Woolys Wheels

[Churr]

Here's my new project. I found this frame and fork set-up out the back at work. So according to the decals on the frame it's a 'Woolies Wheels' road bike frame made in Osaka, Japan. By a factory called 'Kuwahara' I guess? The serial number stamped in the side '83-4-41495'. I stripped it down to its bare minimum.









Once stripped I sent the frame and fork off to my friendly-neighbourhood-powdercoaters. They bead-blast and zinc coat the frame before laying the powder down which should help with future corrosion. I chose to go with a 'Mistletoe green' for the colour, almost a british racing green. I'll be putting a basic wheelset on with a front brake, possibly a rear. I'll also be using some older tourney cranks and polish them up really nicely, hopefully get my hands on some older dual-pivot tourney brake calipers at work, to match the cranks. Was thinking a brown saddle and some brown bar-tape with chrome parts to finish it off as well.





Also if anyone could shed some light on the origin or any information on the frame that would be great! I'll try get it running in the next week or two.

[brendan]

pls use the search function. enter term: kuwahara. you will be pleasantly surprised.

[drozzy]

Woolys is a bike shop here in Sydney. Mustve used Kuwahara as their stock rebranded frames. (As did a few other companies)

[shortsie]

Apollo bikes were re-branded Kuwaharas for a while as well.

[Lorday]

Apollo bikes were re-branded Kuwaharas for a while as well.

Correct.
As above kuwahara (which I believe is pronouced kira-ha-ra) made a lot a bicycle frames from track to road and bmx etc. in japan. They made bicycles for themselves under their brand as well as for others.
Mostly famous for there bmx's which are still raced and loved today, but more commonly loved for a particularly bmx - the one in ET!

[Bender]

Every time i see a cool looking frame with a bit of patina powdercoated, i cry, and so does James.

[heavymetal]

Every time i see a cool looking frame with a bit of patina powdercoated, i cry, and so does James.

That decal was so sweet...

[butter]

That decal was so sweet...

eek +1

It looked cool rusty.

[shortsie]

Every time i see a cool looking frame with a bit of patina powdercoated, i cry, and so does James.

+1.
Such a rad decal. Such a weird find that is now just another boring powdercoated frame.

[slinky]

What a shame it looked so cool before the paint.