THE ORIGINAL CYCLONE
See Model Recognition Table below & pre-war ID hints on Holdsworth Model pages
1934 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.
1936 full 1936 Catalogue
Built with Reynolds HM Aircraft tubes
1938 The Cyclone is now a Road Cycle or available as a frameset only.
1939 This is a 1939 or 1940 Cyclone. pic courtesy of Peter Bainbridge.
THE CYCLONE 1949-1975
1949 full 1949 Catalogue Cyclone (bike) is at the bottom of these pages
1950 full 1950 Catalogue
1951 The Cyclone was Road or Track frameset only. full 1951 Catalogue
1952 The Cyclone (Road or Track) was offered as a frameset or cycle, in gents or ladies versions.
1952 was the last year of the Track version. The Zephyr was launched in 1952 and takes over.
Pics courtesy of Tony Vespuccio
1953 The Cyclone was offered as a frameset or cycle, in gents or ladies versions.
1954 The Cyclone was offered as a frameset or cycle, in gents or ladies versions.
In the 1955 catalogue (produced late 1954?) the Cyclone gets Nervex Pro lugs and the new headbadge.
1955 Catalogue Campag ends are an optional extra. It was offered as a frameset or cycle, in gents or ladies versions. New lugs shown on fromnt of catalogue.
1957 Nervex Pro lugs and fluted top-eyes, Agrati ends with integral gear hanger. Campag ends are an optional extra. Cycle or frameset.
1958 full 1958 Catalogue
Some Zephyrs also had Nervex Pro Lugs in this year
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).
1960 full 1960 Catalogue
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.
c1963 Cyclone, Fish Tail Lugs and plain semi-wrapped seat stay attachment. (Note: Rear Brake Cable Anchor bridge looks to be an addition, This would typically have been a hanger from the seat lug bolt.
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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 using the same Prugnat I (Italian) lugs. 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.
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.
1971 Still road only and now frameset only. Campag ends are available at extra cost. Colour to choice.
1972 The Cyclone is unchanged. It still uses Prugnat “I” Type lugs like the Mistral, the same fork crown and geometry. Colour to choice.
The Cyclone was offered in 1975, but was dropped from the range by (or during) 1976.
Model Recognvition Table – This is a summary, pls see catalogues for full details.
| Frame Number System & Location (Repeated on fork Stearer Tube) | Pre-War Digits Seat Lug, rear of fork Crown eaarly 30’s? 1949-75 Five digits under BB, 70’s up on Drive Side Early 50’s Dropout  |
| Frame Tubing (Seat Tube ID – mm) | Pre-War Reynolds HM Aircraft, 1936 Alt. Chrome Moly, 1937-39 Alt. 531 1949-63 531 DB, 1964 no Cyclone, 1966 531 Plain Gage |
| Frame Angles, Head/Seat, (deg) | Pre-War 1936/37 73 Deg. Seat, 1939 73/71 Deg. 1949 73/73, 1951 73/71 & 73/73 Track, 1955 73/71 or 72/73, 1957 73/71, 72/73 or 72/72 |
| Tube OD (Inch) – Top-Down-Seat | 1 – 1 1/8 – 1 1/8″ |
| Head Tube Lugs | Pre-War 1934 Chater Lea, 1936 Brampton 1939 Chater  1949 British, 1952 Spear Point    1955 Nervex Pro.   1959 Fish Tail   1966 Prugnat I (Italian)   |
| Fork Crown | Pre-War 1934 Chater Lea, 1936 Brampton, Rake 1936 2″, 1937 2 1/2″, 1939 2 1/4″ 1949 Two Plate, Round Blades, 1 1/4″ Rake. 1951 2 5/8″ 1952 WFH  1959 Spear Point  |
| Head Set Type | Pre-War Clip 1949-75 1″ Threaded  |
| Seat Lug | Pre-War 1934 Chater Lea, 1936 Brampton, 1949 British 1952 Spear Point  1955 Nervex Pro  1959 Fish Tail  |
| Seat Stay Attachment | Pre-War to Seat Lug with cut backs 1949 to Seat Lug  1957 Flutted  1966 Prugnat I P/Gauge  |
| Seat Stem Bolt | Pre-War Pintch Bolt  1949 Pintch Bolt, 1955 Nervex Pro, 1959 Fish Tail  |
| Bottom Bracket Lugs | Pre-War 1934 Chater Lea, 1936 Brampton, 1949 British 1952 WFH  1955 Nervex Pro  1959 Fish Tail  |
| Gear Cable Run, Over/Under BB | Pre-War n/a 1949-75 Over |
| Rear Stay Length (CBB – CDO) | Pre-War n/a 1949-75 17″ |
| Wheel Base (Spindle to Spindle) | Pre-War 1936 41″ 1937/39 or to Choice, Board Track 39″ 1949 40 1/4″, 1951 41 1/2″ & 40 1/4″ Track |
| Rear Dropouts (Front) | Pre-War Pressed Steel Track Ends 1949 Plate Track Ends 1951 Stallard  1957 Agrati Ends with Gear Hanger or Campagnolo  |
| Rear Brake Bridge | Pre-War Straight? 1950 Curved  |
| Brake Bridge Boss – Recessed Bolt | Pre-War No 1949-75 No |
| BB Hight | Pre-War 1936 11 1/2″ 1939 10 3/4″/11 1/4″ 1949 11 1/4″, 1951 11″ & 11 1/4″ Track, 1952 11″ |
| Wheel Size | Pre-War 26″, 1939 26/27″ 1949 High Pressure, 1950-75 27″ |
| Head Badge/Transfer | Pre-War None 1949 Transfer, 1952 Badge |
| Decals & Name Plate | Pre-War None 1949-75 TT Name Plate |
| BB Cable Guides | Pre-War No from 1950’s  |
| BB Oiler | Pre-War Yes 1949-75 Yes |
| Gear Change Lever Lugs | Pre-War No 1949-75 Optional |
| Rear Stay Gear Cable Guides | Pre-War No 1949-75 Top |
| TT Brake Cable Stops/Guides | Pre-War No 1949-75 No |
| Mudguard Stay Attachments | Pre-War n/a 1949-75 n/a |
| Bottle Holder Bosses | Pre-War No 1949-75 No |
| Colour | Pre-War To Order 1949-75 To Choice |
| Chrome | Pre-War 1936 Fork & Stays Ends 1949-75 As Extra |
| Comments | Pre-War Details limited |