Witcomb Cycles

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Witcomb Cycles
Type Private
Founded 1949
Headquarters 25 Tanners Hill, Deptford, London, United Kingdom Flag of the United Kingdom
Key people Ernie Witcomb, co-founder - Lily Witcomb, co-founder (both retired)
Barry Witcomb, director and framebuilder - Joyce Martin, director
Industry Framebuilding and Sports Equipment
Products bicycles, accessories
Website http://www.witcombcycles.co.uk

Witcomb Cycles, formerly known as Witcomb Lightweight Cycles, is the trading name of the Witcomb Trading Company Ltd. 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 the very few left in the UK.

Ernie's father,Tom, a steel worker in the local dockyards, had himself started to build frames in 1928 in his east-London cellar. In 1951 Ernie Witcomb buys out E.A. Boult where he had been working since before the war and by 1952 starts trading as Witcomb Lightweight Cycles Ltd with Wally Green as a frame-builder. Barrie Witcomb, Ernie's son, started his apprenticeship as a frame-builder in 1958 at the age of 15, under the guidance of Malcolm Barker, a former builder at J.R.J. Cycles in Leeds.

Since its beginning the company remained in premises at the bottom of Tanners Hill. After several moves from one building to another, the workshop is currently sited at 25 Tanners Hill in a Grade II listed building from the late 17th century.

In 1958 Stan Brittain competes in the Tour de France and finishes overall 69th, riding a Witcomb bicycle. The machine was painted Witcomb lilac with a black head tube and seat tube panels. This was the last time that a British-made bike took part in the Tour.

In 1959, Witcomb Cycles buys out Rotrax Cycles Building. [1]

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

Richard Sachs, Peter Weigle, Chris Chance and Ben Serotta, four of the leading Amercian frame-builders, were trained at Witcomb Cycles in the early 1970's. [2] [3]

The 1980's and the fashion for mountain bikes put a strain on the business which went into decline. In 1998, Ernie officially retired but remains involved. In October 2007, Witcomb Cycles made a come back with a stand at the London Cycle Show. This is combined with a collaboration with graphic designer Tony Malone to develop the bespoke side of the business. [4]

[edit] Witcomb USA

In 1971, the company was chosen to represent the UK at a New York British Fair. The next year, Witcomb while exhibiting in San Francisco, received the visit of HRH Princess Alexandra and her husband, Sir Angus Ogilvy. This marked the beginning of 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 that the company could not fulfill the huge demand they faced and the venture was dismantled after a couple of years. [5]

[edit] Racing Team

Left to right: Barrie Witcomb, Phil Liggett and Ernie Witcomb on the Witcomb Cycles stand at the London Cycle Show - 11 October 2007
Left to right: Barrie Witcomb, Phil Liggett and Ernie Witcomb on the Witcomb Cycles stand at the London Cycle Show - 11 October 2007

In the 1960's, Witcomb Cycles sponsor 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. Ernie also organised many races including some of the first editions of the Dover to London race. This is also the time when Barry starts racing as an independent. In the mid-1960's, Phil Liggett, Ken Haynes and Richard Wiliamson join the Witcomb Racing Team. [6]

The team and a cycling club are about to be relaunched.[citation needed]

[edit] External links