Holdsworth

[biggs682]

Had a nod the other night about a red 12 speed racing bike that was for sale about half a mile form me , so managed to get around last night for a look at it .

It was the seller's father's old bike and although he is a cyclist he had no interest in adding steel road bike to his collection of bikes .

No model or Reynolds decals to be seen , looks like a date stamp of 79 on the stem so that looks about right , ended up doing a deal so rode it home

Got up early this morning to give it a once over and swap the front tyre over as it had a 700 x 32 squashed in with only a gnats whiskers clearance .

All looked ok so rode it in this morning on my commute and it feels ok other than a very strange sensation through the bars which i think is an over tight head set .

Not sure of plans for it yet but will give a bit more of a going over and sort out the headset issue and then go from there , its got a nice Silstar crank and a set of Suzue hubs laced on to a set of 700 rims .

 

[midlife]

Nice . Looks a bit like an Avanti but not 100% sure.

 

[Illaveago]

You are right it is red.
I thought the crank was TA Stronglight until I read your post and you have changed the tyre to a low profile one.
Sorry being a bit dim at the mo.
It looks really nice.

 

[biggs682]

Nice . Looks a bit like an Avanti but not 100% sure.

Yes that was my best guess as well so 501 tubing .

Just stripped and re greased the headset and fr wheel bearings. Nice clear stamping on the fork 040173 .

Fr caliper rear washer was absent so a new one fitted also noted fr caliper date stamped 81 Will check the rear when I do the rear end.

 

[Illaveago]

Wouldn't 81 put it more in line with 700 wheels?

 

[biggs682]

Looking at this Holdsworth frame numbers and the frame number makes it 1982 .

Wouldn't 81 put it more in line with 700 wheels?

They are 700's have now edited my op

 

[ORO]

Having purchased a Elan back in the day, which I still own. I seem to recall early Avanti models were 531 and then changed to 501, probably sometime around 83.

 

[biggs682]

bit of tinkering on this one this morning , swapped the 700 x 28 for a 23 to match the front one .

greased and up the rear hub cleaned the rear gear set and hopefully sorted the wobbly crank by tightening up the retaining bolt

 

[gasinayr]

Having purchased a Elan back in the day, which I still own. I seem to recall early Avanti models were 531 and then changed to 501, probably sometime around 83.

Yes that is correct, I ordered an Avanti frame in 1983 and got it at a reduced price ( £120.00 ) as it was the last one they were making with 531 tubing
Sold it in a moment of madness a few years ago.

 

[biggs682]

Had a productive hour in the garage earlier today , swapping cranks out on this one as the Silstar one still has too much run out for my liking , so swapped a "custom" crank on to it and its a lot better , also found a front guard that fitted just got find the nearest rear one to match it .

 

[biggs682]

Gained a rear guard last night sadly not a matching pair but they will do .

 

[biggs682]

Well rounded the day of with a nice and enjoyable 11.6 miles .

So that's the first 20 + mile day for this one .

 

[gasinayr]

lookin good, wish i kept mine now

 

[biggs682]

lookin good, wish i kept mine now

you can always have this one