Holdsworth 531c frame for touring

Hey guys,

Iv got a early 90's Holdsworth Professional bike which iv been using for the last year or so for getting around and for a couple of short light weight tours. Iv had to rebuild the rear wheel a couple of times now and so am thinking I need to get more of a robust set up.

Will the frame Iv currently got be up for use as a more tourer type bike? Its 531C which iv read somewhere has a recommended rider weight around 180lbs? I weigh about 170 so it doesnt leave much spare weight for panniers, however iv seen a few touring frames made from 531C.

Im a bit low on cash at the moment so dont really want to be forking out on a new frame, but also dont want to destroy whats currently a perfectly nice bike by over loading it.

Cheers

generally 531c was used for racing bikes, while something like 531st would be used for touring.
doesn't necessarily mean you couldn't use your existing frame though...

Your frame will be fine. There is minimal difference between the two. 531st tubesets had forks and stays that were more oval in cross section to provide a more comfortable ride whilst in the 531c tubeset, the forks and stays were more rounded for a stiffer ride. The steel was the same. In fact, there was only one 531 for many, many years.

^ What he said and it's 'I've' hth.