The Pashley Guv'nor Plus Four bicycle.

In 2009 UK based Pashley Cycles released its limited edition Pashley Guv’nor Plus Four bicycle.

The Guv’nor Plus Four features a Reynolds '531’ frame with brass plated lugs, the lugs look absolutely beautiful and are truly stunning in the flesh. The bike also features a Sachs Duomatic rear hub and Speed Drive front chain wheel that provides the four gears that the title alludes to.

Its heritage arose from the 1930’s path racer for which the Guv’nor series of bicycles have become notorious.



The stunning brass lugs.



The Plus Four edition was limited to 50 bicycles that were distributed randomly throughout the globe. Each bicycle bears a brass identification plate that sits at the base of the seat tube just above the bottom bracket. Each plate identifies the number of the particular bicycle in the series of 50.



The brass identification plate on each bicycle.

Due to limited numbers, the Plus Four was hastily snapped up by bicycle collectors and cycling enthusiasts around the world. As you can imagine, each proud Plus Four owner is interested to discover the fate of the other 49 bicycles in the series 50.

'The Guv’nors Assembly' is a website located at http://www.theguvnorsassembly.com/ and is the site where Guv’nor owners worldwide display their admiration for Pashley Guv’nor bicycles. The site provides a forum, events, and other applications for Guv’nor owners to enjoy – and well worth a visit.

At present one of the members of the site, Duchy Wheeler, is attempting to locate and identify the 50 owners of the 50 Guv’nor Plus Four machines throughout the world. Duchy has had reasonable success with his task, although he would like a bit of a hand to complete his list as below;

	GUV’NOR PLUS FOUR REGISTER	as at 20/11/2012
NUMBER	OWNER	LOCATION
1	KEITH	EUGENE, OREGON	USA
2
3
4	SIMON	HERTFORDSHIRE	UK
5
6	FOR SALE BOBBINS CYCLES, LONDON.	Jan 2010	UK
7	BRETT	?	AUSTRALIA
8
9
10
11
12
13	FOR SALE VELORUTION, LONDON.	Jan 2010	UK
14
15
16
17	CHRIS	BALTIMORE, MARYLAND	USA
18
19	MARTIN	PUTNEY, LONDON	UK
20	GEOFF	BODMIN, CORNWALL	UK
21	JONATHAN	RHODE ISLAND	USA
22
23
24
25	JOHN ATKINS CYCLES	WARWICKSHIRE.	UK
26	NORTH ROAD CYCLES SHOP	BRITISH COLUMBIA	CANADA
27	ROGER, HALIFAX CYCLES	HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA	CANADA
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36	WIM	BOECHOUT	BELGIUM
37
38	IONUT	BUCHAREST	ROMANIA
39	RYAN	BREAKWATER, VICTORIA	AUSTRALIA
40
41
42
43
44
45
46	GREG	SEATTLE, WASHINGTON	USA
47	PRIVATE	ARIZONA	USA
48	TAFFY	OREGON	USA
49
50	ELLIOTT	EAST ANGLIA	UK
??	TRAVIS	SYDNEY	AUSTRALIA
??	WALLAH	?	USA

Duchy would dearly love to receive an email from Plus Four owners who have not yet been identified. Please email Duchy at sjb.gfb@virgin.net if you can provide any assistance.

Until next time...safe riding.

James

Fremantle Tweed Run 2012 - Promo

It's that time of year again when the good folk at http://dismantle.org.au host their annual Tweed Run cycling event through the streets of Fremantle Town. Last years event was a cracker and this years promises to be even better!!

This years Tweed Run will commence at 10.00am on Sunday November 4, 2012, at Esplanade Park, Fremantle, just near the Dismantle (bicycle) workshop. If you don't know Freo very well just look for the large ferris wheel near the fishing boat harbour, or for more info go to Dismantle's Facebook page.

Here is the stylish promotional poster for this years event:



Fremantle Tweed Run 2012.

The event will commence with a picnic style gathering of all Tweed Run participants in the park, so be sure to bring along your vintage ride and remember to wear your favourite tweed gear. You'll be surprised what you can find at your local Good Samaritans Store!! Unlike last year the organisers have requested that all participants wear bicycle helmets....the ride will be on the streets of Fremantle so normal road rules will apply to the group without exception.

Although the event is free please bring along a small donation for the Dismanlte group to  support them with their community focused cycling projects...they do some really good work! There will also be tea and scones on sale so ensure you bring a little extra cash to spoil yourself throughout the morning!

The Ride itself will begin in the car park at the northern end of Esplanade Park, and will meander in a southerly direction all the way down Marine Terrace. The group will then hook back around onto South Terrace and make its way up into the cappuccino strip to finish at the Fremantle Coffee Festival. Fremantle will be very busy due to the Coffee Festival so if you're not riding to the event get there early to alleviate parking problems.

Here's a couple of images from last year's event to wet the appetite...

...and a great day it was too!! Please mark your calendar and make this years Tweed Run a day to remember.

Until then, ride safe,

James

The Pashley Guv'nor Clubman

The original Pashley Guv'nor bicycle is a beautiful bicycle that replicates the look and feel of path racers from the 1930's. Pashley have lovingly created a modern masterpiece. The design, style and feel is perfect, and you can't improve on perfection!

I have owned a Guv'nor 3 speed model that I have lovingly ridden for the past couple of years. It's a fantastic bike that turns heads and invites favourable comments wherever I travel. Apart from all other features I particularly like the Sturmey Archer 3 speed gearing system with internal hub brakes that came fitted on the bike.

Recently, however, I've discovered 'Clubman' style road bikes from the 1940's. These bikes were also equipped with Sturmey Archer gearing systems.  Clubman road bikes from the 1940's can be typically characterised by the Raleigh Clubman models pictured below; 



1947 Raleigh Lenton Clubman



1949 Raleigh Clubman



The steel frames on these bikes had a relaxed geometry, usually a 3 or 4 speed Sturmey Archer gearing system, drop handlebars, and road brake levers. Pashley have recognised the growing interest in these types of bikes and have recently produced various Clubman models. Like every Pashley bicycle, the Clubman models are beautifully crafted.....although none carry the Sturmey 3 speed gearing system that I have come to love on my Guv'nor.

As there is no Sturmey Archer 3 speed Pashley Clubman I've decided to convert my Guv'nor 3 speed into a 'Clubman' type model.

To some Guv'nor purists I have probably committed an unforgivable sin. To set them at ease I must add that I have retained, boxed, and labelled all of my original Guv'nor parts and intend to return the bike to its original glory once I have outgrown my current creative phase.



The new 'Clubman' build was quite simple and very enjoyable to complete. After considerable research into the Sturmey Archer X-RD3 and X-FD hubs and gearing system I sourced the below list of components from various suppliers to commence the build:

• Nitto B123 chromed steel drop handlebars (after much consideration)
• Brooks honey leather bar tape (a no brainer!)
• Dia Compe Gran Compe road brake levers (beautifully made)
• Brake cables (road) with black cable housing
• Sturmey Archer cable pinch bolts x 2
• Lion Bellworks bell with stem mounting bracket

Here is an image of the final version.

Here are some close up images...

  

The Sturmey Archer 3 speed trigger position




Rear quarter view.

   

Dia Compe Gran Compe road levers


  

Brooks honey leather handlebar tape


 

.... and all finished off with a beautiful stem mounted bell from Lion Bellworks.



After identifying suitable brake levers, the only other challenge was to learn how to adapt road brake cables to the Sturmey Archer drum brake hubs. Thankfully the people at Sturmey Archer had this covered with their 'pinch bolts' that were designed specifically for this type of application (pictured below). 

 

Sturmey Archer pinch bolt on rear hub.



To the untrained eye the overall appearance is that of a standard road bike, but with the Reynolds 531 steel frame, long reaching front forks, white Schwalbe 28 x 1 1/2 tyres, and the Sturmey Archer 3 speed, the bike feels like a true vintage ride.

I've had a couple of rides with my new Guv'nor Clubman and I'm very satisfied with the result. Although a little heavy (compared to my normal road bike), it's very comfortable, relaxed, and reliable. This type of bike would appeal to the nostalgic cyclist who would like to experience vintage cycling at its modern best (if that makes sense!!).  

Until next time, safe riding.

Regards to all from James in Perth ....