1974 Holdsworth Racer

[820]

I visited the Brooklands museum a while back and found they had a building dedicated to push bikes, it took me right back, although it was good to see the Raleigh Choppers, Grifters and stuff thats not really what I was into. Track bikes, cycle speedway and racers were my thing so to see those early Raleigh, Peugeot, Claud Butler racers in that old building was amazing.
I have always enjoyed cycling and still commute 50 miles a week to keep fit and its just boring sitting in traffic, I suspect like a lot of us on this site I spent all my early teens on push bikes before discovering cars and motorbikes.
Kept thinking about building an old track bike with the old postman bike Westwood wheels, sloping cross bar frame, no brakes, Canadian bend handle bars, knobbly tyres etc and learn to wheelie every where again but the parts are difficult to find now and I am 50.
So decided on a Racer project, after several unsuccessful bids on 70's to 80's stuff eventually won a 1974 Holdsworth, I think its a Mistral but not certain, the only problem might be a dent in the down tube might not be repairable.
This is the ebay picture



When I got it home, straightened out the brake levers, raised the saddle and tried it out, it rode ok, so decided to try it out on the 8 mile ride to work the next day, what a mistake that was, I knew the old Brookes leather saddle was worn but it was so bad that half way it was agony where it had collapsed, the chain was bone dry and squeaked all the way, the gears wrapped round the sprocket twice, the brakes worked but not well, anyway packed the saddle out with foam for the return journey.

Most of the parts on it are scrap, its the frame that I really want to use, I love the sloping fork CROWNs and the wrap round seat stays and the not to fancy lugs. I might still use the wheels if they straighten and clean up ok.
These are pictures of it with saddle raised and brakes straightened after the epic ride to work.













Next it will be completely stripped for assessment of the frame dent and what can be salvaged

[820]

The bike now fully stripped for repair and paint.
These hand made Reynolds 531 tubing frames have some great details with the brass head badge and sloping fork CROWNs, the lugs although not as fancy as some earlier frames or Hetchins are still functional with a little bit of that English styling you wont find on a mass produced frame now.

The frame is straight and aligned no serious corrosion just the down tube dent to assess.


The brass head badge paint had worn over 40 years so that will need repainting.




The sloping fork CROWNs


Almost all the modern ally, carbon and even steel frames are built in the far east, you wont see the trick and funtional wrap over rear stay tubes on another bike.






It cant be seen in the picture but the dent has pushed out at the edges so filling wont hide it.
I took the frame along to Roberts Cycles in Croydon, www.robertscycles.com/index.htmlone of the few places still hand building custom steel frames in their own workshop at the back of the shop. They tailor each bike they build to the customers measuments and specific requirements, using modern lightweight steel tubing or stainless steel.

[8bitash]

Its a real curse word about the dent. I think it would be a real shame if you had this repainted. Its got a really nice wear to it and it tells a story. If it were mine i'd polish it up and put period shiney bits on. I've got a Columbus frame i'm building up and really regret having it powder coated now. My daily commuters a Holdsworth from the 80's, really comfortable bike. Did London to brighton on it last week fixed and it did me proud.

[820]

The dent is a shame but it was always the intention to build it up to new condition. I get your point about building it up with the faded paint though.
Would be interested to know more about your 80's Holdsworth and Columbus.

The frame is back from Roberts Cycles, the dent was not repairable so a new down tube was needed, this is where logic goes out the window, the repair would cost more than I paid for the bike, but this build had to have certain features on the frame that took a long time to find, so went ahead with the repair.
I asked if stainless steel tubing could be used but this was not possible, so a modern 531 tubing was used retaining the original weight and feel of the frame on the road.



Also added to the frame is the front derailleur mount, the original front frame clamped derailleur was missing so to protect the final paint and try to keep it looking clean as possible this was brazed in place.















Thats where it is up to now, the next stage is some chroming, still not decided on the parts to chrome but have some ideas, I have been recommended to London Chroming, if anyone has used them before or has any other recommendations in the Surrey South London area.

[awoo]

i used albion plating in horsham not long ago for some forks, good job - good price - worth checking out.

[fannywhacker]

London Chroming is expensive. Proper expensive. I'd use Roy at RB Polishing in New Addington, good price, good turn around and great quality. He does all the Barons Speed Shop bikes so you know he's good. 07732376190

Very nice bike BTW.

[820]

Thanks for the tips, I will look into those.
I want to do away with the gear levers on the down tube and move to brake levers with gear change but they are all 9 and 10 speed shifters, this frame is for 5 speed, I can get the frame widened or I seem to remember some bikes having the gear levers on the end of the handle bars, not sure which way to go now.

Fannywhacker, just read your thread, fantastic collection.

[disasterbus]

very cool, I did something similar with a 70's Carlton a year or two back - same model I'd owned as a 15 year old and 30 plus years later I wanted to re-create it with a few modern touches....

[820]

That looks good, funny I was started on this bike thing by the Brooklands museum then one of the ideas was to find an Eddy Merckx bike that I had when I was 15, couldnt find one or anything like.
Are you still using the Carlton?

[820]

Finally got the chrome work done, not the finest and not exactly what I requested but it will have to do.

The plan was to do the whole head tube and lugs but they only polished the lugs, so the head tube will be painted around the chrome lugs




The seat tube lug and wrap over seat stay flats.




and the rear drop outs


Next will be the paint in a dark metallic blue, at this rate should have the paint on by 2016.

[awoo]

where did you go for the chrome in the end?

[820]

I am not going to name and shame but it is none of the recommendations above.

[ontheedge]

Nice well made frame that, it's the same as I started racing on in the 70s !

[820]

Great picture ontheedge, what and where is the race and what bike is it?

[stevecrx]

Nice write-up, thanks!

I don't know much about old racing stuff (I ride a modern SAB for commuting duties) but I spy a Dura-Ace sticker on that frame. Was that what is fitted and is it salvageable?

Was Dura-Ace as revered then as it is now? Just wondering...

[820]

Oct 22, 2014 11:39:48 GMT stevecrx said:

Nice write-up, thanks!

I don't know much about old racing stuff (I ride a modern SAB for commuting duties) but I spy a Dura-Ace sticker on that frame. Was that what is fitted and is it salvageable?

Was Dura-Ace as revered then as it is now? Just wondering...

Cheers stevecrx, not sure about the Dura-ace sticker, there are Shimano brake levers on it and the gears are Shimano Crane, don't know about the Dura-ace range, its likely had a few different parts on it in 40 years.

I have Campagnolo crank, gears and brakes to go on if they fit, most of the parts fitted when I got the bike were still working but worn out.I have kept it all in a box, will check the levers at the weekend.

searched SAB did not know about them, sounds good, is it an early one? I use a really unsuitable Whyte 905 hardtail for commuting, fantastic bike though

[stevecrx]

SAB are a San Marino based, frame building company sold through Planet X. I think PX must have bought a job lot of their old stock to be pedaling them out (excuse the pun) as cheaply as they do.

I bought mine last year after I got T-boned by a Vauxhall Astra, totaling my old Specialized roadie.

At the time, it was the absolute best I could get for the money, with Tiagra Gearset, Shimano RS30 wheels, and carbon forks and rear end.

Anyway, like the chrome on your frame, and am looking forward to seeing the finished article with paint!

[TS]

Oct 22, 2014 22:06:01 GMT 820 said:

Cheers stevecrx, not sure about the Dura-ace sticker, there are Shimano brake levers on it and the gears are Shimano Crane, don't know about the Dura-ace range, its likely had a few different parts on it in 40 years.

Crane IS Dura Ace its just the first iteration of it. Strangely its not as collectable as stuff stamped Dura Ace. Its still collectable though.

[ontheedge]

Oct 21, 2014 21:41:23 GMT 820 said:

Great picture ontheedge, what and where is the race and what bike is it?

Holdsworth Super Mistral / 1970s / Time Trial Isle of Man Cycling Week

[820]

Its 2016, so time for the next installment. I collected the frame from Mercian Cycles in Derby on Saturday, freshly painted electric blue pearl with new transfers and gold lug lining, just the 3 pictures for now to show the colour and details, did I say this is a slow build.