tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post4137313997231547601..comments2024-03-27T05:14:23.738-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: England Made Me: Pashley, Raleigh and Dawes in LondonVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-89525469517596396962014-04-13T12:00:39.403-04:002014-04-13T12:00:39.403-04:00strange you didn't feature more Bromptons - th...strange you didn't feature more Bromptons - they are all over the place - mind you, not many get left in the street! (they get taken indoors as they are VERY stealable). But plenty cycle by whenever I am in "the Smoke".Pedal Pusherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02912765232379572267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-31309329476767087132010-04-06T00:40:04.116-04:002010-04-06T00:40:04.116-04:00I agree that England deserves huge props for conti...I agree that England deserves huge props for continuing to make hand-built bicycles. I have that green Pashley Princess, so it's kind of exciting to see a photo of one in London! I'm yearning for a Brompton, they are so sharp-looking and perfect to pack up on the train or for a canping trip to the mountains. Glad I found your blog!Bicycles, Friends & Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07605073125451433412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-61737219334264953302010-04-02T19:39:31.344-04:002010-04-02T19:39:31.344-04:00I live in York, but was in London on Tuesday. Def...I live in York, but was in London on Tuesday. Definitely not as cycle friendly nor active as York, but much more so than when I lived in London in the 80s.<br /><br />The UK government has a program to encourage commuting to work by cycle and you can save up to 50% on the cost of a bike.<br /><br />http://www.bike2workscheme.co.uk/<br /><br />A lot of people cycle to work here in York. We have a good network of cycle lanes and some traffic free cycle paths. I certainly would like to see more, but am glad for what we have. We see all types of bikes: racing bikes, MTBs are popular with teenagers, but for the more mature we are seeing more traditional cycles like the Pashley and Raleigh. City cycle Giants seem popular too.Avrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01259201525167419537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-46204236179717126732010-03-28T07:10:50.341-04:002010-03-28T07:10:50.341-04:00It's so fun to see my city and its bicycles th...It's so fun to see my city and its bicycles through your eyes! I actually find London a pretty great place to cycle - there are SO many cyclists on the road today, cars are generally pretty aware of us. The problem is the big trucks, there are a lot of them and you really have to be careful. There's a huge cycling culture here though - loads of Dutch bikes and old step-through Raleigh Cameos etc, and a fair few Pashleys, but there's also now a massive single speed / fixed gear thing going on as well, with lots of lovely restored vintage frames which people have converted. There are some great cycle paths here - the Regent's Canal Path is one of my favourites, it's great for a leisurely Sunday ride with a stop at Lock 7, a really wonderful and unique cycle cafe. I don't wear the fluoro jackets etc myself, but I did when I first started riding - it made me feel a lot safer to know that I'd be seen, especially in bad weather. Hope you enjoyed your brief stay in London, you must stop by for longer next time!janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11446887350355708285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-59605733514680393132010-03-26T00:04:20.526-04:002010-03-26T00:04:20.526-04:00@knit nurse
"single-track country lanes"...@knit nurse<br /><br />"single-track country lanes" Be still, my heart! I often daydream about riding my vintage roadster past bucolic scenery on quiet country roads in England!Giffennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-12456741263999468302010-03-25T10:26:29.584-04:002010-03-25T10:26:29.584-04:00More people certainly cycle in London in recent ye...More people certainly cycle in London in recent years - due to the cost of public transport, the desire to keep fit, and undoubtedly there is still some knock-on effect from the terrorist bombs five years ago which put a lot of people off using the underground.<br /><br />The provision of properly marked and signed cycle routes in central London is particularly poor, although if you know the roads you can take some quiet routes. But a lot of the big parks have cycle routes through them or along their edges, the Thames path is good for cyclists if you are considerate, and you can ride for miles along the canals and waterways particularly in east London. <br /><br />Outside of the city centre the quality of the cycle routes depends on each borough - some have very active cycle officers, others don't really seem to care. My route to work (about 6 miles from SE London to Pimlico) is about 20% traffic free and 60% traffic-calmed or very quiet streets.<br /><br />Our current mayor has a pet project to provide a network of 'cycle superhighways' into the city centre for commuters - I can't say it appeals to me (even when I'm driving I prefer single-track country lanes to motorways!) but if it results in an improvement in road junctions, signage and facilities for cyclists, I'm all for it.knit nursehttp://theknitnursechronicles.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-24238279910990884542010-03-25T08:40:06.621-04:002010-03-25T08:40:06.621-04:00You were in London - Nice!
Great photos - especial...You were in London - Nice!<br />Great photos - especially of that Pashley outside of the shop... they were rather brave to leave it unlocked - I'd have such a fear of my Princess being stolen.<br /><br />I've not seen very many Pashleys in my specific patch of London (and I don't think I'm likely too either...) - I've yet to see that many in London in one go come to think of it! <br /><br />Lady Vélo.Lady Vélohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05388887435487322584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-19187168390100562082010-03-24T16:30:39.803-04:002010-03-24T16:30:39.803-04:00Hi. I'm the art director / web designer for a ...Hi. I'm the art director / web designer for a bike start-up in SF. Working out our homepage concept, I used an image of yours of two bikes against a brick wall with you standing between. We loved the concept and we did a photoshoot based on it. Your image was never re-published, just used internally for creative guidance. However, we'd like to credit you and add a link to your blog. our temporary site is www.publicbikes.com We are launching for real late next month.<br />We've referred to your blog on several occasions for inspiration. Can you please contact me at hannah@publicbikes.com to verify this friendly use of this photo set up? I quick review of your flickr gallery did not turn it up again. But I'm quite certain it's yours....<br /><br />Thanks a lot. HannahHannah Henryhttp://hannahhenry.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-40223234620388750552010-03-24T09:25:13.785-04:002010-03-24T09:25:13.785-04:00Hey there,
We have been reading the articles on y...Hey there,<br /><br />We have been reading the articles on your website http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/<br /> and are very impressed with the quality of your information.<br /><br />We have a team of copywriters who specialize in writing articles on various topics and would like to write an original article for you to use on your website – this article will not be used anywhere else on the Internet.<br /><br />In exchange all we ask is that we can have one or two links within the body of the article back to one of our sites. You can view a sample of the quality of our articles at http://www.greenspeedrecumbents.com/_blog/Articles<br /><br />If you are interested in having us write an article for your website please just let me know and we would be more than happy to have one written for you within two weeks.<br /><br />Kind regards,<br />PapiaTluxehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16910275201846002702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-52288057522971265682010-03-24T08:58:26.946-04:002010-03-24T08:58:26.946-04:00For information: Confirming and enlarging upon wh...For information: Confirming and enlarging upon what John wrote, the Mailstar is not available to the general public. However a virtually identical bicycle - the Pashley Pronto - is on sale at a price (in England) of about 700 pounds sterling(that's about 1050 dollars US). I expect the bike you saw was a Pronto and that the owner had chosen post office red as its colour.Pops Coffeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14646256791213714144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-28718849961653450532010-03-23T17:26:46.452-04:002010-03-23T17:26:46.452-04:00Funny how a Pashley doesn't seem to mind the r...Funny how a Pashley doesn't seem to mind the rain. Toronto is getting drenched this week, and my new Roadster doesn't seem to mind a bit. I did wax him last week, I admit.. <br /><br />Thanks for the pics of these beauties in their natural habitat ;)Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-63940124750446392982010-03-23T16:12:54.478-04:002010-03-23T16:12:54.478-04:00When I lived in London 7 years ago, although I kne...When I lived in London 7 years ago, although I knew plenty of people who cycled to work (and stored their bikes in the office), you hardly ever saw bikes in the street. When I visited last September, I couldn't believe the change. Bikes were parked everywhere, especially around Soho. There has been a massive change from what I've seen, but it is still only a tiny percentage of people who ride. If London had the level of cycling that Amsterdam has, I suspect it might get tricky to walk down the street!sheffield cycle chichttp://sheffieldcyclechic.tumblr.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-79700838948174310002010-03-23T14:45:21.059-04:002010-03-23T14:45:21.059-04:00Hi there,
With regards to your question about whe...Hi there,<br /><br />With regards to your question about whether you can buy the mailstar...yes you can! See:<br /><br />http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/pronto.html<br /><br />I live in York, UK where the cycling is much more friendly than in London. It has many offroad bike paths. Indeed, I moved to York with my wife for this very reason. The most common bike in York is the Gazelle, as the local bike shop "Cycle Heaven" import them.<br /><br />John IJohn Inoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-60485937502755285442010-03-23T14:10:34.231-04:002010-03-23T14:10:34.231-04:00I forgot to mention that British drivers are more ...I forgot to mention that British drivers are more 'accomodating' of/to cyclists than ....! ;)<br />lAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-47957972165265611322010-03-23T14:06:12.321-04:002010-03-23T14:06:12.321-04:00O, England I love thee!
I spend more time out of ...O, England I love thee! <br />I spend more time out of London ... and outside of London 'old' Raleighs, Pashleys are common sight as 'commuter' bikes (for shopping, visiting friends/neighbours ...eerrr .. to work place(s).). However, there is still the need to 'encourage' more 'Brits" to make use of the bicycles more.<br /><br />O dear I'm hungry and thirsty : "Waiter, may I have a Pashely Red, Raleigh Dark, and Black & White Brompton and an English steak? By the way do you have exotic Dahon, too? May I have that too?" <br />lAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-10389744845104558782010-03-23T13:52:23.169-04:002010-03-23T13:52:23.169-04:00It's a little sad to see the post office bike ...It's a little sad to see the post office bike in civilian hands, though, because Royal Mail are looking at phasing them out in favour of vans, which seems an entirely backwards step to me.<br /><br />I don't remember there being all that many Pashleys & the like when I cycled in London (up to 2008) although I lived in a much less upmarket part of town - Vauxhall station is certainly the place to see half-dismantled cheap mountain bike-alikes, which cope quite well with London's cratered roads. The classic London bike is probably the Brompton because you can take it on the train, and it's made there too.<br /><br />I agree, cycling in London is not for the faint hearted, but if you choose your roads carefully it can be pleasant and it's certainly the fastest way to get around. As you say, it's what you're used to.<br /><br />And rain in England not being as dreary as anywhere else? Um...townmousehttp://cityexile.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-83968748272516166282010-03-23T13:01:14.931-04:002010-03-23T13:01:14.931-04:00the trick is to avoid the main thoroughfares and e...the trick is to avoid the main thoroughfares and explore! It's a higgledy-piggledy hotpotch of side streets, parks and escape routes! With a bit of knowledge you can avoid the scary bits. Use this feature to order maps of the London cycle network: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/11598.aspx<br />then get out there and sit tall on your steel steeds!Kieronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-44236926426610153292010-03-23T12:18:09.052-04:002010-03-23T12:18:09.052-04:00I find myself coveting Pashley . . . cranks.I find myself coveting Pashley . . . cranks.kfgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-19060018090583801232010-03-23T11:06:39.714-04:002010-03-23T11:06:39.714-04:00Morgan - I might be back later this year and will ...Morgan - I might be back later this year and will have a look at Broadway Market. Would love to see a world of Pashleys and Dutch bikes. <br /><br />onecitytwowheels - Funny, I live in Boston (when I am not in Vienna) and cycle there all the time, whereas London looks scary to me. I imagine that to some extent it's just a matter of getting used to the environment.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-72097634461833656992010-03-23T11:02:30.584-04:002010-03-23T11:02:30.584-04:00Dottie - I want a Brompton too; the clear coated o...Dottie - I want a Brompton too; the clear coated one. There is no end to my bike hunger!<br /><br />Cycler - That's an interesting point about why things are painted bright red; highly possible!<br /><br />neighbourtease - Oh, interesting! I will take the cream Britannia please.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-44387253852988411512010-03-23T11:02:30.585-04:002010-03-23T11:02:30.585-04:00When I was living in London in 2006 and 2007, I fe...When I was living in London in 2006 and 2007, I felt like cycling for transportation was definitely on the rise. I was inspired to take it up by co-workers who were devoted to their bikes and commuted up to 45 minutes on them, and found the bike lanes/lights/and bike boxes very useful. The infrastructure probably weren't nearly as widespread as in other European countries, but much better than I was used to. I definitely found biking in London easier than biking in Boston, my current city. <br /><br />I think another reason for this was less the infrastructure and more that drivers seemed more accomodating/less likely to honk. I hate getting honked at! There are also some nice off-road areas that can take you from Central London to the Western suburbs (along the canal to the north and the river to the south).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-90731569545744302382010-03-23T09:10:05.489-04:002010-03-23T09:10:05.489-04:00Love the photos. I miss London. Absolutely love th...Love the photos. I miss London. Absolutely love the mail bike with baby seat! Speaking of red bicycles, have you all seen the Britannia editions? Pretty gorgeous, especially the red. I am tempted:<br /><br />http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/britannia.htmlneighbourteasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17571138655370581828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-91495126353962297292010-03-23T08:40:24.895-04:002010-03-23T08:40:24.895-04:00ooohhhhhh I want that mailstar!!! With co-pilot!ooohhhhhh I want that mailstar!!! With co-pilot!MamaVeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09519007680870604271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-76353672081732032502010-03-23T02:39:28.887-04:002010-03-23T02:39:28.887-04:00There's a trend on the rise .. go to Broadway ...There's a trend on the rise .. go to Broadway Market on the weekend and all you see is Pashleys and old dutch style bikes. Partly it's the "make do and mend" spirit of a recession, and partly it's a reaction to the slightly dated Shoreditch "nu-rave" trend for fixed gear and single speed bikes (amongst other things).<br /><br />I'm totally sold on the stripped gold chain you saw around the Pashley Roadster, bicycle jewellery.Morgannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-68350253195114347552010-03-22T20:16:08.889-04:002010-03-22T20:16:08.889-04:00Very nice!
I wonder if things in London get painte...Very nice!<br />I wonder if things in London get painted red to make them stand out in the murk a little more!<br /><br />If that bright red mail bike were mine, I'd save the money to get a proper basket from David Hembrow for it- it's crying out for a nicer one than the retrofit that's there now!cyclerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10331461189944538729noreply@blogger.com