Vintage Holdsworth Advice

[ianbro]

Hi,

Just liberated my dad's 1960/61 Holdsworth Hurricane from the loft. The frame's ok but the wheels are shot - where can I get some decent replacements? Other advice, things I should be considering. Is it a travesty to convert to single speed? Current rear mech is a nasty shimano tourney - i assume original was simplex as gear lever is this marque. I throw myself at your mercy.

Thanks

Ian

 

[biggs682]

are you going 27" or 700 route for wheels , 700's will give you loads of choice where as 27" seem to be harder to get hold off , although saying that i have at least 2 or 3 sets spare at mo .

nothing wrong with single or fixed , its your bike so your decision .

any pics please

 

[ianbro]

Hi,

Thanks for the quick reply.

Have been advised by my lbs to go for 27s if I can so i can keep the existing brakes. The bike is currently at the lbs so I can't post any pics at present. I'll drop down there and get some and post them asap.

Man at lbs says he's having probs locating correct 27s as hubs are too wide on new wheels - sure this is obvious to those in the know. I still have the original back wheel with large flange hub but rim looks grim and spokes are rusted to hell. Front wheel was some nasty replacement that my uncle put on there so that's at the dump. Man at lbs says front wheel is easy to get though.

Thanks

Ian

 

[Some Guy]

nothing wrong with single or fixed , its your bike so your decision .

+10000000000000

 

[biggs682]

27's will give the correct look to the bike

even my lbs can get wheels , not sure how good they are though but he is prepared to source them and supply them dished for single speed for under £30.

 

[ianbro]

Useful to get the details of your lbs!

Thing is, I know where i am with 700c but all at sea with 27s. I know the brands - mavic, fulcrum, shimano, zipp (in my dreams) etc. Any advice or pointers would be gratefully received.

Thanks!

 

[Midlife]

Rigida or Weinmann (concave) ...........can't go wrong

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAIR-OF-27-x- ... 3cc5ef38d6


Shaun

 

[half cog]

fixed or free

Ahh. 1960s I was a seven day a week club rider back then and doing the odd tt as well. We rode gears in summer and fixed in winter. The idea being that as the days shortened the rides got shorter so fixed gave you a good workout over the lesser distance. It also kept the legs moving and so kept you warm. Fixed is a fashion thing now and some even think it came from couriers but it was well in fashion at the time your bike was in use and long before that .What I am saying in a long round about way is that either fixed or gears is right for the period and you may even want to consider changing over as the clocks change. Riding fixed will certainly strengthen the legs and open the lungs for you and you will feel better for it when you bolt the gears back on. Go for it!
regards
Peter

 

[ianbro]

Thanks for all the advice!

I can now see where i can get the rims I need, but anyone any idea of where i can get the hubs/cassette?

thanks

Ian

 

[half cog]

bike

Hi
You need a screw on freewheel not a cassette They were not invented then. For what its worth I used milremo large flange hubs with fiamme sprint rims tied and soldiered as was the case back then. That was on a mid sixties Bertin. stronglight cottered cranks and mafac centre pulls brakes. Brooks saddle and GB stem. Cloth bar tape over some very ornate engraved Belgium drops. Sorry cant remember what the gears were but it was twelve speed . That lot belonged in your era but there were plenty of other component mixes used at the time
Regards
Peter