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The paint will be classic Witcomb Lilac & Black, but slightly different from original. I want black bands on the seat tube.
Groupset will be mainly Dura Ace EX. Slightly heretical I know, but I have more or less a full group in NOS. Also, this bike will sort of match a similar Witcomb I (actually Union Cycle Works) built for Mrs Jangle a couple of years ago, and that had a Dura Ace group.
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So pissed off I missed that.
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^ Love the idea of this, or maybe a South London builders ride?
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Has promise. Mercian full resto? Make it so.
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really handsome frame. are you going to put the mudguard barze-ons when you restore it? 700c or 27" wheels?
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Need to get some wheels built, so going to check on sizing tonight, but think they will be 27".
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^That's amazing.
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So pissed off I missed that.
Ernie Witcomb lives in Welling, next door to my friend's Mum. He had his shop for decades in New Cross. His son Barry opened a bike shop in Crayford. It did badly and one day it went up in flames.
That bike may have come from Barry's shop, the vendor being in Crayford. -
Farewell my lovely, see you in 8 weeks...
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Any updates?
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Was really unhappy with what came back from Mercian - terrible shade of lilac, and the lug lining looked like it had been done by a child. I could hardly bring myself to look at it.
However, it is L'eroica next week, and I need a ride, so it is currently at the excellent Blue Door Cycles in Crystal Palace being built up. Hoping to collect later today, so amazingly timed post.
Will upload pics in due course.
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That's bad news. sorry to hear that Mercian were not what you had hoped.
I'm very disappointed in the job that Armortex did for me recently, but there doesn't seem to be much you can do apart from vote with your feet as it were.
Ryan is using them for my steel frame, however I'm hoping they won't shaft him as they do fair amount of reciprocal business.
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Picked it up this afternoon.
Joel at Blue Door Cycles went above and beyond, and has done a fantastic job.
Looks much better now that it is built up, and I can probably live with it.
Here you go:
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It's darker than the original. Was supposed to match Mrs JJ's bike. I will post a picture of that so you can see the difference.
Now it's built up, it looks a lot better.
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Nice to bump into you today, thought this looked very nice.
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About
Witcomb Restoration
Posted by
@Jingle_Jangle
My latest 'project' is the restoration of a vintage 57cm Witcomb, which I will hopefully have ready to take to L'eroica in October.
I have had the frame kicking around for ages - in fact, I had planned to have it ready for L'eroica 2012, but my timing slipped a little.
Anyway, here it is, as of today:
The frame is straight, and structurally sound, but there were a few alterations I wanted to have made. There were braze-ons for mudgaurds and pump pegs that I wanted removing and, as is common on such old frames, there was only one shifter boss of the downtube. I needed this removing, and replaced by a 'nib', as the groupset I have earmarked for this build has band-on shifters.
The work was done by Matt at Talbot Frameworks - Coldharbour off here. He was a pleasure to deal with, and has done a superb job - definitely worth seeking out.
The next part of the project involves paint. I am fairly sure I am going to use Mercian. As they are currently operating an 8 week turnaround, this thread will most likely be quiet for a while - save of course for getting some wheels built.
In the meantime, here's a couple more pics....