Simpsons Cycles - End of an LBS era

[Smokin Joe]

Woodrup Cycles here in Leeds is one such example. It has expanded its floor space and staff numbers over the past ten or so years that I have been using it and offers a very friendly service to all customers irrespective of their spending power. The hand built frames and bikes side of the business is very buoyant.

Bob Jackson cycles on the other hand closed the retail side of the business and now focusses on frame building and frame painting. The aloofness of the shop staff might have contributed to the dwindling number of retail customers and Woodrups were able to take advantage of being only a few miles down the road and serving an overlapping catchment area.

I had a very nice frame made by Woodrup in 1971, cherry red with white panels on seat and down tubes and half chromed forks and stays. Columbus tubing which I always preferred to Reynolds.

When you pop in tell them there's a guy here who remembers their frame from 44 years ago with misty eyes.