The Green Mouse. A Custom Built Reynolds 531 Bicycle.

The Green Mouse. A Custom Built Reynolds 531 Bicycle.

From the Workshop: The "Green Mouse" A Reynolds 531 Custom Bicycle.

I’ve just finished a new build for a customer, and it’s one of those projects where the details really came together.

The heart of the bike is a vintage Reynolds 531 frame. I’ve always appreciated the ornate lug-work on these older frames, so after making a few light modifications in the workshop, I decided to highlight that craftsmanship. It’s been refinished in a metallic moss green with gold lug lining and finished with our signature Gunn & Co (GN) brass head-badge - hand stamped in our workshop!

The Workshop Mouse

If you look closely at the crossbar just under the saddle, you’ll spot a small detail: a brass mouse on an English penny, both silver-soldered to the frame. The inspiration came from a little mouse that I often see darting around the workshop while I’m at the bench—it felt like a fitting way to give the bike a bit of its origin story.

The Build Details

The goal was to pair the vintage steel with new components that offered classic styling without sacrificing modern performance:

  • Drivetrain: A 6-speed setup using a Sun Race Silver R80 derailleur (28/14 gearing) and a Sturmey Archer silver alloy crankset fitted with a 47-tooth French Stronglight chainring.

  • Wheelset: Polished 36-hole Halo Retro rims laced with silver HT spokes to ENE Ciclo large flange hubs.

  • Riding Position: Italian-style semi-drop handlebars on a silver quill stem, finished with ergonomic silicon cork grips and a nickel-plated brass ‘ping’ bell.

  • Finishing Kit: A Brooks B17 leather saddle, Japanese MKS MB-7 pedals, and bamboo wooden mudguards.

The result is a smooth-riding, functional machine that honours the original steel frame while feeling completely fresh. It’s heading out to the customer, but I’m particularly proud of how the brass, green and tan aesthetics that tied everything together.


Interested in your own custom build?

I am always open to new commissions. Whether you have a specific vintage frame in mind or want to start a project from scratch, feel free to get in touch to discuss your ideas for a unique, handcrafted bicycle. I can be contacted via the contact page.

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