I knew nothing about SUN Cycles of Birmingham and so set about searching the internet
to find out.
Basically SUN Cycles was part of F. C. Parkes Cycles in Birmingham and made some classy lightweights from 1930s to late 1950s before they were eventually taken over by Raleigh.
Famous models build by SUN are the Manxman, the Wasp. Some of their better bikes were also sold under the F C Parkes name. Thus the SUN Soleil d´ Or has been sold with very similar components as a F.C. Parkes Cote d´ Or as well. Following an excerpt of the F.C. Parkes catalog of round about 1955.
SUN Cycles addressed more the real racers and sponsored and led definitely a successful racing team around 1953. The catalog of this year reported about it proudly
Reason for starting a search about SUN Cycles was this lovely 1956 Soleil d´ Or I´ve had seen on eBay UK:
Basically SUN Cycles was part of F. C. Parkes Cycles in Birmingham and made some classy lightweights from 1930s to late 1950s before they were eventually taken over by Raleigh.
Famous models build by SUN are the Manxman, the Wasp. Some of their better bikes were also sold under the F C Parkes name. Thus the SUN Soleil d´ Or has been sold with very similar components as a F.C. Parkes Cote d´ Or as well. Following an excerpt of the F.C. Parkes catalog of round about 1955.
Reason for starting a search about SUN Cycles was this lovely 1956 Soleil d´ Or I´ve had seen on eBay UK:
I have one of these, it has very low trail which is interesting, as low trail has become a popular geometry trend fairly recently. I built mine up with 700c wheels, you can fit 42c+ tyres with ease. With no braze ons for a front derailleur, it makes an excellent "one by" candidate. Using narrower tyres, the trail is made even lower with the decrease in outer tyre circumference. This extra low trail setup is thrilling to ride, and can still be ridden no hands, such is the wonderful nature of this frame. The frame is on the stiff side, it handles sprinting very well indeed, with perhaps the least frame deflection I've seen from frame tubes of this diameter which I believe to be straight gauge 531.
ReplyDeleteCompared to fancier butted frames of the era, it's not that light, but once built, the quality speaks for itself.
"The Rolls Royce of lightweights".