Witcomb bicycle purchase
05-19-13 | 08:33 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
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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
05-19-13 | 10:00 PM
#2
Gone World Hepster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,211
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From: Lincoln, NE
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.
05-20-13 | 07:05 AM
#4
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?
05-20-13 | 07:16 AM
#5
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From: Marysville, WA (north of Seattle.)
Bikes: 54 R.O. Harrison, 56 W. F. Holdsworth, 59 Sauvage-Lejuene campeur,63 Jack Taylor Tourist,74 & 78 Davidson, 80 Colnago Super, 82 Merckx Professional, 92 Rain City Steelhead, 08 Rivendell AHH, 2011 Rivendell Custom, 2014 Woodrup/Sayles custom 650b
Very cool - you did well!
05-20-13 | 09:50 AM
#7
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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?
05-20-13 | 03:12 PM
#8
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Northern California
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
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(?).
It is strange how (on the original tubular wheels) all of the hub dust caps have popped out of the hubshells(?).
05-08-14 | 03:30 PM
#10
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: London
Bikes: Airborne Torch, Witcomb 1973 Giro D'Italia, Witcomb 1980 Randonneur, “French Market” Raleigh Team Record 1978, Vista Aero Team 1982, Moulton Deluxe 1965, Ron Cooper 1982
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.
all the best Neil
Last edited by Neil Calder; 05-08-14 at 03:34 PM.
05-08-14 | 04:43 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Calgary
Bikes: Condor, Cinelli SC, MKM Metcalfe, Peugeot AE08, Bianchi, Cougar, Miyata, Harry Hall, Holdsworth Special, Raleigh Int'l, Le Croco, Bob Jackson, Zeus
Nicely done Neil and welcome to C&V. Do you have some more photos you can share of this lovely bicycle?
Thanks.
Brad
Thanks.
Brad
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Better bike .. Better life!
Better bike .. Better life!
05-08-14 | 07:22 PM
#13
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From: Detroit
08-24-18 | 08:48 AM
#15
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 8
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From: London
Bikes: Airborne Torch, Witcomb 1973 Giro D'Italia, Witcomb 1980 Randonneur, “French Market” Raleigh Team Record 1978, Vista Aero Team 1982, Moulton Deluxe 1965, Ron Cooper 1982
I have now done 5 Eroica Britannia’s and an Eroica Limburg on this and it continues to ride beautifully. Neil
