Pashley Person - Bob Colclough
The latest in our regular series of profiles of riders of Pashley and Moulton bicycles.
As an ex-skydiver and Microlight aircraft pilot (not at the same time!) I have a tendency to throw myself whole heartedly into current interests, but a sustained involvement is cycling and specific passion for Pashleys has been with me since a child.
Retired from the NHS as a clinician and manager after 40 years, I now find I can pursue activities as much or as little as I desire. Cycling allows me to become closer to my love of the countryside and travel whilst keeping fit and meeting new people.
As a youngster I used to ride a large Raleigh scooter with pneumatic tyres whilst all my friends had bikes. They had all the responsibility of maintaining them and I got the privilege of occasionally riding their bikes without the expense. Interestingly my competitive streak presented itself at that early age as I always attempted, foolishly, to maintain their pace on the bikes whilst propelling myself along with one leg on the scooter! I sometimes would win, usually downhill.
Eventually I was lucky enough to have a brand new road bike on my 12th birthday, a Dawes Red Feather with five derailleur gears. What a beauty in bright red and I think gold decals. My absolute pride and joy, cleaned, polished and maintained every week! I even remember applying a thin layer of Vaseline to the wheel inner faces to maintain their appearance and corrosion resistance. The care and attention paid off, as I sold the bike in pristine condition when I was 17 to purchase my first car.
I recall borrowing a friends Claud Butler fixed wheel with ‘rat traps’ (toe clips). His only instruction was ‘don’t forget to keep pedalling’!! Famous last words! After a few miles of consciously reminding myself of those wise words, I became somewhat over confident whilst descending a long hill at great speed. As a double decker bus attempted to overtake I was concentrating on his manoeuvre and stopped pedalling! My front wheel inevitably hit the curb and threw me and the bike onto the footpath. Lucky I had that trajectory and not the opposite! I didn’t have a thought about myself, what about the bike? The odd scuff, thankfully. Oh, I was okish! Needless to say, I never rode another fixie until much later into adulthood.
The scooter interest recurred at the grand age of 44 when a couple of pals and I purchased Go-Peds. These were two wheeled scooters (as per my childhood scooter), rather like the electric versions nowadays, but with a small two stroke engine propelling them up to circa 20 mph. There was no specific legislation at the time so we were free to ride them on the highway. We actually completed Lands End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) on them in 7 days and drank more beer over the week than the machines took in fuel.
Although cycling has always been part of my life the more serious riding came when a friend asked if I fancied undertaking LEJOG on the bike. Initially I was apprehensive, but after all we’d done it on Go-Peds, Robin Hood kit cars, Westfield Sports cars, Motor bikes, why not the traditional way of cycling? So, off we went and had an absolutely fabulous time by completing it in 9 days. Not on Pashleys though! In fact when we arrived at JOG I turned to my friend and said, ‘wouldn’t it be interesting if this was half way?’ He looked at me totally bemused and I explained that we could turn around and go back! Anyway, two years later for our 50th birthdays we did exactly that, LEJOG and return. Brilliant. The touring bug was well and truly established.
Since then I have completed numerous touring adventures including Europe, Ireland, Iceland, two trans-USA trips and one of the best rides in the world, the Pacific West coast of the US. Vancouver to San Diego. The US is one of my favourite places to ride, It’s so varied, beautiful and the people helpful and friendly. The pandemic has restricted my cycling adventures in recent times, as for the last two years I have planned a solo Trans-Australia ride, but now it’s all systems go for a late August start this year. Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, finishing in Sydney.
My current bike stable is home to 15 bikes of various makes and styles, a number of which originate from Stratford on Avon, Pashley. The collection of Pashleys is slowly increasing, in fact whilst writing this article I have acquired yet another, a Speed 5 that has never been used. It joins a Morgan 8, Morgan 110, Roadster Sovereign, and my gorgeous Guv’Nor. My partner Karen, has also caught the Pashley passion by purchasing a Britannia and Sonnet Bliss, although she does appreciate the value of her beloved e-bike which she uses particularly in our local hilly Peak District. She’s now on the lookout for a Bliss in cream and claret, bringing her collection on this Jubilee year to a very patriotic ‘red, white and blue’.
Pashleys aren’t simply bikes, they’re a statement. A statement of one’s character and a total piece of art. In fact the Speed 5 I acquired recently, has never been used because the previous owner was going to mount it on his living room wall. I think ultimately there was a disagreement with his wife!
Imagine, relaxing in your favourite chair by a log fire, playing good music, with an excellent scotch in hand, being drunk from a crystal glass whilst soaking up the beauty of the Pashley design. You might even just catch the aroma of the Brooks leather. Well, that’s part of the romance which I experience when appreciating my Pashley collection. There’s also nothing nicer than walking into the “Aladdin’s cave” of the Traditional Cycle Shop down in Stratford on Avon and experiencing the smells and nostalgia it creates.
I know it’s a cliché, but cycling really does offer the freedom of the open road or track, wherever you wish to ride really. It is also method of staying fit and healthy. These are the factors to me which are important about cycling. However, why is it that when you go out the wind always changed to the opposite direction you plan to travel? Why do some other road users find cyclists so attractive that they attempt to get up close? Why do dogs choose to use us as bait and decide to commence their exercise regime when we pass?
These are some of the irritating factors related to cycling. The last point regarding dogs is particularly problematic in New Mexico and Texas where I went into battle every day. So much so that I asked a local law enforcement officer what he recommended. The reply was, ‘Ahh, you’re in Texas now boy, git a machete!’