My Pashley Princess Test Drive
Key to integrating cycling into my daily life is possession of a beautiful and functional bicycle. Nearly everyone in America thinks of bikes as sports machines that require specialized or casual clothing. With a certain type of beautiful and functional bicycle, this is simply false. When I first started shopping for bikes, I did not know that such bikes existed – those with skirt and chain guards and dignified seating positions. Last year I spent a lot of time researching and test riding beautiful bikes before finally choosing my Azor Oma from Dutch Bike Chicago. This will be the first post in a series about the beautiful and functional bicycles I found.
I’ll start with the Pashley Princess Sovereign, since she was the close runner-up. I became familiar with this bike because it is the ride-of-choice for two great bloggers, Girls and Bicycles and Ecovelo. Hand built in Stratford-upon-Avon, this bike is as lovely as they come. The Princess Sovereign is also up to the challenge of daily use, with five gears, hub gears and brakes, kickstand, basket, bell, chain case, skirt guard, sprung leather saddle, lights, wheel lock and fenders. Beauty and function.
Pashley Princess
If you live in the States, be prepared to search diligently for the perfect beautiful bicycle. (This is something Trisha can attest to, as she calls shops in London to inquire about purchasing a certain Batavus.) When I began my search, there were no Pashleys to be found in Chicago. I located a super nice and helpful bike shop in my native North Carolina, North Road Bicycle Imports, that carried them and considered having one shipped, but did not want to purchase without a test drive. Luckily, I soon vacationed in Vancouver and was able to stop by Rain City Bikes to check this lovely lady out. I enjoyed the ride there and was nearly convinced that this was the bike for me, but was still torn between the Pashley and the Oma.
I returned to Chicago empty-handed. Then the U.S. Pashley distributor emailed me to say that a Chicago bike shop picked up the Pashley, Boulevard Bikes. I was so happy to test ride it again, and I’m glad I did. Once I got on the Chicago streets, I was sure that the bike would not be ideal for me. It felt too small, somehow, on the big road. Miss Sarah of Girls and Bicycles has said that she chose the Pashley over an Oma because she liked the smaller frame. For me, it was the opposite. I’m 5′7 and the hugeness of the Oma works well for what I want, while the Pashley felt cramped.
Pashley Princess
Even though the Pashley Princess Sovereign was not the right bike for me, I highly suggest that women looking for a beautiful and functional bicycle check her out! Pashley also has the Sonnet Bliss, which is the same but in pretty colors.
Comparing Princess and Oma:
Rain City Bikes in Vancouver, which also sells Dutch bikes, sent me this very helpful comparison of the two bikes.
This is a tough call. I will answer in bullet form for brevity.
1) the oma is an incredibly stout bike. very well built and also beautiful. comes with everything but the front rack. that is not standard. it is an add on.
2) the oma has an eight spd Shinmano nexus hub. some consider it the best in the world.
3) the oma has 700C wheels which is far more efficient for commuting.
4) the oma is slightly heavier than the pashley.
5) the pashely is still handbuilt in england by great frame builders.
6) the oma’s are hand built in holland and belgium by excellent frame builders.
7) the pashley is a little tighter feeling. so a good option if you have shorter legs or arms and feel that you would be “swimming” in the oma. probably not an issue for someone who is 5′6″
8 ) the pashley comes in different colors. one of which you know, regency green. it also comes in white (ivory) with cranberry accents.
9) the oma only comes in black. which most people want anyways.
10) the pashley comes with a basket. the oma does not.
11) the pashley comes in a 3spd (no rear rack) and a 5 spd with a rear rack. both have leather Brooks saddles. as does the Oma.
12) Shipping to chicago will be aprox $200 and aprox $200 for duties. amount quoted in CAD… minus aoubt 8% for USD exchange.
13) You will be very happy with either bike. every one of our clients loves their Oma/Pashley’s.
I’d be happy to answer any questions about the Pashley!
See Pashley Part II: Sonnet Bliss HERE.
January 17, 2009 at 02:02 |
If you love beatiful classic bicycles check out Velorbis at http://www.velorbis.com.
January 17, 2009 at 10:33 |
Kenny, the Velorbis is another beautiful creature! I also considered the Velorbis Victoria and Scrap Deluxe when shopping for a bike, so will be posting about them in the future. Thanks!
April 10, 2009 at 23:19 |
To be honest, and I’ve said this to lots of people, if I were just 3-5 inches taller (or my legs were a touch longer) I’d probably be on a Batavus Old Dutch. I LOVE the huge huge wheels, and it’s a super great value. That’s a lot of bike for a good $500 less than Pashley.
Alas, having freakishly short legs led me to Pashley. So for the girl who is petite and needs the small frame? Pashley is fantastic. But if you’re normal sized? Seriously consider indulging in the smooth smooth ride of the dutch Batavus:)
S*!
April 14, 2009 at 08:55 |
We’re getting a Velorbis shop in Chicago!
http://www.copenhagenbike.com/
Dottie,
I rode a Pashley at Boulevard recently too, the roadster sovereign. I had been looking at it forever online, and I was super excited to try it. But I didn’t like it as much as my Azor oma. At least now I can test ride a Velorbis to compare with the Azor secret service (probably my next bike).
May 23, 2009 at 22:10 |
Yup, I visited the new Velorbis shop today – http://copenhagenbike.com/
I prefer my Oma to the Pashley, too, but now I really want one of those new Pashley Poppies. Sigh.
May 28, 2009 at 00:24 |
[...] Bicycles: Velorbis Dannebrog – Victoria By dottie Way back in January I started a “Beautiful Bicycles” series, wherein I discuss the beautiful bicycles that I came across during my intensive research leading [...]
May 28, 2009 at 14:16 |
Dottie, I wonder what frame size that Pashley is. My guess is that you tried one of the smaller ones (they make three different frame sizes). If I am not mistaken, the largest size should be the same as the Azor Oma. One thing I liked about the Princess, is that the 51-size frame actually felt roomier than the comparable 51-size frame of the Dutch Gazelle.
July 2, 2009 at 00:11 |
The bike shop guy assured me that I was on the correct frame size. I don’t really trust regular bike shop guys when it comes to these types of bikes, though, because I seem to know more about the bikes than them! One day when I have some time I plan to re-visit the Pashley and give it another test ride. I’ll try to use a larger frame, too. It will be interesting to see how it feels after 8 months of riding the Oma.
June 9, 2009 at 07:30 |
I came across your thread, I am 5′ 10″ and have bought a large frame Pashley – it is the bees knees …… love it
July 20, 2009 at 22:34 |
[...] By dottie My new bike crush is the Pashley Sonnet Bliss. I’ve discussed the Pashley Princess Sovereign previously, which is very similar except the Bliss is different colors and does not have a full [...]
August 15, 2009 at 17:47 |
There is a great interview with Adrian Williams, owner of Pashley, on Bespoke’s website: http://bespoke.onthefourth.com/?p=552
September 14, 2009 at 22:09 |
I ended up building a high-end roadster from a Pashley Guvnor. The hardest part I had to find was a fold down rear rack and I finally managed to get one from a bike shop in Germany. The Pashley build quality (Reynolds 531 maganese-moly steel) is impeccable and the most unusual feature is alloy rather than generic steel 635mm rims. That makes a difference in the ride!
September 14, 2009 at 22:15 |
A follow-up note: I’m 5′7″ and the Pashley Guvnor I have is a 20″ which felt about right. Most roadsters are available only in 57cm which means its going to be even taller with those big wheels and while a big bike (like my Raleigh Superbe 23″) can work after a fashion, a roadster that’s too big would be too scary to even contemplate riding!
September 15, 2009 at 11:16 |
I have a gorgeous Velorbis bike – Scrap Deluxe ladies which I’m over the moon with. I am small at 5ft but they had the perfect frame size (I think they had 17″ & 19″) and 26″ wheel sizes for me. My husband has the Scrap Deluxes mens version too although he needed the larger frame ;)
October 7, 2009 at 13:48 |
Hi firstly love reading your blog Dottie and your pics are great. I have a Pashley Paramount and love Pashley bikes, perhaps because I live only 40 miles from Stratford Upon Avon where they are built.
You felt the Pashley Princess was too small for you, this is because it was the smallest 17.5″ frame. Pashley also do frame sizes of 20″ and 22.5″ one of which will suit you better. Visit their website http://www.pashley.co.uk and all their models are on there. Great English bikes, even their contemporary range like my Paramount have lovely upright riding positions.
October 14, 2009 at 17:50 |
[...] by it as I do with my Azor. This feeling was more comparable to how I felt riding the Pashley Princess and [...]