Witcomb bicycle purchase
 

So...Im not a great collector of British bikes..but this one was on local craigslist..only a few miles away and it was vintage...mostly early dura ace stuff...sugino cranks...came with high flange dura ace sew ups but i had a set of low flange dura ace..about the same year...with clinchers...took it out for a ride and it rode great...531...of course...dont know a thing about Witcomb except that they were English bikes and had a racing team at one time

It would be interesting to know if this bike was from Witcomb Lightweight Cycles in the USA. Richard Sachs worked for the UK version for some years and the US branch for a bit, as did JP Weigle, Chris Chance and Ben Serotta.

Damn that's gorgeous!

Nice bike, this is what a serious racer would have ordered back then, plain paint, no lug lining. Nice wrap over seat stays and note the "eared" head lugs. Sugino crank was a "I don't need Campagnolo" alternative. The head tube herald may give an indication of where it was built. What are the small labels or graphics on the seat tube?

Very cool - you did well!

Great score Joe. Yes, we'd like more close ups of the decals, details, etc. very nice find.

Thanks all for the information and comments....the head tube says witcom cycles England...the other decals on the seat tube? I will have to look again when I get back up to the bike...i work a couple hundred miles away from my bikes (school teacher) so im back up over the weekend (however, only 9 more days til summer vacation!!!so i can be at my home all the time).....I will get some more pics up this weekend. The guy I bought it from was the original owner and he purchased just the frame and fork and built it up himself back in the 70s...I was wondering....did the American Witcomb say "made in the usa" or did some of the american Witcombs still have the "made in England" decal on them?

The American Witcombs had "Witcomb USA" on the head tube.

It is strange how (on the original tubular wheels) all of the hub dust caps have popped out of the hubshells(?).

these are not the original wheels with the dust cap issue..put on period correct low flange dura ace hubs that are clinchers.

Blue Craigslist Witcomb
 

Hi Joe, This is how it looks now. I found the original order form inserted in the seat tube from Witcomb's in Deptford London to Sunshine Bicycles California dated 18/7/73. It has had a respray at Mario Vaz's shop in Hither Green and I shall be riding it in the L'Eroica Britannia vintage bike sportive next month. L'Eroica Britannia.


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379100all the best Neil

Nicely done Neil and welcome to C&V. Do you have some more photos you can share of this lovely bicycle?

Thanks.

Brad

Beauty.

+1
And be sure to include a shot of those pointy lugs!

Well done Sir! Beautiful and very cool bike ;)

Cheers,
Chris