Vintage Whitcomb Road Bike Restoration
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Vintage Whitcomb Road Bike Restoration
Subscribe: / bikeituk
This video shows a bicycle restoration and ride, of a vintage road bike called a Whitcomb. Not to be mistaken for the London based Witcomb bicycle company this one was based in Liverpool in the UK.
Bill Whitcomb, apparently spent most of his career working with other frame builders, or building bicycles in local bike shop's. What is known, is that Bill started an apprenticeship with Harry Quinn at Walton road Liverpool. He worked with Harry up until the business was sold around 1979. In the 1980's he had a spell building frames under his own name and had a great reputation for building road bike frames.
What also is known is that Bill, reunited with Harry Quinn and Peter his son, building Harry Quinn bicycles again in Wales.
This restoration was a quick turn around and just a few Campagnolo parts were required to complete the groupset. See this retro bike stripped, cleaned, built then taken back out on the open road where it belongs. This race bike really was like a lean mean racing machine an absolute pleasure to ride.
I hope that this video gives you some ideas, help and inspiration for your own projects. If you are new to the channel please have a look around with plenty we have many more Vintage Road Bike restorations and also Bicycle Maintenance videos to help a long the way.
Or why not visit our website full of hints and tips plus a catalogue of vintage road bike catalogue to give you reference and guidance with that Bike Restoration.
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This Road Bike Restoration is in Collaboration with CERA Cycloan
www.ceracycloa...
#vintage #retrobike #roadbike #whitcomb
Used to live five minutes walk from Harry Quinns shop,(Walton Road,Liverpool 4),spent half me childhood staring in the windows of his shop.I can recall he used to wear a big pair of glasses,and these used to reflect the light from the street back at you.He used to stand with arms folded,in a white overall.I can recall it like it was yesterday.In 1979 I bought a new Viking off him,in that shop.I heard he retired to Wales,and died there in 1992.
Wow thanks for sharing your personal memories, enjoyed reading your comment. Amazing how these bikes will probably out live is all. Thanks for your support and watching, all the best my friend 😉👍
Love this bike. The color and the shiny Campag bits make it!
Thanks for watching glad you like it 👍
Thank you all for tuning really appreciate the support, please share and give it a thumbs up it really helps. Loads more in the pipeline all the very best
Love it, cracking build!
@@slobberydan67 Thanks for your support
@@BikeItUK thanks for the content, really appreciated in these times 😁
One of the Best Andy! Im a campag rider from 84/85 to present day. There groupo never missed a beat. Great finish and ride, loved it
Thanks glad you enjoyed it thanks for your support Neil 👍
My first race bike was a 2nd hand Whitcomb. It was such a responsive frame. So lighy. I enjoyed riding that bike immensely.
Great rebuild
Thanks for watching I hope seeing another Whitcomb brought back some fond memories 😉🚲
Think i was 14. in the CTC and this older member turned up with a Whitcomb racer one clubnight equipped campag record and the new sidepulls.... Talk about drool lol... The side pulls were about 30 times more than anything on the market at the time .. Any way I made friends quickly and enjoyed riding around on some of his cast offs in future years till I got a Job lol..
Love it thanks for sharing your memories, seems you have many happy bicycle ones. Thanks as always for your long lasting ongoing support, all the best buddy
Well done, as always. Enjoy your weekend.
Thanks for watching and the support, and you matey
Terrific bike! I only ride 80's and 90's steel bikes they have that magic ride. Well, we rarely have rain in Phoenix, Arizona, just a little balmy in the summer.....Ha! I wouldn't mind a week's worth of rain..... a real novely. That bike is a keeper! THANK YOU!
Thanks was watching and the comment, I’m well up for swapping a weeks worth of 🌧 weather with you 😉👍🚲
its running like a dream mate.must have been built for a very tall rider looking at that head tube. it just needs a inner tube rapped in a tub roll & strapped under the saddle with a toe strap.(true 80s style lol) stay safe
Thanks for your support and watching, yes it would finish the look of the bike off 👍
Great looking build.
Thanks 🙏 🚲👍
Thanks so much for the wonderful videos. I think you are my favourite (for the video, the lingo, the countryside - oh and the bikes!).
Thanks for watching and your support 👍
There was a Whitcomb USA in about 1973-74. The frames were made in Haddam, Connecticut. Two Americas had apprentice in the UK. In 1975 they opened their own businesses, J. 'Peter" Weigle and Richard Sachs. Weigle now makes randonneur bicycles. Sachs makes road bikes and cyclocross. Weigle lent his name to the aerosol frame saver. Sachs is the 'Richie' of PegoRichie Columbus Tubing.
They may have interned in London for Witcomb. Are there two Whitcomb/Witcombs in the UK?
Interesting stuff thanks for sharing your knowledge 👍 great to dig down and not forget
@@markyoung950 I believe so. Witcomb in London and Whitcomb up north. Different companies.
Lovely bike love the colour of it keep up the good work can't wait to see next video
Yes we’ve got a few cracking restorations lined up, watch this space thanks for your support and watching 👍
Love the colour , nice job,nice bike
Thanks for watching and the support
Europe has such a rich road cycling history. I'm always so jealous of the bikes you manage to find. I'm not jealous of your weather though.
😂yes the weather is shocking, Manchester especially is prone to rain. It’s probably why Brits go loopy the first sight of sunshine. Thanks for watching and your support all the best 👍
Great resto as always, great looking bike.👍
Thanks for the support and watching 👍
Lovely job as always
many thanks
Wot a frame builder, love the ornate supporting strut reducing flex connecting the rear stays, lardy but no doubt effective. 4130 cro mo at it's best, with lashings of Campisconolo's too.
Thanks for the comment yes agreed lovely frame 👍🚲
@@BikeItUK Your doing great work, bringing cheer when all is drear. keep dem steels comin'.
Columbus SL builds into a lovely frame. Slightly envious....
Yes it was a great bike to ride all the best and thanks for the support 👍
That bike is a beaut mate. You've done a great job. Campagnolo...when only the best will do. Keep 'em comin' owd son
Thanks for the support many more to come 👍🚲🚲🚲🚲
Another cracking build mate👍🚴♀️🏴
Glad you enjoyed it Thanks for the support
Fabulous! I really enjoyed that. Well done!
Thanks for your support
Great video Andy. It would be good to see a longer "behind the scenes of the resto" video from you! Looking forward to the next bike.
Yes it needs adjusting the format and I’ve got some cracking projects in the pipeline 👍thanks for the support
I had a Whitcomb 10 with a gold coloured frame in 1974 with stick on tubeless tyres. It was a great bike but I sold it for a profit of £10 which back then as a school kid was decent money.
Wow £10 how fast things have changed…thanks for your comment and support it’s much appreciated
Love to see you refurb these vintage rides. Ever come across a ‘90’s Bridgestone...would be a great to see your process on those. Have got a few myself and they are a joy to ride. Was a rediscovery for me and happy I did.
Hi thanks for watching, I can honestly say no I haven’t I’ll have to have a look into them. 🤔🚲
That’s a beauty! Great work and thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching 👍🚲
Nice work again andy have just bought a gary turner race bike for 65 dollars thought it was a good buy it's tidy just got flat tires and needs a clean I think it's made in the usa think it's about 1990s have a good day andy cheers.
Thanks buddy sounds like you’ve got a good deal. Hope you find out the history. Enjoy and thanks for your support
Andy. It’s Alex (Gabs bro). Came across you while looking at resto vids (I’m a sad bike freak too!). Good stuff mate. Looking good!
Alex, no way!!! Really good to hear from you, I hope you and the family are well. Mate, we should hook up at some point, especially if your into your bikes. I’ve got plenty of bikes so up for whatever pal. I’m connected on FB with Gab can’t see you though. 👍
Hi mate. Be good to hook up and get out. I live down south so not exactly down the road. Will defo like to get out when this COVID comes to an end though. Gabs just got a new bike too so he’d be up for it. I gave up on social media mate; it’s not for me! 😂
@@Alexanderfmartin1 I’m doing LEJOG in April so maybe 🤔 jump on for a few miles. Drop us a mail andy_ferns@icloud.com 👍
Another great build just love these videos. Keep up the great work cheers.
Thanks for watching and your support many more to come 🚲🚲🚲🚲👍
Brilliant as always Andy. Great work!
Many thanks 🙏
Amazing job as always. Speed lover from Brazil. I ride a Peugeot 10 and PJ baloneta 1982
Thanks for your support in Brazil 🇧🇷 👍Sounds like you have a couple of nice rides 🚲
Massive. I love the dialect. "Should look really well..."
Thanks for watching and your support 👍
muy bonita restauracion sigue asi eres el mejor.
🙏👍
Thanks for renewing and showing this example of Bill Whitcomb's work. I have one question: if that is a Cinelli 1A stem, how did you get it on after wrapping the bars?
Another great video and bike!!
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching
Welcome back Andy...always a pleasure to see your restorations
...hope all is well with you and your family....best regards always
...Rudy
Thanks Rudy, yes family all good I’m a firefighter full time so no real change for me. These restorations are keeping me sane 😉🚲 hope all is well with you 👍
Great restoration and parts choice! Love getting brought back in time to the 80´s and 90´s with your Bike Restorations! 🤩🎶
Thanks for the support glad you enjoy
Great performance as always, for me an unknown brand but a beautiful frame. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your support, enjoying your builds 👍🚲🚲🚲
Super nice bike, as usual with your videos
Thanks for your support appreciated 👍
Always enjoy your restorations Andy and that one looked pretty good,especially on the road when you were test riding it. The T cut really brought the shine back out to the paintwork !
Thanks for watching loved the ride of this one, with the new cassette and chain really did feel like a new bike. All the best and thanks for your support 👍🚲
absolutely beautiful
Thanks for the support 👍
Great job as always
To be fair, that was already pretty good, but you’ve made it perfect
Thanks and yes a quick turn around on this one, more of just readjusting replacing a few components. 👍🚲
pleaaaseee make a video of your stunning classic bikes collection pleeaseee
Many I sell on once completed I do have a few though I’ll see what I can do
@@BikeItUK i really would love it thaank youuu
It's real nice to see you jazzing up an actual Northern England made road bike. Columbus SL frame which is a beauty. The only thing that was missing was a nice North England retro tune from New Order or some other band of your choosing. This restore was the most local that you have done. Lovely and brilliantly done my friend. Cheers!
I'd love to have free choice of music, yes with you all the way with a bit of New Order.....I live in Manchester and the wife is from Liverpool so yes it was a nice build to do. Thanks for the support all the best
@@BikeItUK Yes unfortunately here on the internet we have to abide by copyright laws. I suppose the next best thing is to encourage you to put on some of your favorite New Order the next time you take the bike out for a spin. Your friend from across the big pond.
Just found your videos, and very happy to do so--just finished my own Italian restoration. Interesting in this case that a British frame would use Columbus tubing. But I'm begging you to lose that New York Yankees cap, which is borderline offensive to most Americans.
Sorry about the cap 🧢 in the UK it definitely doesn’t have the same connection. I’ll see what I can do 🤔 glad you enjoy the bicycle restorations though, thanks for your support 👍
@@BikeItUK I suppose the UK equivalent would be wearing ManU gear. And for us Boston Red Sox fans, the Yankees are mortal enemies! Cheers.
Another Excellent restoration and amazing work keep up the great videos and keep on cycling Andy 😊👍🏻
Thank you and also for waiting and tuning in
Pretty bike
Thanks for watching
Very interesting - do you know when thee frame was built? In 1960 I ordered a frame from Rotrax who were based in Southampton. When it arrived I was a little disappointed since the transfers proclaimed Rotrax by Whitcomb. I rebuilt the bike about 5 years ago - the frame was refurbished and re- painted by Rotrax who did a magnificent job on it - it has been and still, is a lovely bike to ride.
🤔This is also interesting thanks for sharing your story. All the best Andy
Cool Bike...never heard of Whitcomb before, really cool 👍👍😀
To be honest me neither, I read up on the famous Witcomb name then noticed the H in the name. Every days learning day 😉👍
Fantastic Build. I always enjoy your work.
Thanks for watching and the support 👍🚲
Nice build quality on that frame 60cm? Steel is real , keep up the good work looking forward to the day you get a Rossin in the workshop.
Yes me too I search every week for one believe me, Rossin, De Rosa, Bianchi the list goes on. But Rossin was a childhood dream bike so it is definitely on the hit list
@@BikeItUK Hope you find one and if you do keep for yourself.
Agree, Rossin Ghibli would be perfect.
Nice editing Andy with the new close ups and good mood lighting and backing music 👍
Thanks for your words of support all the best
Bill Whitcomb was Harry Quinn's apprentice along with Terry Dolan. He was only one of a handful of frame builders initially approved to build with 753 - that's how good he was. I say was as who knows where he is now - must be in his mid 60's. I'm pretty sure he exhibited one of his frames with gold plated Campagnolo Super Record (the old lighter one!) at a national event and Cycling Weekly or other magazine did an article on it. Memory getting a bit sketchy! Point is the frame builds were top notch but he built for Walvale, Soens and Harry Quinn (and mine's definitely not for sale!)
Great information thanks for your comment and watching much appreciated all the best Andy
I heard that Billy Whitcomb has passed away.There is another frame builder called Whitcombe,(e on the end,)but he's from the London area,and obviously not Billy Whitcomb who worked with Harry Quinn.
Just got my hands on a hawkes international ,love light frame for a 50's bike
Sounds great don’t know to much about Hawkes 🤔
Great job yet again. I always look forward to your videos. I would have used a white saddle to match the white bar tape, just a personal choice.
No you’re probably right, on some of these builds my hands are tied because of budget. The last white saddle I bought came in about £80, this project was a collaboration so I mainly used what was available 😉 thanks for the support and I’m sure the no budget builds are on the way👍
hi Andy, great build as always! thank you for making these videos. really appreciate them! best channel on yt for retro bike builds!! looking forward to do one myself again
Good to hear and thanks for your support all the best 🚲👍
Hooray you made me happy - bike tape installed from the nd inwards. What was the thinking behind putting the old BB in your bucket? I would have thought it would flush out the grease.
😂Glad you approve of the bar tape 👍 The sealed bottom bracket was just degreased it didn’t effect the internal running of the unit, it wasn’t left soaking. Thanks for watching and the support
Jagwired makes in housing in Red anodised aluminium that would look great with that metallic paint
Yes it would I didn’t know they did 👍🚲
Beautifully done Andy! very nice frame and group set, she came together nicely.
Have a great Holiday season 👍🔧🚲🏡🎁🌲
Thanks, you too! All the best and thanks for your support
As always great job my man, beautiful bike . I love to watch the work. The roads you roll always very cool and horses nice touch, reminds of rides here in Texas alot hotter here though. Great job keep crackin bro and to everyone have a nice Christmas.
Thanks Tom for your words of support and glad you picked up on the quick hello to the horse rider 😉 all the best to you also hope you and loved ones have a great festive period
Great videos. Can you make a more detailed ones for each section of the rebuild? A tutorial kind of video?
Thanks for watching, yes I need to I’m thinking 🤔 thanks for your input 👍
Hi Andy, another enjoyable video. Any idea what the music was playing during the road test, very catchy tune. Cheers👍🙂
Thanks for the support and watching the music I just get from the UA-cam studio free download. I’d have to look into it. I normally search dance/electro plus inspirational I hope this helps
Great bicycle. Lovely restoration. Love the new camerawork. ;)
Glad you like it! Thanks for watching and your support
Fab bike love it well done m8
Thanks as always for tuning in and watching
When is the retro bmx vid comeing out
Very soon...its all stripped all parts of the jigsaw have arrived. Just finding the time between work and home life, Im excited myself about it.
Came across your channel whilst looking for inspiration to restore my early 90`s Colagno Master. I love fiddling with bikes and have really enjoyed restoring mine. Got the bug !! Who was that company you recommended for vintage parts please.
Thanks for watching and great to hear you’ve just found us, make sure to Subscribe 😉. Links to both our website and Cera Cycloan site can be found in the description 👍
What a great looking classic Roadbike. Love it🤩👍
Oh what memories, the nice red metallic colour is amazing. If i remember right it was an old Peugeot but i don't know the Modell. All i remember is the nice red metallic colour.
Best regards from germany.
Please stay well.
And you my friend thanks for watching and your support glad it brought back some fond memories 👍
@@BikeItUK It is amazing to watch your video and to see old bikes come back to life. A great result that old needs some love and hopefully they rescue out of dumpster.
Stay well my friend. And keep your feet on the pedals. ✌😃👍
hyped !!
Do you think you could get hold of a W & E Pollard, That was my local bike shop here in Coventry.
If one comes my way I’m sure it will be featured on the channel 👍thanks for tuning in
Muy buena restauración. Saludos 🇦🇷
🙏 👍
those brittle plastic crank bolt covers can be removed by heating them with a one of those hairdryer type paint stripper guns. Heat the cap till it's soft then pop it out with some twizzers, works a treat..just sayin.
Bob on, great advice Ill try and share it on the problem Im sure it will come up again. Thanks for watching and the support
So if the same colour is difficult to find but it has rust just apply the kurust rust converter and leaves the spots black? That is what I did but I heard somewhere (can't remember where) that we can use nail polish to paint this small areas(?), and it's much easier to find nail polish of whatever colour you have
Thanks for watching and the tips, didn’t think about nail polish 👍🚲
@@BikeItUK thank YOU for this amazing channel and for treating subscriber so well!
Nice resto, bit of a shame about the Shimano headset though. Not worth sourcing Campag ?
Thanks for watching the bike was in collaboration with Cera Cycloan so my hands are slightly tied to what they already have.
Bikelt UK 👍
Thanks for watching
Billy would have preferred Shimano. He had the first full Shimano groupset I had seen.
🤔 no way, thanks for the information interesting. Thanks for watching all the best.
I used to share a house with Billy.
Great video and channel , what do you think is a better bike regards to Hybrid bike , Canonondale or Ribble ? Many thanks
Thanks for watching, I’ve had both 🤔 Ribble more bike for your money, Cannondale good worldwide reputation. Mate, it’s your choice I’m sure the colour scheme will also have a part to play. Enjoy choosing its half the fun buddy 👍
@@BikeItUK Cheers for that mate , much appreciated your knowledge , i did have an old Peugeot racing bike the Z team back in the day 90s , like the bikes you do up 😊 A fantastic light bike it was too . Thanks again i will do , regards from London mate 😎
Great video. Can i ask you Which paste to use to remove the rust from my motobecane vintage bike ?
Thanks for watching, for rust I generally use Krust see this video I did it maybe of some help ua-cam.com/video/z_I5v5FwHCk/v-deo.html
I have bottom bracket cable guides like that on the Olmo San Remo that I asked you about last week. Do the cables run smoothly through them? Or is there a lot of friction?
Thanks for watching, the frame had a very deep clean and the gear ⚙️ changing was very smooth 👍🚲
Good job! What kind of cleaner do you use in the bucket?
Thanks for watching, just generally gasoline/ petrol acts as a thinner. Hope this helps all the best
@@BikeItUK 👌Keep it up! I love your videos!
What crankset was on that at first? looked like one of those super cheap cranks you got on cheap road bikes back in the day!!! Great build and a great channel keep up the good work!! Crack on!!
Im sure it was a Silstar sho also used to produce fishing tackle in the 80's I know. Thanks for watching and the support all the best
Stronglight 104
Any advice on where to get 1995 ish Campagnolo record 8 speed cassette cogs and chain rings and shifter parts?
Hello and thanks for watching the answer to your question, I mainly just use eBay. I spend a lot of time scrolling
👍
Thanks for watching
Do you have a frame number on your bike? I have an unrestored but rideable Whitcomb that looks a bit older than yours. It still has a very faded Walvale bike shop sticker on the front rim and lots of different parts from their parts bin. Renolds 531C tubing, Weinmann 27" rims on campagnolo hubs,Simplex ,Suntour, Mavic, Spidel, Cinelli and Mavic! On the bottom bracket there is the number 161184 and I wonder if that could be the date the frame was completed, 1984 would certainly be right for the components.
.
When’s the bmx build coming out
The bikes built looks amazing....just waiting for the weather to break to get it out for a ride. The weather has been freezing 🥶 here
@@BikeItUK typicalBritish weather look forward to the video
👌🇹🇷 perfect
Thanks 🙏
Hello Can you restore a Masi Corsa 1955/1960 i dont see many of this bike on The web.
Many Thanks
I will certainly do my best, I really is what bikes become available for the right price in need of some care and attention. Thanks for watching and your support 👍
@@BikeItUK
Brilliant i will looking for a restoration of a Masi Speciale Corsa
Thank you and keep up with the good work 👍
Cuanto vale una igual que esa yo tengo una igual acá en México
esta bicicleta se vendió por alrededor de £ 500 aproximadamente, creo
English BB
Yes 👍
christ man, the cross-chaining. why? that's not how bikes work...
Thanks for watching...the cross chaining?
@@BikeItUK cross-chaining. riding in the big cog and big ring. or the small/small. bikes don't work like that. inexcusable fred mistake. cross-chaining.
Whitcomb light cycles based in Deptford Southeast London from 1949 til 2009 were far better cycles. That bike you have there should not carry the name of Whitcomb in my view👎 sorry. Stay safe happy riding👍
Yes the company in London spelt Witcomb and not Whitcomb, just frame builders surnames I guess.I had the whole Witcomb history ready to go, then noticed the H in the name, Interesting all the same. Thanks for watching and the support
@@BikeItUK Thanks for the reply, it was my local bike shop and l was in there often getting my bike repaired was in my teens then, and liked that he would show my the workshop were. the frames were made👍good times. But l never noticed the H missing thanks for pointing that out. Stay safe and happy riding Colin👋
Tannners Hill Deptford
@@kenstubbs6878 Thankyou Ken l only wish l still had that bike. I’m 71 now and ride a Ron Cooper, you might have heard of him. A south London frame builder, Happy cycling👍
Ron Cooper top frame builder in his day.