Witcomb Cycles

Infobox_company
company_name = Witcomb Cycles
company_
company_type = Private
slogan = Handmade Bicycles since 1928
foundation=1949
location = 25 Tanners Hill, Deptford, London, United Kingdom flagicon|UK
key_people=Ernie Witcomb, co-founder - Lily Witcomb, co-founder (both retired) Barry Witcomb, director and framebuilder - Nicholas Young, Managing director - Tony Malone, design director
industry = Framebuilding and Sports Equipment
products = bicycles, accessories
homepage = http://www.witcombcycles.co.uk

Witcomb Cycles, formerly known as Witcomb Lightweight Cycles, is the trading name of the Witcomb Trading Company. It is a British company based in Deptford, south London specialising in custom handmade steel bicycle frames. The company was founded in 1949 by Ernie Witcomb and his wife Lily and is now the only framebuilder in London and one of few in the UK.

History

Witcomb's father,Tom, a steel worker in local dockyards, started to build frames in 1928 in his east-London cellar. In 1951 Ernie bought E.A. Boult, where he had been working since before the war, and by 1952 started trading as Witcomb Lightweight Cycles with Wally Green as frame-builder.

Barrie Witcomb, Witcomb's son, started his apprenticeship as a frame-builder in 1958 at 15, under Malcolm Barker, a former builder at J.R.J. Cycles in Leeds.

In 1959, Witcomb Cycles bought Rotrax Cycles Building. [ [http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/designs/rotrax-hs.html] ]

In 1961, Witcomb co-founded the Lightweight Cycle Association, one of cycling's first trade focused organisations.

In the 1960s Witcomb Trading also made frames for Sid Mottram, Condor, Rotrax, Velosport and others. They continue to produce limited runs of handmade bicycles for other organisations, recently working with fashion brand carrhartt and reynolds steel.

Richard Sachs, Peter Weigle, Chris Chance and Ben Serotta, four American frame-builders, trained at Witcomb Cycles in the early 1970s. [ [http://www.richardsachs.com/articles/rsachsdavis.html] ] [ [http://www.firstflightbikes.com/1983_Weigle_IceCycle.htm] ]

The 1980s and the fashion for mountain bikes put a strain on the business which went into decline. In 1998, Ernie Witcomb retired but remains involved. In October 2007, Witcomb Cycles made a comeback with a stand at the London Cycle Show. This is combined with a collaboration with designer Tony Malone to develop the bespoke side of the business. [ [http://www.witcombcycles.co.uk/about.htm] ]

Location

Since its beginning the company has been located in London, starting in Woolwich, then later moving to Deptford's, Tanners Hill, a street in Deptford. After moves from one building to another, the workshop is at 25 Tanners Hill, a Grade II listed building from the late 17th century.

Witcomb USA

In 1971, the company represented the UK at a New York British Fair. The next year, Witcomb, while exhibiting in San Francisco, received HRH Princess Alexandra and her husband, Sir Angus Ogilvy. This marked a short-lived foray on the US market. Witcomb USA was founded in 1972 in East Haddam, CT. by Richard Sachs and Peter Weigle. Problems with suppliers meant the company could not fulfill demand and the venture was dismantled after a couple of years. [ [http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/Witcomb_USA/Witcomb_USA.htm] ]

Racing Team

In the 1960s, Witcomb Cycles sponsored the London Coureurs and the Hadrian CC Riders, then the Witcomb Metro CRC, one of the first London amateur clubs, and the Witcomb Vulcan CRC. Witcomb organised races including Dover-London. At this time when Barrie Witcomb started racing as an independent (semi-professional). [ [http://www.witcombcycles.co.uk/team/index.htm] ]

The team and a cycling club are to be relaunched. fact|date=April 2008

References

Notes

External links

* [http://www.witcombcycles.co.uk Witcomb Cycles] - Official website
* [http://www.witcombcycles.co.uk/blog/ Official blog]
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/witcomb Flickr photo pool]
* [http://www.youtube.com/witcombcycles YouTube channel]
* [http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/witcomb.html Witcomb Lightweight Cycles] - Classic Lightweights UK
* [http://www.bikebrothers.co.uk/witcombvisit.htm A Visit to Witcomb]
* [http://www.cycling.tv/extras/features/interbike-and-cycle-show-roundup/classic-looks-for-the-future-of-cycling Handmade in London] - Cycling.tv
* [http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/AB7EADE6-D56A-49EE-9F47-1332FB6FFCF1/0/Feb06.pdf The Frame Game] - Business Life, Lewisham Council, Feb/Mar 2006 (pdf file)
* [http://www2.lewisham.gov.uk/lbl/documents/news/lewishamlife/jul07/whitcomb.pdf Made to Measure] - Lewisham Life, Jul 2007 (pdf file)