A couple of days ago someone enquired about a Holdsworthy Professional, I believe it was Robbie.
The response i posted was to be short but I got carried back almost 20 years and started a filibuster of a pitch. I got caught up in the pitch myself and kept going. After taking a few steps back and noticing how long and pitchy it was, I ran it by the screening team (of one) who OK'd it because there was service to fellow members and because a few of those that know me anyway have been trained to go right to the close and let any fodder go in one and of the axle and out the other.
After a revier, it seems Robbie was seeking a 70's 'pro'
<<When I scored a batch of Holdsworth Specials in 1983, there were a few odd ones in there , including a Professional, but it seems newer than a 70's. It's built with one of my all-time favourite tubests, the five-three-one SL, with the red labeling, not the teal blue green as found on the 531 standard.
The Reynolds red label was rare, (almost as rare as the Speedstream tubing from that era)and I first became familiar with it on my 1980 green Puch/AD Ultima. I have a 531 SLGitane from that era as well, and the SL label is in French.
The SL was said to have a similar structure and weight to a certain Columbus tubing (SL) at the time, but it's special feature was that it retained more strength after brasing.
A mild year's-end pitch:
There are a few Specials left in the 55-59cm range, three colours. Berry, Rose-Silver, and Medium Metallic Blue. The geo is friendly and engineered to accept 700 or 27" wheels, sidepull normal reach with both, and trim mudguards if desired if the tyres are not oversized.
Lively enough to feel like a teammate in sprints and climbs, but compliant enough to give comfortable support for you and your gear from Land's End to John O'Groats.
Because of their mudguard acceptance and Campag horizontal 1010B tips, conversion to a straight-kicker is one of the more popular options for this machine.The clean, guide-free top tube is a clean, aeasthetically pleasing virtue when going brakeless. With aft cabling, triple clips in chromium are available for the top tube.
There are some discreet bits to allow for racking, a water-bottle cage, and cabling. Lugs and some crowns feature triangular cut-outs which I have detailed in an enamel accent colour.
There was one of these in the estate of the late Chris Beyer than may have made it to a CR event, and ultimately a member. Chris was a fan of this bike because of its verastility.
Compared to similar lugged neo classics and today's lugged frames (that do not have the historical context nor CR acceptability) these frames could be in the $1000-plus area. As we go into 2004, I am taking the few remaining ones out of the modern closet as they officially become of age, 21 years and CR 'legal'
I and others have frequently been violators and with some zoning board hearings and fake ID's have gone off-topic in our offerings and postings, but now I feel good to be able to help some fellow members get an official 'era' machine with the versatility to 'go their own way'. Path racer, three speeder, fixed or single, road or crit racer (I race on this less twitchy road geo when the pavement is rough like on the old 'National Crash Open in DC) or (egad) 30-speed road or touring machine, since the compliant (yet responsive) 126mm 531 will easily take a 130 wheel as it will a 120 without permanent realignment. I will gladly, however, professionally align the frames for 110, 120, or even 135 for no charge.
I was selling these for $600 back when I first obtained them almost 20years ago and will offer them to CR members at $500. They include a factory-fitted Campag-copy Tange headset. Some of the frames have some small nicks from 20 years of searching for a homeland or adoptive owners, and there are a few with an actual dent or two that might be sold for even less.
The frames are all original new old stock, and some are in the original carton from Britain.
Please contact me off-list with your size and colour prefs to see what I have available.
ODD MODELS: The sole Professional is pearl white, 55cm, and $600 to a CR. There's also a large 'Mistral', about 62cm, in Pepto pink, with canti bosses and a stretch wheelbase.$600 to CR.
Larry Black
Mt Airy, Md.>>