[CR]history of Phil Wood?

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 11:16:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Bruce Schrader" <bcschrader@yahoo.com>
Subject: [CR]history of Phil Wood?
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <CATFOOD78TI2vGSQb0S00001434@catfood.nt.phred.org>


Stevan Thomas says:
>I was appalled and disgusted by Phil's attitude and regret that his parts are held in such apparent high esteem by people who apparently don't know the past history of his parts.
>Caveat Emptor. There are all kinds of better vintage parts available if you are willing to search: Edco, OMAS, Stronglight, etc.

Ann Phillips Wrote:

When I first started messing around with bicycles in the late 70s, Phil was the stuff to have for a touring bike or any heavy use bicycle. (mmm! pedals)

I lived in San Jose and was working in the cycling industry in the early 90s and was living a few blocks from Phil Wood, so I got to know Peter a bit and made more than one shop visit. I was impressed by their dedication to quality and the innovations they made. I remember them messing around with large diameter axles and beefy hubs for front suspended MTBs before anyone else was. I was given a Phil Wood BB back in 1993, which now is in use in my Waterford.

Sounds like Phil Wood has had an interesting history. Does anyone know anything about it, other than the company was founded in 1971? Dale's CR site just talks about the brake.

Bruce Schrader Writes:

I owned a bike shop in San Jose just a few blocks from Phil Wood's company between 1979 & 1985. I had the great pleasure of knowing and spending many pleasurable hours with Phil, his wife Ada, and the employees at the company. I have nothing but respect, praise and genuine warm friendship and affection for them. Phil has been gone from the company now for quite a few years and I don't know if any of the original employees are still with the present company.

I dropped out of the bicycle industry and scene for about 15 years and lost track of everyone. When I became active again around 2000, I began dealing with the present Phil company. I had some old hubs rebuilt and respaced (2 pair). I've also bought some bb's and rings from them. They have been wonderful to deal with. I am so happy to see the Phil tradition continue to this day. I have two daily riders that are equipped with old Phil hubs and bb's and one with a pair of Phil pedals also. I wouldn't part with any of them. I hope none of them brake. If they do, I hope I'm lucky enough to not be injured too badly. I hope the same for many of the other parts that I continue to value and use daily. Campy NR/SR cranks have a reputation of breaking, yet I still use them. I try and inspect the pedal end and the joint near the spider regularly for signs of cracks.

Stephan had a bad experience with Phil, as he described. I don't know if that's the only bad experience he had or if there were others. It's too bad. IMHO, Phil was a wonderful person and his products reflected his nature. He also had a dry wit and sence of humor and was profoundly honest.

He built many wheelchair hubs and employeed a number of chair bound workers. They also built a number of prototype racing chairs etc. A visit to the factory revealed quite a few chairs, empty and occupied. There were frequent noon time wheel chair races up and down the halls of the factory. A little crazy...a lot of fun... Phil was often found at his desk, sitting in one of the wheelchairs...they were comfortable and numerous... A journalist once came to interview Phil and found him sitting in a wheelchair. He assumed his legs didn't work and he was chair bound. The interview went long and well and at the end, an invitation to lunch was made and accepted by both. Phil stood up from the chair and began to walk out of the office and the journalist almost passed out. He thought he was witnessing a miracle. When he composed himself, he asked Phil to explain what he's just seen. Phil shrugged his shoulders and said, "oh, I often sit around here in a wheelchair, but I'm not crippled". (or something to the effect)

I relate this tale to point out that Phil was humorous, witty, unpretentious, and honest and open with everyone. He was also a little absent minded at times, especially when absorbed in his work. He did not always do or say things that would have been in the best interest of building a mega-huge company. But he was genuine...and good...

Bruce Schrader San Francisco

===== "Not all those that wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973)