Scored a Woodrup for $100
 

Just bought a Woodrup with a Shimano Crane RD (balance is Campy) and serial number 18 48. The paint is a little rough in spots but the frame is quite sound and rust free. May even consider a custom restoration on this one. The question now is do I keep the original components for the bike or do I take a complete Suntour Superbe set I have for a lesser frame I'm restoring and put them on this bike?

without pics etc

Too soon, will hopefully have time for pics this Sunday. It's only been in my garage for 90 minutes.

Just in case you haven't already checked this website out...

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/index.html

Pictures pictures!

I have a 70's model and it is pretty plain except for the wrap around seat stays.

Almost every other I've seen pictures of seems to be fancier and finished much better.

Still though, it's a nice machine and I'm happy to have it in my stable :)

Wouldn't happen to be purple and black, would it?

-Kurt

Thread useless. Revive when you have pics.

My vote: use what's on there. Superbe is a racing groupset and looks best on a racey bike, and the Crane gives you a wider range than you'll get from the Superbe.

No, it's red. Pix tomorrow.

You only need one gear to get around where you live. Chuck the derailleurs and make it a SS. :D

Woodrup Pictures
 

Not as much campy as I thought, but I'm happy with the hardware.

I might be wrong, but I think Woodrup may also have been made in Connecticut under some type of licensing agreement. There was a Woodrup posted for $100 on the Hudson Valley NY Craig's List this past year. A Woodrup should certainly give you some bragging rights. Is that Crane going to be "flying away"?

BTW, check out this link for estimating the date of manufacture, which is probably in the mid-1970s in this case:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bri...al_numbers.htm

beautiful :)

Very nice bike. Woodrups were/are all hand made including the bikes they turn out today at their Leeds, UK site. They are now selling other brands as well and I did not see their mountain bike frames on their site so I guess they stopped making them. It's very hard for a custom shop to keep up with the big brands and the technology advances. But a Woodrup for touring is something special. I never did finish the 84 GIRO I have in the basement. Oh well, some day.

Don't know yet, but if so, I'll IM you if you like.

+1
I really like that.

Very nice bike, especially for the single Bill! Looks like it originally used 27" wheels, based on the drop-bolt brakes (nice score, there!)
You (cycleheimer) may have been thinking of London-based Whitcomb, who did have a USA-based subsidiary and those frame were labeled "Whitcomb USA", he trained several of the US-based builders that went on to fame and (ahem) fortune...well, at least fame.
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA...itcomb_USA.htm

Thank you. It was a Whitcomb that showed up on CL, and that is what I was thinking of. Woodrup is from Leeds, and gives B.O.A.N. a nice addition to his collection.

If you do part that out and replace/upgrade with Campy, you might want to pull that Campy drop bolt from the rear brake and save it.

Just sayin'...

I bidded unsuccessfully on a 753 Woodrup frame last year. But while considering it I came across the page of Kevin Sayles....Steve Woodrup's framebuilder from 77 to 99

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevin_sayles_bikes/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevin_s...es/3163560420/

Haven't really gotten that far yet. So far, the plans are to get in touch with Woodrup and see if I can get a decal kit. Based on their web site, I think they still make this frame, calling it the Team 75. Then I hope to have the frame restored. I've looked at cyclart in CA and can save up for their basic red powder coat or paint. If I can't get the decals, then that is going to run into a bit of $ and my progress will be slow. I like the campy stuff and the Dura-Ace is fine too. The Crane is a bit out of place IMO but the rear freewheel has 4 fast gears and 1 super low, thus the need for a larger RD. I doubt I could find that freewheel new, esp since it is a 5 speed. I may go up to 6. The current downtube shifter is really out of place (shimano indexed) but will serve nicely on the wife's Trek 730 rebuild. New spokes are a must but rime and hubs are in great shape.

Question now is, what is the weight limit? I'm a super clyde and even at the end of the diet, I'll still be 220.

IIRC, Richard Sachs and Bill Boston both built frames in the USA under the Woodrup marque.

Nope, it was Whitcomb (again), those two marques are frequently confused...or is it conflated...:rolleyes:
"...When USA production was started, young USA staff members included Ed Sinkus ("Sky-Lo-Lo"), Chris Chance, Richard Sachs and J.P. Weigle ("Peter".) Witcomb USA finally succumbed due to tipsy bicycle market conditions and disappeared after 8 years of doing business...." (from CR USA pages)

Just caught up with this post.......

Yes, I can confirm that Woodrup frames have never being made under license...and are made in Leeds by...er, me!
Glad to be back at my old workbench and now into my 40th year framebuilding.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevin_sayles_bikes/

Cheers
Kevin Sayles