A NUA IN NEW YORK

 

Introducing Nik’s Nua. This bike has a special place in our hearts, as it’s the first Nua ever to be ridden on the streets of New York.

Nik wanted to replace his old fixie with a commuter bike better suited to the difficult climate of his city. A titanium frame and fork, belt drive transmission, disc brakes, and mudguards seemed like the perfect combination for a bike which would be out every day in all weathers. So we got to work on his behalf, with this result:

 

 

Nik is a member of the 5th Floor cycling collective, and his well-trained legs can easily cope with a higher gear ratio, so we installed a Gates Carbon Drive CDX belt with a 60 tooth front sprocket and a 22 tooth rear sprocket. (R=2,73).

 

     

 

Our Nua Ti-CORE frame is, among other things, extremely versatile. Although this bike has been set up as a single speed, Nik will be able to adapt it to his future needs. He can even install a 14 speed Rohloff IGH if he so desires, since the sliding dropouts and internal cable routing are designed to accommodate a wide range of possible configurations.

 

 

Disc brakes definitely have the advantage in wet climates. Once again we’ve gone with Magura hydraulics, with 160mm rotors for progressive braking.

 

 

We hand built a pair of wheels with Shimano XT hubs, Ryde rims, and Sapim D-light spokes. The result is a great quality piece of kit: robust, yet lightweight.

 

 

For the points of contact between bike and body, Nik opted for pieces from Brooks’ Cambium range, which are water-resistant and maintenance-free: a C15 saddle and Slender grips, both in a nice rust colour which matches the brown leather of the top tube protector.

 

     

 

Nik has a lot of plans for this bike, taking full advantage of the flexibility which the Nua Ti-CORE frame affords. As he says, he already imagines “converting it from a commuter into a trail rig for midweek trail rides in Cunningham Park or taking it to the Wednesday night cross-training practice”.
We’re looking forward very much to seeing the future incarnations of our first Nua in New York.

 

 

That’s all for now. If you’d like to receive regular newsletters with updates about our latest custom builds and ideas for your dream bike, sign up here.
Safe and happy cycling.

 

 

 

 

MICHAEL’S NUA

 

Some people know exactly what their ideal bike would be like. They have the knowledge and experience to know what they need, and they’re not about to let a high street brand impose the latest fashion or trend on them.
Michael is one of those people, and right from the start, he knew the bike he wanted. He already had a titanium bike in his collection, so he knew his ideal bike would have a titanium frame, and our Nua Ti-CLASSIC seemed to him to be an excellent choice.
He needed a bike that was both beautiful and practical, designed to go fast in any weather and over any terrain. It’s been an enriching experience working with him to achieve this result:

 

 

A beautiful hybrid: the offspring of a cyclocross and a road bike; adapted for commuting; modern, but with classical touches…..In a nutshell, a bike built according to Michael’s unique vision, a far cry from any factory-produced model. That’s the magic of a custom build.

This was to be Michael’s everyday bike, so it needed practical elements like the minimalist mudguards (the front one cut to his specifications), the Tubus Airy titanium luggage rack and a permanent lighting system composed of a SON Delux hub dynamo and Supernova LED lights.

 

 

The front light is installed discreetly under the handlebar with Supernova’s special new bracket.

 

We’ve turned the seat post clamp screw specially to hold the tail light directly, without the need for a fitting. And we’ve installed banana plugs so that the whole system can be disconnected in a flash if necessary.

 

 

Michael knew that two gears would be sufficient for his day to day adventures, so we’ve installed a 2-speed internal gear hub by Sturmey-Archer. It offers a second gear at 38% above the direct one, and it’s kick-activated, without the need for extra levers or cables.

 

It might seem strange to see road bike caliper brakes with wide cyclocross tires, but these are the super powerful and progressive Tektro R559, capable of encompassing tires of up to 50mm without problems.

 

 

The brakes are activated by these beautiful neoclassical TRP levers.

 

 

Gilles Berthoud is a French firm which creates sublime components and accessories for bicycles, including this leather saddle with titanium rails (which perfectly complement our titanium seat post), and this bar tape, both in a natural colour. Beautiful, long-lasting, and superbly comfortable.

 

     

 

Michael is now enjoying his Nua in and around Hamburg, and we’d like to thank him for counting on us to turn his dream into reality.

 

 

If you’d like to receive regular newsletters with updates about our latest custom builds and ideas for your dream bike, sign up here.

THE NUA AUTOMATICA

Hello and welcome to the Nua blog. Today we take a look at our lovely modern commuter, the Nua Automatica.

Our Nua Ti-CORE titanium frame is one of the most versatile bike frames out there. Both its geometry and the details of its construction make it the perfect base on which to construct a diverse range of bicycles.

 

 

On this occasion, we’ve used it to make this beautiful new Nua. We’ve called it the “Automatica” because it sports a two-speed IGH which activates automatically when the bike reaches 18km/h. Simple, elegant and effective, just like the rest of the bike.

 

 

To complete the maintenance-free transmission, we’ve installed a Gates CDX belt system, driven by a gorgeous F. Gimondi neoclassical crankset.

 

 

Titanium components from our Nua Ti-Components line – handlebar, stem, and seatpost – provide extra safety and comfort, and add to the elegant minimalism of the whole.

 

     

 

This bike just asks to be ridden fast, so powerful brakes are a must. We’ve chosen hydraulic disc brakes by Magura, which along with the Continental 37mm tires, are capable of stopping this rocket in no time.

 

 

Adding the final touch are the Brooks handlebar grips and saddle. Handmade from natural leather, they’re extremely hardwearing and comfortable. And of course, with so much titanium already, we couldn’t resist choosing the Brooks Swift model with titanium rails.

 

     

 

When we test-rode this bike we couldn’t help smiling from ear to ear. Riding this machine is pure pleasure. Stable, agile, fun and silent, it works like a Swiss watch. But most of all, it’s proof that a sports bike can be very very comfortable.

 

 

If you’d like to receive regular newsletters with updates about our latest custom builds and ideas for your dream bike, sign up here.