I've posted on the C&V before and you all have been very tolerant as I discuss Raleigh Records and my Fuji Monterey, older but low end bikes. Yesterday I came across a bike that I believe is a different level and belongs here in the C&V forum. Without going into too much detail, I was helping out a local church who gives away donor bikes to needy families. The people running the event asked if I wanted anything from their stack of bikes headed to the metal recycle center. Off to one side of that group was this one road bike that caught my eye. I've never heard of the brand name, but the downtube had a few flakes remainging of a "Reynolds" decal, probably 531. The bike is a Woodrup, no model designation is available as the decal is gone. The bike is no longer usable as a donor bike because one of the members of the group ran over the rear wheel destroying the wheel and the rear derailer, but, incredibly, missing the frame. The only frame damage is the frame hanger for the derailer is bent (the picture does not show the damage properly). The bike is a 53cm. My size frame is 52-56, with 54 ideal. There are signs that this bike is a thoroughbred. The bottom bracket housing clearly states "Cinelli", the brakes are Shimano 600, center pull in the back and caliper in the front. The front Shimano derailer has a marking on it I've never seen. The shifter is Shimano 600 and the rear derailer is a Suntour XR 100. The front rim is Mavic, the rear was no name alloy. The cranks are Sugino AT triple. Note there are bottle bosses on the top and bottom of the downtube. This looks to me, with my limited knowledge, to be a tourer. I'm guessing this bike is worth rebuilding. I checked BF and went to the internet. From what I came across, it looks like this might be a custom build frame.
I will not attempt to repair the bent derailer bolt hole. All Star Bikes, either Cary or Raleigh will be receiving a visit in the next couple of weeks for that repair. As for other bikes, I also rescued a Carabela frame with Campy components that I'll post about separately.
Any information, comments, suggestions are greatly appreciated.

I've never heard of Woodrup. But that front derailleur I have seen. They were called Deer's head, or something like that. Their essentially Shimano DX components, before they called them DX.

Good snag! I bought a mystery bike last year which turned out to be a 1972 Bob Jackson, and in the course of that learned more about the various British lightweight marques of the 1970's than I really needed to. Here's a link to the CR Woodrup site: https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bri...es/Woodrup.htm

There's a lot out there on the British lightweights - I'd suggest a visit to the archives at bikelist.org, since there are a few Brits (shop owners and frame builder, as well as riders) from back in the day who will be more than willing to tell you about Woodrup. Bottom line is that it was a fairly high-production (by the standards of the day, meaning that it wasn't a two frames per week shop) maker of handmade 531 frames for track, road racing, touring, and every in between ... and I think they're still in business. Highly regarded, too ...

Build it up.

They're ok, I suppose.... if you like hand built 531 steel English frames made by one of the more distinguished bike houses in Great Britain.

If you go for that sort of thing, you did ok, I guess............

Looks like they are still in business. Shoot 'em an email with the details and see what they tell you...

https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bri...es/Woodrup.htm

Deer's Head is a nickname, this was the original Deore XT line which was launched as a Touring gruppo in ?1980? before it morphed into the Shimano Mtn. bike gruppo. Sheldon Brown has an '82 catalog that shows the whole lineup:https://www.sheldonbrown.com/shimano1982/pages/26.html but the '82 looks a little different, and newer, than your FD. But then, I could be all wrong...
Woodrup is a fine make, some would say it's the "better" of the 2 big Leeds-based builders, the "better known" being Bob Jackson, but I won't take sides in that: I'd be happy with either one! BTW, Doug Fattic, highly regarded frame builder in Michigan, did some training at Woodrup, AFAIK. A good shop should be able to bend that hanger back as well as correct any dropout misalignment, so it'll be good as new...excellent score!

Great information. Please keep the information coming it!
Based on what I've read so far, the frame on my bike is a 1982 build. The front derailer dates to 1984 according to Vintage Trek. The rear DR does not compute and probably was a replacement. I'm guessing this bike was built out for the original owner in 1984. The bike was probably heavily used as it appears at least one rim/wheel was replaced, probably a brake and certainly the rear derailer.

Quite probably from the 80's. Remove the rear brake fixing bolt from the brake bridge, note that an axle washer was used it appears to take up some space, my bet is that the frame was made for recessed brake mounting nuts, if so a modification is quite possible, more threads on the brake bolt, an allen key nut, cut off the excess.prior to assembly, would look much cleaner.

Frame looks like toward the touring end of geometry, set the saddle, evaluate the stem length, change as necessary, fix the hanger and enjoy a nice bike, much better for you to use this than send to the scrap man... Frame was most likely 531, double butted, Woodrup was one one goes to for a bespoke frame, so why scrimp on materials?

Deore, thats right. I guess I was a bit confused.

Second comment ... lots of these Brit frames were sold either mail order, or through American LBS's as bare frames, so you see a lot of variability in how they're built up. Standard for a Jackson or Woodrup (or Witcomb or Claud Butler or Holdsworth or ...) in the early '70's was all-Campy NR; about 1980 you start to see Shimano, particularly Dura-Ace, and Suntour, either Cyclone or Superbe. The downscale parts on this one suggest to me that you're seeing stuff that was put on there after the original build.

And +1 on some stuff which unworthy1 said; Doug Fattic is one of the guys who posts a lot on bikelist.org, so if you post a question about your frame there, you might get a response from him, as well as some others who have a lot of firsthand knowledge about the marque.

".. Sheldon Brown has an '82 catalog that shows .....but the '82 looks a little different, and newer, than your FD...."

It looks Exactly like the FD on my 86 RockHopper. (except mine is shiny)

Did I say "newer"?...I meant "older" actually my caveat "but then I could be all wrong" is the real truth...

I have a late 70s Giro touring. It is a very, very nice bike. I love the ride... comfortable and quick for a huge sport/touring bike.

I have and ride a 53 cm 1980 Woodrup, and it is a nice bike! I bought the frame off Ebay and built it up from period and non-period parts. Much different from other bikes I have, which are mosly in the Italian racing vein.

Great find!

I want another 52 or 53 cm for my wife, Mrs. Road Fan.

Road Fan

Woodrups were sold in the US before 1980 via several channels: several importers and perhaps even direct. Around 1980, Ten Speed Drive picked up distributorship of the brand and directed some design changes: rack eyelets, a little less laid back, and Cinelli BB shells. I would assume standard parts complement was "whatever the buyer wants." I've seen a few that were claimed to have originally used 27 inch wheels, not 700C.

Road Fan

If you have the frame bare and take it to a good frames man to reset teh dropouts (and i would recommend Fattic wholeheartedly, as well as Rich Gangl in Colorado and Ron Boi in Chicago area), have it aligned and the head tube faced. A straight bike rides muuuuch better than not straight, and a proper headset installation is an additional joy to ride!

Road Fan