Introducing 'The Azulite' - a gentleman's sporting bicycle with a mix of opulent Azurite blue, silver, amber and natural brown colours. Designed and hand-built by me in the Gunn & Co workshop.
The frame is a hand-built lightweight Renolds tubed example dating from the 1970's which had lost its makers identity long before being restored and re-engineered by me in my workshop. Finished in a vibrant azurite blue lustre that shows the ornate lug joints of the frame and fitted with one of my hand stamped silver plated Gunn (GN) head-badges.
Silver bicycle components and amber wall 700c tyres have been chosen to compliment the amber colour of the bamboo wood mudguards. The bicycle is fitted with a Brooks B17 saddle in brown leather on top of a GB adjustable saddle post in polished aluminium. A comfortable pair of palm shaped cork grips are also fitted for a comfortable, relaxed, yet sporting riding position on the semi drop polished aluminium handlebars.
The wheels are hand-built by Gunn & Co using our own GN Vitesse anodised aluminium hubs with sealed bearings and 7 speed rear free-hub, as well as titanium pencil lever quick release skewers with machined brass washers.
The crank-set is a unique mix of Sturmey Archer and Stronglight components and was born from my frustrations of being unable to find a cost effective single crankset with a classic style. It is detailed with anodised red and silver fittings to beautifully compliment the rest of the bicycle.
Wood has long been used for making bicycle components and in particular mudguards and also handlebar grips. The Azulite is fitted with a brand new set of bamboo wood mudguards which compliment the fully silver wheels and amber wall tyres.
The brakes are silver calliper and operate by side-pull on the wheel rims from the silver and black levers on the handlebars. These are linked by silver braided outer cables and stainless steel inner cables and secured to the frame by a mix of stainless cable clips and the original braze on frame cable guides.
I source the handlebars from Italy and are the same as I have fitted to the Rubylite Ladies Bicycle. I wanted a continental style handlebar in polished silver that was relaxed in profile, but with a comfortable width to suit the palm cork grips in either riser or semi drop positioning. They are matched with a silver quill style handlebar stem allowing the handlebars to be fully adjustable in height and angle for the rider.
The Azulite is a unique modern-classic sporting bicycle suitable for a gentleman who appreciates the finer things in life. It is built with love and care for the original frame by Gunn & Co in our Essex (UK) workshop.
Details of the components:
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Frame & Fork: Original 22.1/2" inch (57cm) lightweight steel tubing with ornate lugs and silver soldered. Reconditioned and adapted by Gunn & Co. Painted in flamboyant Azurite lustre dating from the 1970's.
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Hubs: Gunn & Co Vitesse Sealed bearing and polished aluminium 7 speed free-hub rear. 32/ 32 hole
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Headset: Stronglight AD9 aluminium
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Bottom Bracket: Sunrace cartridge square taper sealed bearing
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Rims: Polished silver 700c Halo Retro 32 hole
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Spokes: Hand cut and threaded chrome silver 14g with nickel plated adjusters.
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Crankset: Sturmey Archer 170mm polished silver aluminium 5 arm cranks with 47 tooth Stronglight of France 7075 aluminium chainring and anodised centre bolt.
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Derailleur: Sram X9
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Brakes: Polished silver side- pull rim callipers with stainless silver braided cables and silver/ black brake levers.
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Saddle: Brooks B17 in brown leather.
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Saddle post: Polished silver GB micro adjust.
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Handlebars and stem: Italian Milano 56cm wide semi-drop handlebars with 100mm polished aluminium quill adjustable handlebar stem.
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Grips: Ergon GP1-S Biokork ergonomic palm grips.
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Chain: 3/32" inch Sunrace Silver
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Pedals: MKS of Japan - Sealed bearings and anodised silver aluminium.
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Mudguards: 700c Bamboo wood with stainless fittings.
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Tyres & tubes: Schwalbe 700c Amber wall with presta valve tubes.
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Bell: Stainless steel and brass 'Ping' bell.
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Cable Clips and various fittings: Stainless steel or chrome plated
