Holdsworth 531c build

I lost my lovely Paul Milnes/Nigel Dean 531c fixed gear bike when the flat management cleared out the communal bike shed. I considered every component down to the spokes I selected to lace the wheels and I loved that bike.

After years of checking eBay to see if someone has relisted it, I decided to let go and build myself a new bike around this lovely 531c F&F I picked up for a decent £70.

Paint is in very good condition. I have a 105 groupset in the shed so am considering that, got a bargain eBay price on an ISM Adamo Breakaway saddle which I loved on my old bike, Fulcrum wheelset I bought from @sacredhart. Just need a 27.2 seatpost, and a stem (haven't measured yet).

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proper ballsack trap that saddle. Frame looks good!

Haha it looks like that, and I used to get the comment a lot: "is that where the balls go?" but as long as you're wearing clothing it's very comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time. I swear by them.

I have just put some luganos on those Fulcrum wheels. From a purely aesthetic point of view I don't think it's working.

With luganos. Nope.

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I think I'm going to like this build, apart from that saddle on that frame

It's purely function over form. I have never really tolerated any other saddle.

I get you. Your bike, your rules.

I just revisited my old bike bits and found a flip flop hub and I am completely reconsidering building it as a fixed gear bike instead of a geared one. I did love riding fixed.

Love the frame and wheels but no too the saddle .Vote for gears.

I have decided to sell this frame on and look for another.

As I look at the details I am finding issues with it. The brazing has some gaps, one seatstay cap just has missing brazing in one section meaning there is a long hole in it. The rest of the brazing is fine, but it doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. There is some hidden rust snaking under the paint in a few places including the front fork. I think it has been powdercoated more recently but not prepped properly.

On looking up the frame number it's a 90s frame, which is when Holdsworth quality apparently dropped to pile em high sell em cheap quality. It is a shame because it is a nice looking frame, but I don't want to put hundreds of pounds of kit on it anymore.