Steve-O
09-10-2005, 11:06 AM
There seems to be some problem with the RBR server as it won't let me load more then one pict at a time... Greg?
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Steve-O
09-10-2005, 11:07 AM
Dropped off Mrs. Steve-O at work this morning and could not help but being lured into a garage sale on the drive home. $20 later I ended up with what I thought would be my next rain bike or fixie. A little internet searching and I'm learning that the Witcomb brand has a little history... (http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British/Witcomb_UK.htm) I'm hoping e-Richie or someone else with Witcomb knowledge could give me a little feedback on this frame...
Steve-O
09-10-2005, 11:13 AM
More picts of the bike.... The lug work was very nice but not as good as some I've seen on CR. The frame has a "Made in England" decal but no serial number info on the BB shell...
Andy M-S
09-10-2005, 11:25 AM
[B]- The bike has 27" wheels with heavy old Araya rims. I would like to convert it to 700c. Can I do this by going to long reach brakes or some other method? (basically how much pain will I experience by adding a new wheelset?). I'll check to see the rear hub spacing shortly...
Looks like the brakes have plenty of adjustment left (at least the one I can see in front does). That should allow you to run 700C without investing in new brakes!
Steve-O
09-10-2005, 11:28 AM
Here are the last of the picts... Now for a few questions:
- The bike has 27" wheels with heavy old Araya rims. I would like to convert it to 700c. Can I do this by going to long reach brakes or some other method? (basically how much pain will I experience by adding a new wheelset?). I'll check to see the rear hub spacing shortly...
- Is this bike collectable at all? Like I mentioned, the lug work is very nice but certainly not ornate like some other Witcomb's I've found on the web. I was thinking that if I like the frame I would strip it and send it off to CycleArt or some other place for new paint and decals.
- The components are a mish-mash of stuff... Old Suntour drivetrain, Shimano 600 levers, Dia-Compe brakes, SR stem and post. I'd guess that there is no market for this stuff is there? Most of the eBay retro stuff that brings in $$$ is old Campy, right?
I'd appreciate any additional advice you'd have. This will be a working bike thus I'm not shooting for a period correct restoration project
WalterJ
09-10-2005, 05:43 PM
Nice find.
Man, garage sales around my house never have anything good. :(
Can't add much to the history.
Appears someone built that frame up. Whether that's the original build or a throw together job after the original parts were pulled off is impossible to know though I'd guess the latter.
I agree that it looks like there's room to spare with the front brake.
You can go with new long reach but you'll have to modify your front fork a bit. Sheldon Brown has instructions on this and I've done it and can attest to it.
Check the rear clearance first though, you might get lucky (again).