Have you been properly smitten...with a new bike?

[Deb13b]

Lol I'm sooo pleased I saw this thread, at least now I know I'm not the only one who adores their bike ! 27 years since I last rode a bike, aged 12 and I wasn't particularly keen on it. So the sudden decision to get a bike this year was a bolt from the blue. I wanted a pashley princess sovereign but couldn't justify spending that much so I got what I thought of as the next best thing, a blue pashley poppy.
A month down the line and I am pleased I got the poppy. She's not the "next best thing to a pps" she's absolutely gorgeous! And yes I've got the whole miss Marple thing going on, with a wicker basket on the front. And I don't care about the raised eyebrows when people see me grinning like an idiot as I pootle round the town. That bike makes me feel like a kid again. Every time I unlock the shed door to take her out I start smiling.

I know a lot of people on here don't do the whole vintage bike scene, but to me this bike is perfect.
So yes, I am definitely "smitten" with my bike !

 

[corshamjim]

Why the Pashley Jim

It's nearly bomb-proof. Almost never lets me down. It's also extremely comfortable - like an arm chair. Granted it's not fast but I don't need to go fast to admire the scenery.

Were you a girl in a previous life?

Strange question! I don't believe I had a previous life (nor will I enjoy another one). This is it, so I'd better enjoy it!

 

[Clandy]

Why the Pashley Jim - were you a girl in a previous life? Though they are a classic and got to say they have something about them.

Who's the girl, the one riding comfortably in their everyday clothes, or the one wrapped head to foot in gaudy skin tight lycra catsuit?

 

[Fletch456]

It's nearly bomb-proof. Almost never lets me down. It's also extremely comfortable - like an arm chair. Granted it's not fast but I don't need to go fast to admire the scenery.


Strange question! I don't believe I had a previous life (nor will I enjoy another one). This is it, so I'd better enjoy it!

To me I think of them a ladies bike as the sit up and basket up front are what I've seen 99% of the time / what I think of them. Though been to the site recently so know they do more. And...

Here here to the bit in bold and I hear you. So here's to your Pashley and enjoying every moment of it. Which model? Or post a pic of it?

 

[zexel]

Have you ever been smitten with a bike? Does it wear off (am sure it does - said partly in jest but didn't expect to love it so) and what was the bike? My new bike is temporarily living in the kitchen (there are two others in the garage already for one thing) and every time I see it I feel a lust for it! And the urge to ride it. Or may be it is just the latter - adding that so I don't sound insane. I want to caress the bloody thing.

It's the smooth lines and how good it feels when I ride her (the first thing I've ever owned that I've wanted to refer to as he / she). Is there hope for me? A place in The Priory?


Pictures of the object of my affections if you're interested

You are a very evil man!

 

[Fletch456]

You are a very evil man!

Zexel my man! That raised a mighty damn chuckle.

 

[fossyant]

In the last 25 years for 'proper' riding a bike I've never sold one of my bikes - tend to get attached to them. My training bike has seen two new frames as a result of car interactions.

My best bike was custom built for me when I was 21, I designed the paint scheme, then I sourced all the Dura Ace equipment for it. It's still my best bike, and I've had it 20 years.

 

[reohn2]

We bought a s/hand(with very little mileage, looking as new) Cannondale Road tandem two years ago and I have to say we're really impressed/smitten with it, the ride and handling is superbe, the BB7 disc brakes beat any tandem braking system we've ever had and quite reassuring that wet or dry one finger on the brake levers is enough to have the stokers head thump me in the back .
Other than the quite agricultural looking front "Fatty" fork which needs to be pretty industrial to handle the disc brake and stresses and strains of tandem use I find the hefty looking alu tubes to be a thing of beauty.
Its not been without a problem or two though,from day one we had problems when freewheeling which turned out to be a cracked rear axle/spindle that was hard to trace and more than a little frustrating,until it broke completely.With that replaced all was OK.
I was aware of the only other problem we've had with the bike in that it was fitted with ISIS BB's.
For anyone who's got or had these things there are utter rubbish,we wore two out in 5.000miles and friends with a similar tandem had the same problem,I solved it(I think) by buying a new Stronglight Impact tandem chainset from Spa and Shimano UN54 squaretaper BB's at £14.99 each(compared with half decent ISIS BB's at £50+ each).

The beast in question(before the c/set was changed):-
https://lh6.googleus...%2010%20004.jpg

 

[supercooper]

About 18 years ago I got a brand new raleigh dyna-tech 600 it cost £509 and to this day although I don't ride it I still love it

 

[Clandy]

The TSR is a bit of a looker:

 

[Sallyann]

Hi I've just been out on my new trek slx for the first proper ride & I'm in love  its just so light and quick!

 

[carolonabike]

Hi I've just been out on my new trek slx for the first proper ride & I'm in love  its just so light and quick!

Ooh, another Lexa owner!

I bought my Trek Lexa slx in October and it lived in the dining room until Christmas when I moved it into the garage, and that was only because all the family were coming round for Christmas dinner and there wasn't enough room for everyone and the bike.

I still clean it every week.

I love my bike.

 

[corshamjim]

To me I think of them a ladies bike as the sit up and basket up front are what I've seen 99% of the time / what I think of them.

Indeed their ladies models are very popular.

... Which model? Or post a pic of it?

Mine's a Paramount. Pictured here in touring configuration (not that I've done a tour on it yet - got that to look forward to later this month ).

Speaking of which I'd better get back on to it and go home now!

 

[Fletch456]

Lol I'm sooo pleased I saw this thread, at least now I know I'm not the only one who adores their bike ! 27 years since I last rode a bike, aged 12 and I wasn't particularly keen on it. So the sudden decision to get a bike this year was a bolt from the blue. I wanted a pashley princess sovereign but couldn't justify spending that much so I got what I thought of as the next best thing, a blue pashley poppy.
A month down the line and I am pleased I got the poppy. She's not the "next best thing to a pps" she's absolutely gorgeous! And yes I've got the whole miss Marple thing going on, with a wicker basket on the front. And I don't care about the raised eyebrows when people see me grinning like an idiot as I pootle round the town. That bike makes me feel like a kid again. Every time I unlock the shed door to take her out I start smiling.

I know a lot of people on here don't do the whole vintage bike scene, but to me this bike is perfect.
So yes, I am definitely "smitten" with my bike !

Glad you spotted it and got that chance to express your passion for the Pashley.

And glad I am not the only one that's getting smitten. :-)

 

[Fletch456]

The TSR is a bit of a looker:

Moulton's are more popular than in CC than I imagined them to be. The smaller wheels make me curious about stability and manouverability - any downside compared to say a road bike?