are often overly priced but occasionally you can buy a set for a reasonable price.

It's time to have a look at the LiON bell that I got from LiON Bellworks a couple of years ago. Two years of use has given the bell a nice patina. It still rings well and can be heard for miles!

The Britannia rubber grips have bedded in nicely. They are comfortable and grippy, and are a perfect match for the Raleigh Roadster tyres. 

I hope you enjoyed the images.

Safe riding from James @ PVC.

My Pashley Guvnor in 2014

Here's how my Guvnor is set up at the moment, and here's the story behind the change....

I've always liked the look of the 1937 Raleigh Sports pictured below. I particularly like the "Lauterwasser" style handlebars with the shorter Raleigh type stem. The short stem gives the bike a solid look and the old Raleigh chromed steel brake levers look fantastic. This bike has a classic style reminiscent of a path racer from the period. 

The classic 1937 Raleigh Sports

It was time to change out the handlebars of my Guvnor so I decided to mirror the look and styling of the 1937 Raleigh Sports. After a bit of research on the net I managed to get hold of the parts needed for the transition. I got hold of a short reach New Old Stock (NOS) Raleigh style chromed stem, a pair of original NOS Raleigh Mark I brake levers, and some Britannia grips.

Original 'Raleigh style' chromed stem

Raleigh Mark I levers

Britannia rubber grips

The Raleigh type stem and Britannia grips were affordable and relatively easy to come by, however sourcing the original NOS Raleigh Mark I brake levers was difficult. These steel levers have not been 'remade' by Chinese vintage bike component manufacturers, so locating an original NOS set was difficult and expensive. 

Once the levers landed at my home address I discovered that they were worth every penny. The steel brake levers are very well made and have an excellent quality chrome finish - not modern chrome, but the old type of chrome that feels more solid, if that makes sense! Even the bolts have a beautiful chrome finish, and quite frankly for this application there is not a brake lever available today that can compete with this lever.

I had a set of Soma 'Lauterwasser' steel handlebars that I had previously fitted to my Guvnor. As the new stem was quite short I had to cut about 25mm from each end of the handlebars to minimise the rearward reach of the bars. This measurement left just enough length for the Britannia grips and the Mark I brake levers to fit neatly on the handlebars.

Here are some closer images of the setup....

The key here was removing 25mm from each end of the handlebars. It's amazing what a big difference a small change can make!

During setup I tried several different handlebar positions but found this angle to be the most comfortable. It also allows for more knee room when riding up and out of the saddle.

Until next time...safe riding.

James @ PVC