TAJ Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 We dressed up warm and went for a ride today - it is just so easy to ride - despite the pothole situation in town getting worse! We went into town, then out and up to where I work (to decide on best/safest cycle racks), then tried a route home from there. I am still in one/ piece! Tracy ...I think she needs a name - something grand and stately I feel - any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Matilda! i think that you ought to dress in period when you ride her... 40s style costume not so practical though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Audrey! After Penelope Keith's character in To The Manor Born Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 ...I think she needs a name - something grand and stately I feel - any suggestions? Penelope I gives names to most things I own Florence is the name of my car and I named my bicycle Georgina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superkitty Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Me too my car is poppy, OH's car is Fup, my bike is Ralph and the Christmas tree which we planted out in the garden last weekend is called Spike Glad to know its not just me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 We dressed up warm and went for a ride today - it is just so easy to ride - despite the pothole situation in town getting worse! Where abouts are you positioned on the road, you should about half metre away from the kerb (outside the yellow lines) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 There is a big Pashley stockist in Stratford-Upon-Avon that also does bike rental, so you can not only try them, but actually go out riding for half a day. Tracy Thanks for that info Tracy. I heard back from Pashley today, and they mentioned the shop in S-u-A (but didn't mention the bike rental). They also sent me the names of some local bike shops that should have some in stock...and one specialist bike shop was just down the road from me. As they were so local, I phoned them up and they only have one model in stock - which just happens to be the model I was looking at, and just happens to be in the right frame size. I've been down to have a look, and a few rides around the car park (with my handbag in the basket) after the handlebars and saddle were adjusted for me, and it really IS a lovely bike. DH wasn't too keen when I showed him the bikes online the other day, he thought it would be really heavy. It *is*quite heavy, but not any more so than my current bike. DH really liked the build quality, and he said that I looked much more comfortable riding it than I do on my normal bike. And they just happen to be having a sale, with a modest 10% off this bike. I could feel myself getting carried along on a wave of fate and enthusiasm. However, Prudence stepped in, reminding me that the first I'd heard of Pashley was when I read you post last Friday. So, I decided to think about it and sleep on it. I have found myself coming up aith all sorts of justifications for just going and buying her, including: "the gap between second hand and new isn't really that big, especially as they are offering 10% off"; if I bought one second hand I'd have to pay a courier or spend petrol money"; "I was prepared to spend petrol money to go to Stratford to try a range of their bikes anyway, and I' haven't had to do that"; "I 've got birthday money, and my Quidco earnings"; "the bike shop will fit her to me perfectly and she'll be given a full checkover"; "the new saddle will shape to my bottom and I won't have one that's been shaped to someone else's"; "I'd be supporting a local business, and the chap was very helpful"; "you're usually a fatalist, and how much more can fate intervene?" I'm pleased that I saw the bike before I read your latest posts, and after the shop was closed, otherwise when Prudence stepped in I would have just pushed her to one side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 16, 2012 Author Share Posted January 16, 2012 We dressed up warm and went for a ride today - it is just so easy to ride - despite the pothole situation in town getting worse! Where abouts are you positioned on the road, you should about half metre away from the kerb (outside the yellow lines) I am afraid the roads are so bad I would have to go out to the middle white line and still wouldn't avoid all the potholes - there are many points where the marked cycle way on some roads are unuseable. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 16, 2012 Author Share Posted January 16, 2012 Oh Hazel that bike sounds perfect for you! They are well built bikes, with an excellent reputation, so I guess the price goes with it - having a local stockist with a sale sounds too good to be true! Which one are you looking at? Let me know what you decide. Bike names: Matilda - on here, Lady Penelope - on here & own idea, Beatrice - goes with Stratford Upon Avon theme (Shakespeare), Wendy - my daughter and her friend both suggested this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 I cycled to work and back today. at 7.20am, in the dark and at -2c I could have so easily got in the car, but I didn't! I was in the office before 8, so very pleased with myself. So if I count cycling to work Sunday (but jsut for the ride) that is twice this week - I just need to keep an eye on the weather forecast (try to avoid rainy days) and how much I need to take to work with me, today I thought even my handbag was too heavy by the time I had packed bike related stuff in my basket. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 OOOoooooo I'd love to get a bike like that too - with a basket to put my little jack in! What is the frame size - the size of your inside leg? x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 OOOoooooo I'd love to get a bike like that too - with a basket to put my little jack in! x Is little Jack a pet or a small child? I have a vision of you trying to get my not so little Son Jack into a wicker basket. Basil do a lovely range of wicker baskets for dogs. Halfords have a couple on their website that I keep looking at for my little Archie (a Dog not a child). Very nice and also very expensive. They also have a lovely range of panniers and even shopping bags for bicycles. TAJ, well done for cycling to work in the dark and the cold. I am a fair weather cyclist and will be waiting for the mornings to be warmer and lighter before I travel to work under pedal power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Oh yes sorry Ali-s I mean't Hebe my jack russell terrier! Sophiex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Hebe , what a lovely name Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Oh Hazel that bike sounds perfect for you! They are well built bikes, with an excellent reputation, so I guess the price goes with it - having a local stockist with a sale sounds too good to be true! Which one are you looking at? Let me know what you decide.. Well...I gave myself 3 sleeps, and in between I looked online (both Ebay and places like Preloved, Gumtree, Adtrader do see what came up and where). I've just phoned them, she's still there, and so I've put a deposit down on her. I'm going to be collecting her on Sunday (my choice - I was looking at the weather forecast). She's a Princess Sovereign, in black. Roll on Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 Well...I gave myself 3 sleeps, and in between I looked online (both Ebay and places like Preloved, Gumtree, Adtrader do see what came up and where). I've just phoned them, she's still there, and so I've put a deposit down on her. I'm going to be collecting her on Sunday (my choice - I was looking at the weather forecast). She's a Princess Sovereign, in black. Roll on Sunday. How exciting - so same as mine, but in the other colour - Proofide is the stuff you need for the saddle to soften it so it shapes to you and it helps with waterproofing. What frame size is it? I hope you enjoy it and we need a full report on Sunday. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Proofide is the stuff you need for the saddle to soften it so it shapes to you and it helps with waterproofing. Tracy Thanks for that tip TAJ, I'll pick up a tin on Sunday. 17.5 inch frame. It surprised me a bit, as that is the smallest of the 3 frames they do. I'm 5 foot 4, but I have very long legs and a short body. I can't imagine how tall you'd have to be to need the biggest frame size! No wonder there were several 20 ich models on Ebay saying that they were "too big for me". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share Posted January 20, 2012 Yes that is the same frame size as mine, but I am 5ft 2, so expected to need the smallest frame size. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Oh Hazel that bike sounds perfect for you! They are well built bikes, with an excellent reputation, so I guess the price goes with it - having a local stockist with a sale sounds too good to be true! Which one are you looking at? Let me know what you decide. Bike names: Matilda - on here, Lady Penelope - on here & own idea, Beatrice - goes with Stratford Upon Avon theme (Shakespeare), Wendy - my daughter and her friend both suggested this. My bike is not a Paishley, but an old Raleigh that belonged to the late MIL and was in perfect nick. It is called June (after the MIL ). If I had a Paishley I would call it Marjorie. I am not a confident rider at all...too many vehicles narrow country roads around..but I do use it to pop to the local shops/library and to go to friends locally if we are going to be having a glass or two. ..when I get the opportunity. Last summer DS "borrowed" it. a lot...very amusing, an 18 year old yoof on my old lady's bike...He found the basket useful for beer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 we need a full report on Sunday. Tracy Update: I don't have my Pashley. I got to the bike shop at 12.00 as I had arranged. It was full of Proper Cyclists having a social gathering (presumably just finished a club ride or something), all around the counter. We were the only people in the shop not dressed in proper cycling gear, so we stood out like proverbial sore thumbs. Despite this, it was difficult to attract the attention of the chap at the counter. At first I thought he was busy serving all these people, but then I realised that there wasn't any serving going on, it was all just chatter and socialising, and he was engrossed in the social chat. He did eventually look our way and I caught his eye, explained that I was here to collect the Pashley (pointed to the bike which was on the shop floor). He asked if it was that actual bike, to which I said yes. Then he moved to the till. I explained that it needed fitting and adjusting for me, so he moved away from the till and got out a large file. He then started leafing through the file (of invoices) slooooooowwwwwwly, with more of his attention on the chatter than serving me. I could feel myself getting a bit irritated. I was irritated because I was expecting him to either help, or get someone else to help. I was irritated because I had wanted to support a local shop, and I had expected appreciative service. I know full well that the price of a Pashley isn't huge in "proper bike" shop prices, but it is a large investment for me. I appreciate that the Proper Cyclists provide the shop's bread and butter, but I was getting very cross that this made me (feel like my custom was) inferior to theirs. DH and I had a brief conversation where I told him I was started to get cross (that's usually my safety valve, saying it out loud helps me keep my self-control). Then someone came from out the back. At first I thought the chap would turn to the newcomer and say "this lady is here to have her bike fitted, can you help her please", but the newcomer was actually just bringing tea for the Gang, and didn't even glance in my direction. And then something inside me snapped. I found myself striding to the counter and saying "Don't bother, I'll come back another time", and then I had turned on my heels and was striding out of the shop. DH followed me out. He was very good. As we walked to the car I just explained that I'd had enough, I was annoyed at the lack of interest/service, I was annoyed that I had paid a deposit on the bike because what I really wanted to do was to tell them to keep the bike and I'd go somewhere else, and I was annoyed that I was letting myself get annoyed. I do realise that I am over-reacting. I honestly didn't realise that it would be so crowded on a Sunday (and I think they could have told me when I said I would be coming in at 12.00 on Sunday that it was likely to be hectic). If the others had been queuing up to be served, I would not have minded it being busy and I would not have minded having to wait. I think it was the fact that their socialising was apparently more important than my custom that got me worked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Gorgeous bike! Sorry it didn't go well collecting it though I completely understand how you feel. Hope you get better customer service when you do bring it home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 Oh dear, sorry to hear you haven't go your bike I have been away and just turned the computer on thinking you would have had a great day with your new purchase! tRACY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 You are quite right to be cross, the customer is always right and you should always expect and receive good service. I try to support small businesses but only if they help themselves too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I am so sorry to hear that Hazel; that sort of service is totally out of order. May I suggest that you ring them up and explain the situation, make an appointment to go back on another date and say that you expect them to have it ready and waiting. I'd have been fuming too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I had a similar thing in a bike shop! Took my custom to Halfords and got top service from a young man who knew his bikes! (I know they probably don't do "your" bike). My instinct was to go to a specialist - but it would seem that some of them treat it more like a hobby/club than a business! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
