Holdsworth’s Golden Hurricane, 1961 — a Road Test in Cycling by Nimrod, with the Golden Hurricane Specification

A road test from Cycling, page 23, 5 April 1961: Holdsworth’s Golden Hurricane, with a specification box.

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CYCLING, April 5, 1961
23
Holdsworth’s
GOLDEN HURRICANE
WHEN I heard that W. F. Holdsworth, the famed South London builder of lightweight bicycles, had introduced a model named the Golden Hurricane I knew it would not be long before I asked for one to test. Something about the name intrigued me. The word golden conjured up an image of high value and sparkling beauty, and the hurricane part made me think of something super-fast yet rugged enough to stand up to the roughest conditions (writes Nimrod).
I suppose it is what the advertising tycoons would call autosuggestion, or some such thing. Certainly there must be something in this choice of names to register to such a degree. The result was that I obtained a model of the Golden Hurricane for test. In fact it was delivered at 24 hours notice–straight from the showroom. And now that my test has been completed I can say that the name fits the bicycle perfectly.
Expensive Appearance
It looks expensive, not only because of the colour and craftsmanship embodied in the finish, but because of the high quality fittings featuring names like Campagnolo, Dunlop, Brooks, Williams and Mafac. Yet at £32 7s. it is not fabulously expensive. I confess here that I asked for the model to be fitted with toe clips and straps, which would put the price up to £33 3s. 3d. I did this because I wanted to do some hard training on the model, and I feel more at home with toe clips. For the newcomer, however, it is far better to ride a new bicycle without toe clips. Without clips your feet can find the most comfortable position on the pedals, and you will learn to pedal correctly from the beginning without relying on the clips. A beginner who starts off with toe clips may ride with the front of his toes
pushing into the clips, and never learn to ride comfortably by pushing with the soles of his feet.
But back to the Golden Hurricane. Before I examined the model I expected it to be fast but tough. Now I know that is true. I have twiddled the low gears in training at 120 revolutions a minute without encountering uncomfortable whip from the bottom bracket. I have deliberately treated it roughly when riding, but the bicycle accepts it all and carries on smoothly and quietly. And a colleague borrowed it for a week, took it up to the Midlands, and then had the bicycle sent back to London by British Railways. The result was to be expected, I am afraid. Without protective wrapping, the immaculate golden finish became battered and scarred while on the train journey and while waiting collection in a left luggage office. The moral is obvious to all those who may have to send a bicycle by rail. But the performance of the Golden Hurricane is unimpaired.
In fact, the final day on which I rode the model was at the end of the recent fine spell; it snowed! The biting north wind and the slippery road conditions made me more conscious of the bicycle and although it became noticeably more lively it did not wobble or slide. I was riding in Hertfordshire at the time. In front of me was a Green Line bus. It flashed its left trafficator which should indicate that it was to turn left. But no. It was merely pulling up at a bus stop, without deviating to the left at all. (This is a habit which London Transport drivers have got into–and the quicker they stop doing it the better.) I had held my position on the road and judged that the bus would have cleared round to the left by the time I reached it. But of course it did not. I reached for the thin, to my mind, Mafac brake levers, and the centre-pull action stopped me in the nick of time, inches before I would have become a non-fare-paying traveller on the bus. If I had skidded on the slippery surface both the bicycle, the bus, and Nimrod would have had a nasty dent or two.
Balanced Position
I attribute this safe stopping to the balanced position of the frame, the road holding of the Dunlop high pressure tyres, and the slightly soft action of the rear brake when applied. It did not jam on tight and so cause a skid.
This is a bicycle which is at home anywhere. It is a high quality lightweight carrying the W. F. Holdsworth signature which has been looked upon with respect by clubfolk for many years. The workmanship is outstanding; the choice of accessories is sensible without being extravagant; the assembly is painstakingly perfect. The result is a lively, precision-made bicycle which can be used for racing or touring.
The frame has the now in vogue 72 degree parallel angles, Continental lugs, Agrati rear ends, and a forged fork crown. The gear ratios given by the 48 tooth Williams C34 chain set and the 14-16-18-20-22-tooth sprockets on the rear block, are 58.9, 64.8, 72.0, 81.0, and 92.6in. This is a sound range for five speeds. I found I tended to ride the lower ratios for my general riding.
The fittings . . . well, they have been tried and tested a great deal in the past. The fact that the popularity of the names has not faded is clear proof that they are much in demand from clubfolk, who are the most fastidious critics. Other road users can be sold almost anything, I should imagine, providing the colour of the wrapping is right. But cycling club life is such that the word soon gets around if a product does not measure up to high standards.
The name of the finish given by the manufacturers, The Holdsworthy Co. Ltd., London, S.E.20, who will supply your local agent, is flamboyant Spanish Gold.
GOLDEN HURRICANE SPECIFICATION
(AS TESTED)
Frame: Reynolds 531 tubing; 72 degree parallel angles; Continental lugs; Agrati rear ends; forged crown; brazed on gear and brake cable eyes, and pump pegs (on top tube). Sizes 21-22-23-24in.
Wheels: Dunlop Special Lightweight 27in. by 1¼[?]in. rims; Dunlop Road Racing high pressure tyres; Racelite large flange hubs. Gear protector fitted on rear.
Chainset: Williams C34 three-pin, detachable chainset.
Gear: Campagnolo Gran Sport.
Handlebars: G.B. Maes on Primo 3in. extension.
Brakes: Mafac centre-pull, dural forge.
Saddle: Brooks B.15 Champion Swallow, cut-away and secured underneath, to prevent spreading.
Pedals: Lyotard single-sided.
Pump: Apex Ultralite.
Mudguards: Bluemel’s Club Special, black.
Accessories (not standard): Christophe Special toe clips; Allez Corsa toe straps.
Weight: 27½lbs.
Price: £33 3s. 3d. (£32 7s. standard, without toe clips).
[A photograph of a complete drop-handlebar road bicycle with a pale finish, seen from the drive side, at the upper left of the page above the headline.]
[Folio 23.]