Show us your HOLDSWORTHS!!
08-03-22, 06:25 PM
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Show us your HOLDSWORTHS!!
I was bike crazy. I lived in Bremerton but the parents sent me to Seattle for a better (Catholic??) education.
I had 2.5 hours to mess around each day before I had to get on that horrible boat.
Anyway, I would visit bike shops, collect trading material, and peruse bike brochures and read old magazines. It was an awkward time. Japan had taken the lead on components. Aluminum was no longer a crazy fad and titanium was being blended so it wasn't just a light weight noodle.
On the Ferry rides, I was supposed to be doing my homework but instead I read vintage magazines and new bike brochures. That's when a man approached me and introduced himself as Ted, a stockbroker from EF Hutton. He said he had a bike but it was broken down into the smallest part. A Holdsworth, Reynold's 531 and a small dent in the seat tube. He said I could have it.
The first thing my parents said was, we need to meet this guy before you take a damn thing from him. Ted checked out. Used to be a racer, a domestique for Holdsworth. Said he was keeping his race set-up (orange + blue) but this bike was his thrasher/practice. Campy drivetrain, headset and pedals, the rest was a miss-mash of Universal Brakes, Sugino cranks, Cinelli stem and bars, Brooks saddle of course). Sew ups, never had a flat but wore several sets of tires out.
He even gave me boxes of vintage Jerseys (orange and blue) and moth eaten shorts.
Ted was disapproving of my Grab-On spongy grips I slipped on. What did I know about cotton cloth and whether to wrap from the inside out (Merckx) or bar-ends to in (Indurain).
I spent all winter polishing, lubing and rebuilding each component. Bought some proper cycling shoes (Adidas Merckx) and on its maiden voyage, joined my scout troop for a 50 mile ride.
Not used to toe clips, I rode in feeling like a million bucks with my jersey on and this beautiful stead. Came to a stop. Hadn't loosened the straps. Fell flat as somebody yelled "TIMBER"
Never have I forgotten to loosen toe straps again.
Years later, I was at U of Oregon, and saw this kid on campus with a campy t-shirt, shaved legs and a fixie he made from god-knows what scrap bike parts he found. He knew all the greats and the races they one and who supported them. He didn't come from money. I felt it was time to pass it on. Silver with red lettering.
Now I have the means and already own a stunning 73 DeRosa, but kinda wonder about my old HOLDWORTH. Maybe its because I just watched the new THOR movie where his old hammer was with someone else.
Anyway, 2 more posts and I can post pics, so until then, show us your HOLDSWORTHS!
I had 2.5 hours to mess around each day before I had to get on that horrible boat.
Anyway, I would visit bike shops, collect trading material, and peruse bike brochures and read old magazines. It was an awkward time. Japan had taken the lead on components. Aluminum was no longer a crazy fad and titanium was being blended so it wasn't just a light weight noodle.
On the Ferry rides, I was supposed to be doing my homework but instead I read vintage magazines and new bike brochures. That's when a man approached me and introduced himself as Ted, a stockbroker from EF Hutton. He said he had a bike but it was broken down into the smallest part. A Holdsworth, Reynold's 531 and a small dent in the seat tube. He said I could have it.
The first thing my parents said was, we need to meet this guy before you take a damn thing from him. Ted checked out. Used to be a racer, a domestique for Holdsworth. Said he was keeping his race set-up (orange + blue) but this bike was his thrasher/practice. Campy drivetrain, headset and pedals, the rest was a miss-mash of Universal Brakes, Sugino cranks, Cinelli stem and bars, Brooks saddle of course). Sew ups, never had a flat but wore several sets of tires out.
He even gave me boxes of vintage Jerseys (orange and blue) and moth eaten shorts.
Ted was disapproving of my Grab-On spongy grips I slipped on. What did I know about cotton cloth and whether to wrap from the inside out (Merckx) or bar-ends to in (Indurain).
I spent all winter polishing, lubing and rebuilding each component. Bought some proper cycling shoes (Adidas Merckx) and on its maiden voyage, joined my scout troop for a 50 mile ride.
Not used to toe clips, I rode in feeling like a million bucks with my jersey on and this beautiful stead. Came to a stop. Hadn't loosened the straps. Fell flat as somebody yelled "TIMBER"
Never have I forgotten to loosen toe straps again.
Years later, I was at U of Oregon, and saw this kid on campus with a campy t-shirt, shaved legs and a fixie he made from god-knows what scrap bike parts he found. He knew all the greats and the races they one and who supported them. He didn't come from money. I felt it was time to pass it on. Silver with red lettering.
Now I have the means and already own a stunning 73 DeRosa, but kinda wonder about my old HOLDWORTH. Maybe its because I just watched the new THOR movie where his old hammer was with someone else.
Anyway, 2 more posts and I can post pics, so until then, show us your HOLDSWORTHS!
08-03-22, 06:51 PM
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08-03-22, 07:17 PM
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Good story! And has been already noted, there's an extant thread!
I picked up a Holdsworth this past spring. No decals or anything, repainted (poorly) all black, and just a "the guy I got it from said it was a Holdsworth" from the FB seller, but the details all checked out as a '79 Professional. I've got it all stripped down, but the short (comfortable) riding season and other projects have put progress on getting it painted and re-assembled on hold for now.
I picked up a Holdsworth this past spring. No decals or anything, repainted (poorly) all black, and just a "the guy I got it from said it was a Holdsworth" from the FB seller, but the details all checked out as a '79 Professional. I've got it all stripped down, but the short (comfortable) riding season and other projects have put progress on getting it painted and re-assembled on hold for now.
08-03-22, 08:29 PM
#4
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Here is what my '72 Holdsworth Professional looked like when purchased. This picture is from the seller's ad.
Good story! And has been already noted, there's an extant thread!
I picked up a Holdsworth this past spring. No decals or anything, repainted (poorly) all black, and just a "the guy I got it from said it was a Holdsworth" from the FB seller, but the details all checked out as a '79 Professional. I've got it all stripped down, but the short (comfortable) riding season and other projects have put progress on getting it painted and re-assembled on hold for now.
I picked up a Holdsworth this past spring. No decals or anything, repainted (poorly) all black, and just a "the guy I got it from said it was a Holdsworth" from the FB seller, but the details all checked out as a '79 Professional. I've got it all stripped down, but the short (comfortable) riding season and other projects have put progress on getting it painted and re-assembled on hold for now.
