New Witcomb available

Spoke to Barrie earlier today.

He has a cancelled order available.

Not sure of the finer points, so give him a call.

It's a red track/fixed frame suitable for about 30" inside leg and normal reach.

Unless the spec is particularly lavish, expect to pay half a grand.

Damnit man! Next time you speak to him tell him to get in touch with me!

Calm down fella!

trampsparadise said he was on it, so I didn't hassle the great man.

Barrie is ridiculously busy at the moment. He has orders for twenty frames.

I'm getting a bit pissed off now. I ordered mine on 6th July and he hasn't even got the tubeset yet. It's not looking like it's gonna make it to the enameller before Barrie goes on holiday. Then it's four to six weeks being painted.

I wouldn't mind if I'd been quoted three months when I ordered it, but he told me six weeks.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Barrie :) He's a little disorganised.

I think part of the problem is the whole FG/SS boom (as well as ressurgance in respect for handbuilt frames), Witcomb was just about toddling along and now suddenly there is a lot of demand for Witcomb frames. Barrie's just out of administrative shape :)

And if you think 3 months is bad, it took my friend two sodding years to build my frame, after his initial "it will take about six weeks, sure no problem". I love it though, so it was worth waiting for.

I was on the verge of cancelling yesterday, but I know I'd regret it.

I'd have bought a cheap bike and sold it when the Witcomb was ready if I'd known it would take so long.

kowalski It's not looking like it's gonna make it to the enameller...

Who is doing it?

Colourtech in Crayford, I think.

Mercian told me six months, we get used to having everything we want right away, part of the hand built hand crafted experience is to have to wait a little bit

Second that, smiling buddha- be prepared for a wait with the enameller too, although it's probably a communication breakdown (i.e. me) that I should blame. Barrie's a hero. Didn't he teach a few American frame builders back in the day? I wonder if he could be persuaded to diversify into a brazing course for interested obsessives.

Not too sure if Barrie taught them or his dad, Ernie. But both Richard Sachs and Ben Serotta passed through Witcomb amongst others.

Sachs article:
http://www.richardsachs.com/articles/rsachshobby.html

Serotta:
http://www.serotta.com/pages/history.html

ImOnCrank: Have you seen that your bike is on the Witcomb pages as "London Olympic track"? Nifty:
http://www.witcombcycles.com/handbuiltframes.htm