To purchase myself a Pashley?

[AtYourCervix]

But wjich one?

A Princess?

A Penny?

A Britannia?

A Tubey Something?

I Must Have One but can't decode!

[WetAugust]

My picador trike is easier to ride with a bit of weight in the back basket, otherwise it can be quite skittish to steer. Still adore it though.

I have had many bikes over decades, mainly Raleigh's. My top favourite was a Raleigh Wayfarer from 1972', a real workhorse that took me everywhere in my teens. It had a steel frame, front basket, rear basket that hung off old fashioned steel sprung saddle. It had no gears until I had 3 speed fitted.

It rusted away in the she'd over the years. I thought the Pashley Princess would be a similar replacement for the wayfarer as it too was step-through etc.
I was very wrong.
I know the Pashley is slow and heavy because I use all my bikes on the same stretch of cycle track and time my journey (to the pub) . My 16 gear mountain bike is fastest and my replacement revamped Wayfarer is a close second (it whirs along nicely). The PAshley is the slowest for the same about of effort and it's not a smooth ride. It a fight to get the PAshley going.

Which is why you find so map any almost new machines on eBay and why I shall be selling mine.
Also, the front basket can stop you seeing ruts and stones. The sit and beg position is good for preventing back ache.

You can get a PIcador on its side in the average large hatchback, or take it on the train. A courier would cost you about £25. I wouldn't consider riding one 100 miles.

[Aeroflotgirl]

I have no doubt they are beautifully made, just not my taste.

[AtYourCervix]

even better

I MUST have one!

[ch1a]

Basket is fine on the front of the parabike. Given what you have said I'd go for that one and enjoy!

[Stinkyminkymoo]

I came across this thread lat night & have been looking at those gorgeous Bobbin bikes. I've been thinking about getting a bike for ages and now I've found the perfect one! :)

This is why I love MN!

[AtYourCervix]

I'm going to need a bike rack for my car too.

and this here

[AtYourCervix]

i'm 5 ft 7. no need for a baby seat. I would rather like a basket on the front though.

[babybat]

Do you have any bike shops local to you that have them in stock? Go for a test-ride and pick the one that feels best for you! The Penny's a bit less sit up and beg than the Princess, for example, so it's worth trying them out in person.

[ch1a]

How tall are you op? And do you need to put a child seat on the back? If shorter and want a child seat in back then penny might be easier to mount and dismount. I am in love with my parabike more visually but I'd say be careful about inner leg measurement with a men's frame bike if you want to put a kid on the back as you can't tilt it and swing your leg over to get on. They both ride beautifully.

[LadyMud]

A few people have mentioned trikes such as the Pashley Picador. Whilst they can be great fun, don't assume they are easy to ride. It's almost impossible to avoid potholes, and a camber feels very unsafe. Try before you buy!

[8isalotoflegsDavid]

Oh. A wine holder you say? Well ok then. That settles it.

[AtYourCervix]

this morning I am being practical.

The Penny?

or

The Parabike?

[VivaLeBeaver]

If you lve somewhere as flat as Holland then maybe a heavy Dutch style bike will be ok. I have ridden a pashley and was unimpressed.

Heavy bikes can be ok. I've got a recumbent trike which is probably nearly double the weight of my road bike. But its got 27 gears and is fairly effortless to ride.

[Shockers]

Nope... not Dobby!

[MichaelFinnigan]

Stop 'imagining' how heavy they might feel, seriously, they do not feel particularly heavy for riding. No, if you're 'into' cycling and doing races they might compared to your carbon framed whatsit but for 'pootling' as the op has said she wants to do they are perfect, high quality, British made loveliness and if that's a bit Kath kidston then so be it, actually probably none of that applies to KK

And you can get a wine holder for it too (£175 !!

[Shockers]

I saw something similar in our bike shop yesterday, but they are very light. Dobby bikes or something... I will google!

[SolomanDaisy]

I have a heavy old Dutch bike, similar to a Pashley. A bike that is heavy to lift isn't necessarily harder to ride, they feel really stable and easy to me (though it is very flat here). Most Dutch people ride heavier bikes with high handlebars that look quite similar to a Pashley and these are bikes that are heavily used every day, not fashion items.

[8isalotoflegsDavid]

they look beautiful but I imagine if they are still as heavy and clunky as old skool bikes used to be then it will be a spectacularly attractive waste of money.

I cycled a round trip of about 25 miles on a (borrowed) heavy framed bike with shit gears while all my friends sailed past me barely breaking a sweat on their lovely modern lightweight things with squishy saddles and it was HELL. My backside and my leg muscles took about a week to recover.

[MichaelFinnigan]

I've often got DS in a front mounted seat and dd on a tag along, they're very good for transporting kids. The sitting up position is perfect for a front mounted baby seat, which I vastly prefer for a million reasons to a rear one

[MichaelFinnigan]

Have those of you who say 'too heavy' ridden one because that's just not my experience. o wouldn't want to carry it around, but it's not for carrying its for riding.

I truly feel I glide around effortlessly on mine and I am unfit and live half way up a hill

They're very well made, disc brakes, hub gears etc so will last forever. Mine is used probably 3 or 4 times a week and is about 4 years old so I do feel that I know these bikes quite well

[MusicalEndorphins]

Thanks skinnyflatwhite!

[cafecito]

I agree dawes duchess is actually really nice, dawes Cambridge too - very pashley-like but more manouvreable

Re bobbin, I think it depends on which you are looking at. I can't stand the birdie for example, but I really like the bobbin kingfisher, it seems much better made

Tokyobike may be worth a look


for less basket/flowery fields style I also like some of the create bikes
whyte tend to do practical bikes, eg the whyte Victoria is so lightweight
the hoy bikes in evans are quite nice and user friendly


However if you are intent on spending pashley money and are not overly short, I really recommend Pelago - some beautiful ones and ride like a dream

[cafecito]

yabu

heavy heavy monsters and the cath kidston of biking


the only thing I like is the whitewall tyres and some of the colours.

[stonehairbrush]

YABU

Toy bikes

[ComposHat]

They are utterly style over substance and intended for people with more money than sense. Far too heavy and difficult to manoeuvre. Certain to put any sane person off cycling for life.