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HOLDSWORTH CYCLONE

The longest lived Holdsworth model, a Cyclone was offered almost continuously (not 1964) from c1934 to 1976, although the variants changed enormously in design.

In the 1930's people usually bought a complete cycle, it was relatively rare to buy a frame alone, as the 1934 catalogue indicates. The Cyclone was only offered as a Path racer in 1934, it shared the top of the range spot with the Mistral and Sirocco. full 1934 catalogue 1934 Cyclone Track

1938 Cyclone Road Bike1938 The Cyclone is now a Road Cycle or available as a frameset only.

full 1938 catalogue

 1938 framesets
1939 catalogue Cyclone1939 full 1939 catalogue 1939 or 1940 Cyclone This is a 1939 or 1940 Cyclone. pic courtesy of Peter Bainbridge.
1949 Road or Track Frame Cyclone Flyer Cyclone Special Club
1949 Catalogue Cyclone De Luxe Cyclone De Luxe Flyer Cyclone De Luxe Special Club
Full 1949 Catalogue Cyclone is at the bottom of these pages
1950 Detailed Spec 1950 Extras Cyclone Club Cyclone Flyer
1950 Cyclone
Cyclone Spec in Detail Extras Cyclone Club Cyclone Flyer

1951 The Cyclone was Road or Track frameset only

Full 1951 Catalogue.

Road Track Extras
1951 Cyclone Road 1951 Cyclone track 1951 Catalogue Extras
1952 The Cyclone (Road or Track) was offered as a frameset or cycle, in gents or ladies versions.

Full 1952 Catalogue.
1952 Cyclone 1952 was the last year of the Track version. The Zephyr was launched in 1952 and takes over.  

1953 The Cyclone was offered as a frameset or cycle, in gents or ladies versions.

Full 1953 Catalogue.

Road Ladies Cyclone  
1953 Cyclone 1953 Ladies Cyclone  

1954 The Cyclone was offered as a frameset or cycle, in gents or ladies versions.

Full 1954 Catalogue.

Road Ladies Cyclone 1954 Cyclone headtube Pics courtesy of Tony Vespuccio
1954 Cyclone 1954 Ladies Cyclone 1954 Cyclone headlugs
1954 Cyclone seatlug 1954 Cyclone bottom bracket 1954 Cyclone's Stallard dropouts 1954 Cyclone fork crown

In the 1955 catalogue (produced late 1954?) the Cyclone gets Nervex Pro lugs and the new headbadge. Campag ends are an optional extra. It was offered as a frameset or cycle, in gents or ladies versions.

Full 1955 Catalogue.

Road Ladies
1955 Cyclone 1955 Cyclone Ladies

1957 Nervex Pro lugs and fluted top-eyes, Agrati ends with integral gear hanger. Campag ends are an optional extra. Cycle or frameset.

Full 1957 Catalogue.

Road  
1957 Cyclone  

The 1959 Cyclone (probably launched c Nov 1958) dropped the Nervex Pro lugs for a new, very ornate style made in their own workshops (see below).

 

  
 

1961 The Cyclone was top of the range with the Zephyr, but they are now road and track versions of the same frame, quite unlike the previous Cyclone. As usual the Cyclone has 71o seat and 73o head angles, but it is available 72o parallel for massed start racing.

Full 1961 Catalogue.

Road
1961 Cyclone
Cyclone headlugs Cyclone headlugs ribbed topeye to seatstay curved rear bridge distinctive BB

This version of the Cyclone soon ended, there was no Cyclone in 1964, but a new version followed quickly.

1966 The Cyclone is now a budget Mistral. It has Reynolds 531 Plain gauge frame tubing, the forks and seatstays may be a lower priced material. It has Agrati rear dropouts. Available as 5 or 10 speed, or frameset only. Colour: chestnut flamboyant with copper contrasts.

Full 1966 Catalogue 		Road only
1966 Cyclone
1968 Still a Mistral but in Reynolds 531 Plain gauge main tubing, the forks and seatstays may be a lower priced material. It costs a lot less than the Mistral, even if ordered with Campy ends. Colour: Dark green flamboyant with white and orange contrasts.

Full 1968 Catalogue 		Road Frameset or 5 or 10 spd Cycle
1968 Cyclone 1968 Cyclone text
1971 Still road only and now frameset only. Campag ends are available at extra cost. Colour to choice.

Full 1971 Catalogue 		1971 Cyclone
1972 The Cyclone is unchanged. It still uses Prugnat "I" Type lugs like the Mistral, the same fork crown and geometry. Colour to choice.

Full 1972 Catalogue		 Road frameset only
1972 Cyclone
The Cyclone was offered in 1975, but was dropped from the range by (or during) 1976.