[CR] 76 Holdsworth Professional pix posted

(Example: Production Builders:Frejus)

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:00:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: "P.C. Kohler" <kohl57@yahoo.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR] 76 Holdsworth Professional pix posted


I have added a 1976 Holdsworth Professional to my collection.

This was acquired from a CR List member in Canada as a complete machine but one "updated" c. 1984. It was purchased by the original owner in the UK. Period correct NR components and a new wheelset were installed and the original, good condition paint received minor touch-ups. Alas this has a dent on the underside of the downtube.

This is the rare 1976 model of the Professional with 75 deg. parallel angles, a short 39.25" wheelbase and a high 10.75" bb height... very much a hard charging crit machine and a wonderfully lively and responsive ride. Apparently it was considered too "twitchy" and they reverted to 74 deg. angles in 1977. I guess I must like "twitchy", I think it's just what a hammerhead's racing bike should be. She's NR now but I like the ride so much I might retrofit her to full 1st gen SR before too long.

And, of course, the best thing is the classic dusky orange and kingfisher blue livery making this with the Falcon San Remo the prettiest racing bikes of their era, well at least to me. And to others... walking the Holdsworth back from the shop yesterday I had no fewer than three passersby say "great looking bike!". And she is, too.

Take a look:

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/Peter-Kohler-Cycle-Collection/Holdsworth+Pro/

or

http://tinyurl.com/24jqbxk

Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA