1972 Holdsworth Super Mistral
About
This beauty I found literally hanging in a garage since 1972. I tried to revive the saddle but no luck, the hot desert air had completely dried it and the tubular tires out!
I loved this bike but it was always just a bit too tall for me. So when a friend offered up a Colnago Superissimo frame for trade I (somewhat sadly) did the deal.
Re-introduced in 1963 it became the most successful Holdsworth road frame. It was a full Reynolds 531 butted frameset at a modest £13.19.6d and was an immediate success. It had 72o parallel angles, Prugnat “I” Type Italian spearpoint lugs and a plain, sloping-shouldered crown. The 41″ wheelbase made it versatile, being suitable for time – trialing to touring, with ample clearances and safe steering. Its best feature was its incredibly strong rear triangle, its 5/8 ” seat stays fully wrapped over the seat cluster by a long tapered chamfer. It had Campagnolo forged dropouts with screw-in adjusters. It was robust, reliable and cornered well. It sold very well and effectively blew away the Cyclone and Monsoon.
Specs
| Frame & Fork | 1972 Holdsworth Super Mistral |
| Material | Reynolds 501 |
| Size | tt57cm st56cm |
| Country | England |
| Front Derailleur | Zeus |
| Rear Derailleur | Campagnolo Nuovo Record |
| Headset | Zeus |
| Crankset | Campagnolo |
| Bottom Bracket | Campagnolo |
| Stem | 100mm |
| Handlebars | Fiame |
| Shifters | Campagnolo Bar End |
| Brakes | Mafac Dural Forge |
| Brake Levers | Mafac |
| Hubs | Zeus High Flange |
| Rims | 27in Mavic |
| Tires | Challenge Strada Bianca 28×30 Tubulars |
| Seat Post | Campagnolo |
| Saddle | Brooks B17 |
| Chain | |
| Handlebar Tape | Cotton Cloth |
| Pedals | Campagnolo |
