My 1974 Holdsworth Pro

[Retroian]

I bought the Holdsworth Pro frame in 1974 for £37 when it was originally finished in yellow. Not having much cash at the time, I built it up with lower end components - SR chainset, Triplex fron changer, Shimano Crane rear mech., weinman brakes, GB bars and stem, second hand mavic wheels etc. Raced it in 74, 75 & 76 seasons in road and TT events. This year I decided to update it by having it enamelled in team colours and re-equipping with the kit it should have been fitted if I had had the cash at the time. So, its now sports - Campag Record brakes, levers,pedals, Hubs, Nuovo Record Mechs, Cinelli bars & stem, Unicantor saddle, TTT seat post, Christophie Toe Clips. The rims are Halo Retro with Michlin Dynamic Classic pressures (as they would have been referred to in 1974). It's a great, responsive and comfortable ride and not much heavier than my modern bikes. Photos are here:
http://www.fyfieldbridgeclub.org.uk/page25.html

 

[moffyr72]

Thats stunning!! Really nicely finished.

 

[Midlife]

Quality

I don't remember a yellow Professional though, IIRC They were all the trademark orange / blue with chrome as per Les West's machine

£37 seems like a bargain LOL


Shaun

 

[Agency_Scum]

Gorgeous pictures mate! Much appreciated.

 

[Retroian]

You're right Midlife, most Pro's were sold in team colours but were available to your own colour scheme on request as per the adverts at that time. I bought the frame from Omega Cycles in Basildon. It was the only one in the shop and happened to be yellow and the right size. At the time I was torn between the Pro and a Rory O'Brien frame but settled on the Pro because it was a few pounds cheaper.

 

[roadking]

You're right Midlife, most Pro's were sold in team colours but were available to your own colour scheme on request as per the adverts at that time.quote]

Early team Pro's were green (I know one of the team mechanics from BITD), Orange came later and is the most often copied livery - bit like Raleighs in TI or Panasonic livery.

I have a soft spot for Holdsworth's - two owned from new - and I used to visit the factory in Penge occasionally.

And yes, any Holdsworth was available to order in any colour.

Roadking.

 

[Goldie]

They are such lovely looking bikes - have you sent he one steaming along on ebay at the moment? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140658254025? ... 500wt_1202 Nothing makes me wish I'd come to old school bikes a few years earlier than the thought I could have picked up one of these for some insanely low price.

 

[Midlife]

Learn something new every day

Working in a bike shop in the 70's we only bought frames that would sell (essestially acting as a VAR) so we would only get them in the team colours.

The Raleigh Pro bikes we knew came in silver etc. but couldn't have a frame hanging about so we always had them in the team colours...

like Falcon blue

Which I why I should have twigged as my 70's Falcon San Remo Pro I ordered in pink as they would supply in any colour

Shaun

 

[titch__16]

This is AMAZING! Shouldn't it have the white stripes on the top of the chainstays? Or is that just the new 'replicas'?

Early team Pro's were green

Never seen that before, can you get any pics?

 

[Old Ned]

This is AMAZING! Shouldn't it have the white stripes on the top of the chainstays? Or is that just the new 'replicas'?

Early team Pro's were green

Never seen that before, can you get any pics?

From what I remember it was a pale-ish limey flamboyant green (with white and red contrasts?). This would have been in the earlier 'independent' category team days before full professionalism was forced upon us.

See here -

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nkilgariff/

Look under 'Pro Team' on the left side tool bar.