[CR]What to do with my Holdsworth (Montgomery)

(Example: Framebuilders:Richard Moon)

From: <CMontgo945@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 01:00:40 EST
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]What to do with my Holdsworth (Montgomery)

Things have been way too heavy on this site recently so lighten up and some of you throw in your two cents with my little problem here. Of course, inflated egos need not bother with this peasant. I picked up an 70's(roughly) Holdsworth Mistral from fellow listee Greg Yares at the Tucson Bike Swapmeet this weekend. Poor thing has really been abused and neglected, but you could tell she was a looker in her prime. Scratches all over, some substantial areas of exposed frame, large patches of rust (some bubbly), but the adequately knowledgeable could see the thorobred in her. Unfortunately the original fork was gone, and replaced with an inferior make of dubious antecedents and stamped fork ends. I heard the warning bell and tried to discern any possible damage to top/down tubes from a crash. No little cracks of paint at the lug points(in archaeology we call this crazing). No apparent bulging at these points either; if there was my eyes couldn't tell. What this tells me, in my blissful ignorance, is that it's rideable. It'll be rideable as my new fixed gear commuter and occasional tourer. It will be rideable, it will be beautiful, but it will not be "restored", so it's off to Perfection Powdercoats of Tucson. British Racing Green with gold luglining. I don't care if it's emblazoned with Holdsworth or not. If someone asks and my answer raises an eyebrow of appreciation, that's enough. Here's my problem. I'd like to keep the material/style/performance of the frame as close to the original as possible, if that's possible. I don't know. So, those of you interested enough to venture an opinion, what would you do?

a) ride with the generic steel forks it has now and not worry about it? (not crazy about this one but could handle it), b) try to locate a quality set of generic 531 forks? (may be tough) c) have Dave Bohm make me a set of forks matching the originals?(ideal but, oh man!, on a $30 frame?), or d) put on the forks from my '73 Raleigh Comp GS? (too big for me, and I'm iffy on the idea of separating a frame from its fork) or e) put your idea here.

I posited this as a fun thing to ponder. This is part of the joy of owning, playing with, and riding these bikes. I welcome your ideas, suggestions, and help. As long as you're gentle.
         Craig Montgomery
         Tucson