Pashley Penny Review

Find it at pashley.co.uk

This retro-styled ride, with split top and down tubes is equipped with a steel frame, Sturmey-Archer five-speed internal hub gear, hub brakes and Schwalbe 26 by 1.75-inch reflective tires. The Pashley Penny comes with full fenders and chainguard, a subtly aged Brooks B67 leather saddle, micro-adjust seat post, cork-compound grips and a mini ding-dong bell. The one-size-fits-most 19-inch frame is available in satin-finish dusk blue or willow green.

Pros

Riding the Penny around New York City was a pleasure both from the standpoints of performance and style. The five-speed internal hub gears are easy to shift and gave me a full range of options for city riding, while the hub brakes provided sure braking. Compared to the frame of my own Pashley Britannia, which places me in an upright posture, the geometry and crescent-shaped bars of the Penny enabled me to lean forward for a sportier ride with pleasing acceleration and “pop.”

Cons

Although the ride was comfortable – I’m five feet eight inches tall with a 32-inch inseam – I felt I was pushing the limits of the 19-inch frame, which is suitable for riders with inseams of 28 to 33 inches, according to the Pashley website. Integrating a commuter-friendly rear rack would be on my wish list.

Ideal Rider

The Pashely Penny is ideal for a rider looking for a commuting or leisure bicycle that combines reliability with a distinctive aesthetic.

Overall

The Penny is recommended based on its full package of quality features and a retro-cool that distinguishes it from “same old, same old” city styling.

The Pashley Penny was generously put together by Adeline Adeline adelineadeline.com