Cycling UK Forum

Oh dear, I've just spent ages writing a post and lost it all as the site logged me out without me realising it. Grr. I shall try again. I have a 1967 Holdsworth Super Mistral. Rear spacing 120mm. Horizontal drops. It is a bike inherited from my dad. My dad was the original owner, but at somepoint replaced the original Campag hub with a Sturmey Archer flip flop hub. Many of the other original Campag components are also missing. Not sure if the rear wheel is original (currently the bike is in another house), but it will have 27" wheels. Most of the other features are original (e.g. plastic seat, seat post, handlebars, GB coureur pedals). Cranks are Stronglight, not sure if these are original? I can either try and restore it, or convert it to a fixed gear. I'm tempted by the latter.

Two prequisites:
1. I don't want to lose any of the remaining original components
2. I don't want to spread the frame.

I am thinking of using a track hub with enclosed cam quick release skewer, which I think is fairly commonly available in 120 mm.

Are there are any other considerations I need to take into account, which could mean losing any of the remaining original features?

Does anyone have any recommendations for hubs and fixed gear sprockets?

Is there anyone who feels passionately that I shouldtry and restore it instead? I want to use it regularly and enjoy it and I wonder whether if would if I restored it?!

All thoughts/comments much appreciated
Alec

I think making it a singlespeed is a good idea. You don't have the original parts anymore, and even if you could get them, it would still not make a very good touring bike anymore. Technology has much improved with cassette hubs, stronger wheels, index shifting with a wider gear range, and rather better brakes. Updating it would cost a package, still not make an ideal bike and, frankly, would spoil it. Hubjub do good stuff for singlespeed and fixed gear: http://www.hubjub.co.uk/
Love it for what it is,
Willem

Cheers for the links Willem