1958 Sun Cresta by Sun Cycle Birmingham England.
04-30-16, 06:48 PM
#1
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1958 Sun Cresta by Sun Cycle Birmingham England.
1958 Sun Cresta by Sun Cycle Birmingham England.
An original bike given to me by the original owner who purchased it in 1958 in Birmingham UK.
"lightweight" steel frame
celluloid fenders
27" Dunlop chrome steel wheels
GB brakes
Sapphire & Turquiose paint
Top tube pump pegs
alloy bars
Williams cranks
5 speed Benelux RD
All original except bar tape and tires. I will be cleaning it up for a special occasion rider.
An original bike given to me by the original owner who purchased it in 1958 in Birmingham UK.
"lightweight" steel frame
celluloid fenders
27" Dunlop chrome steel wheels
GB brakes
Sapphire & Turquiose paint
Top tube pump pegs
alloy bars
Williams cranks
5 speed Benelux RD
All original except bar tape and tires. I will be cleaning it up for a special occasion rider.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
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04-30-16, 06:58 PM
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I need some new friends, 
. What a lovely bike. It is an adventure fixing up a bike that old. I just finished fixing up a 1960 Olmo gran sport. It reminded me a bit of working on an old house; nothing goes together quite right but everything fits after a fashion with a bit of elbow grease.
. What a lovely bike. It is an adventure fixing up a bike that old. I just finished fixing up a 1960 Olmo gran sport. It reminded me a bit of working on an old house; nothing goes together quite right but everything fits after a fashion with a bit of elbow grease.
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04-30-16, 07:58 PM
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Beautiful and neat! Spectacular colors. Thanks for sharing.
04-30-16, 08:52 PM
#6
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beautiful bike.
can you check on the engravings on the Williams crankset?
Williams component dating
the undated Sun catalogue on the threespeedhub site
https://web.archive.org/save/_embed/h...g-1950s-UK.pdf
has the Cresta model as a 10 speed, and different components, so we might be able to establish if yours came before or after that catalogue.
I would think the V-CC Sun Cycles Marque Enthusiast would be very keen to know about your bike for their Register.
More photos of the lugs, decals and the individual components would be appreciated.
can you check on the engravings on the Williams crankset?
Williams component dating
the undated Sun catalogue on the threespeedhub site
https://web.archive.org/save/_embed/h...g-1950s-UK.pdf
has the Cresta model as a 10 speed, and different components, so we might be able to establish if yours came before or after that catalogue.
I would think the V-CC Sun Cycles Marque Enthusiast would be very keen to know about your bike for their Register.
More photos of the lugs, decals and the individual components would be appreciated.
04-30-16, 09:26 PM
#8
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All your other bikes are crying! Seriously, nice gift.
Will look forward to the clean...er pics as that one seems to be quite near there.
Will look forward to the clean...er pics as that one seems to be quite near there.
05-01-16, 10:20 AM
#9
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A few more pics.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
05-01-16, 10:22 AM
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This is my second post on this thread but seriously this is a radically cool bike.
05-01-16, 10:39 AM
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05-01-16, 10:46 AM
#12
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The original owner Jim, told me that when he went back to his home town of Birmingham England he tried to sell it to an LBS and they only offered him 10 pounds ($15) so he had it shipped to his home in Canada. Sun also sold bikes under the " F C Parkes " name, the family that started and owned Sun Cycle. Unique on this side of the pond!
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
05-01-16, 10:57 AM
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Some more details.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
05-01-16, 08:35 PM
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Gorgeous Bike!
05-05-16, 10:08 AM
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beautiful bike.
can you check on the engravings on the Williams crankset?
Williams component dating
the undated Sun catalogue on the threespeedhub site
https://web.archive.org/save/_embed/h...g-1950s-UK.pdf
has the Cresta model as a 10 speed, and different components, so we might be able to establish if yours came before or after that catalogue.
I would think the V-CC Sun Cycles Marque Enthusiast would be very keen to know about your bike for their Register.
More photos of the lugs, decals and the individual components would be appreciated.
can you check on the engravings on the Williams crankset?
Williams component dating
the undated Sun catalogue on the threespeedhub site
https://web.archive.org/save/_embed/h...g-1950s-UK.pdf
has the Cresta model as a 10 speed, and different components, so we might be able to establish if yours came before or after that catalogue.
I would think the V-CC Sun Cycles Marque Enthusiast would be very keen to know about your bike for their Register.
More photos of the lugs, decals and the individual components would be appreciated.
__________________
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
05-05-16, 12:43 PM
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Wow! Incredible bike that has me in lust. Looks like my size too. 
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In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
05-05-16, 01:34 PM
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The bike gods have shone down on me for sure! It's a 23" frame. I am using this thread to post details as I scrape and scour 58 years of crud off it.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
05-07-16, 02:46 PM
#21
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Trying to research this bike but not finding a lot. Built with EUUT tubing whatever that may be.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
05-07-16, 09:12 PM
#22
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I will echo all the wows here. Or at least pretend I just did.
So? How does it ride? What does it weigh? Oh, and what size tires does it use?
So? How does it ride? What does it weigh? Oh, and what size tires does it use?
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
05-08-16, 08:28 AM
#23
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As a recreational cyclist I usually lean toward bikes with lots of gear range and the Sun falls a little shy in that area with a Williams 48 tooth chain ring and a 14 -22 5speed freewheel. Our LBS (North Shore Cycle) sponsors a group here called "Different Spokes", a totally non-racing group that rides anything and everything almost anywhere. I hope to use the Sun on some of these rides.
It has Dunlop special chromed steel wheels clad with 27" X 1/14 tires replaced in the 90s. It would have come new with white walls.
The Wrights "Olympian" reg. 56 saddle is surprisingly comfortable with springs and horsehair? under the thick leather.
The original owner said shifting sometimes required what he called "double clutching" but I found it worked fine,
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
05-08-16, 11:04 PM
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Beautiful. Love the color too, feel like it's not often to find a mellow color of purple on a bike frame.
07-07-16, 12:38 PM
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The Sun is now ready to ride! I have had to make a modification to the rear derailleur which I will detail later.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-