Falcon bikes in the mid-80's??
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I have an '85 Falcon Triathlon 105 with 1st gen 105 group, there was also a Triathlon 600.
Mine is like the red one of rbman, 531 main/fork, love it, is really light and fast, I upped it to 7 speed brifters.
There's been one on ebay for a while with Exage, looks a little more flashier with the decaling.
Mine is like the red one of rbman, 531 main/fork, love it, is really light and fast, I upped it to 7 speed brifters.
There's been one on ebay for a while with Exage, looks a little more flashier with the decaling.
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#32
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Falcon Holdsworth Connection
Falcon? Holdsworth? Falcworth? RHBSC
RHBSC = Red Headed Bastard Step Child
During the 80s both Falcon and Holdsworth/Claud Butler fell on hard times and were passed around by several other bicycle marques more than a ball in a rugby scrum!
Some confusing history with the connections between Falcon and Holdsworth.
Holdsworth and Claud Butler (Holdsworthy)
A UK bicycle company named Marlboro bought Holdsworthy in November, 1985.
The Marlboro Rapier company was launched selling bikes with 'Made by Holdsworthy Co Ltd' decals during 1987 or later. It appears that when Marlboro sold the Holdsworth and Claud Butler brands to Falcon in 1987, they retained the 'Holdsworthy Company Ltd' name.
Falcon
In 1978 a rival bicycle manufacturer Elswick Hopper plc acquired Falcon Cycles which was operated as a subsidiary before being later merged into Elswick Hopper's factory at Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire.
By the mid-1980s, Elswick Hopper plc was was losing money and in desperate need of reorganization. The company renamed itself Elswick plc in 1984 and renamed its bicycle division Falcon Cycles.
In 1987 Falcon Cycles acquired the Holdsworth and Claud Butler brands from Marlboro.
After the 1987 takeover, Falcon Cycles Ltd (an Elswick PLC Company), offered Holdsworth "Racers", Claud Butler "Tourers" and Falcon "Sports Cycles".
Falcon Cycles was sold to Tandem Group plc in November 1995. The Falcon Cycles division of Tandem was responsible for producing bikes and accessories under the Falcon marque, as well as under the brand names of: Boss, Claud Butler, CBR, British Eagle, Coventry-Eagle, Elswick, Exile, Holdsworth, Scorpion, Shogun, Stinky Bitz and import-only Townsend brands.
About 6 years ago I picked up a ~1984 Holdsworth frame from a seller in the UK. It's made of Reynolds 753R and has many of the features of Falcon frames from that era.
Fuzzy eBay picture...
Finished bike. All Campy Super Record except for Victory cranks with 50-35T chainrings for lower gearing.
Two odd things about this frame... It has fluted seat stay tops plus Campy 1010B short dropouts with fender eyelets. A full bore racing frame with fender eyelets? It rains a lot in the UK...
The eyelets weren't added, they were made that way by Campagnolo.
The frame has the same fork crown as a number of Falcon bikes from the mid 80's that I've seen photos of.
1987 Falcon Harrier
1980's Falcon Ernie Clements
Verktyg
Chas.
RHBSC = Red Headed Bastard Step Child
During the 80s both Falcon and Holdsworth/Claud Butler fell on hard times and were passed around by several other bicycle marques more than a ball in a rugby scrum!
Some confusing history with the connections between Falcon and Holdsworth.
Holdsworth and Claud Butler (Holdsworthy)
A UK bicycle company named Marlboro bought Holdsworthy in November, 1985.
The Marlboro Rapier company was launched selling bikes with 'Made by Holdsworthy Co Ltd' decals during 1987 or later. It appears that when Marlboro sold the Holdsworth and Claud Butler brands to Falcon in 1987, they retained the 'Holdsworthy Company Ltd' name.
Falcon
In 1978 a rival bicycle manufacturer Elswick Hopper plc acquired Falcon Cycles which was operated as a subsidiary before being later merged into Elswick Hopper's factory at Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire.
By the mid-1980s, Elswick Hopper plc was was losing money and in desperate need of reorganization. The company renamed itself Elswick plc in 1984 and renamed its bicycle division Falcon Cycles.
In 1987 Falcon Cycles acquired the Holdsworth and Claud Butler brands from Marlboro.
After the 1987 takeover, Falcon Cycles Ltd (an Elswick PLC Company), offered Holdsworth "Racers", Claud Butler "Tourers" and Falcon "Sports Cycles".
Falcon Cycles was sold to Tandem Group plc in November 1995. The Falcon Cycles division of Tandem was responsible for producing bikes and accessories under the Falcon marque, as well as under the brand names of: Boss, Claud Butler, CBR, British Eagle, Coventry-Eagle, Elswick, Exile, Holdsworth, Scorpion, Shogun, Stinky Bitz and import-only Townsend brands.
About 6 years ago I picked up a ~1984 Holdsworth frame from a seller in the UK. It's made of Reynolds 753R and has many of the features of Falcon frames from that era.
Fuzzy eBay picture...
Finished bike. All Campy Super Record except for Victory cranks with 50-35T chainrings for lower gearing.
Two odd things about this frame... It has fluted seat stay tops plus Campy 1010B short dropouts with fender eyelets. A full bore racing frame with fender eyelets? It rains a lot in the UK...
The eyelets weren't added, they were made that way by Campagnolo.
The frame has the same fork crown as a number of Falcon bikes from the mid 80's that I've seen photos of.
1987 Falcon Harrier
1980's Falcon Ernie Clements
Verktyg
Chas.
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Last edited by verktyg; 11-06-15 at 02:54 PM.
#33
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__________________
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
#34
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I purchased this Falcon Jaguar recently. I think it was made around 1988. It has Renolds 653 tubing. I do not think this bike has ever been ridden.
~
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Falcon grand prix
Hi
Can anyone tell me anything about the Falcon Grand prix
It's black with gold decals, brakes are gold anodised as are the crank arms.
Fitted with Campagnolo fr & r mechs and shifters
10 spd
Any help appreciated
Andy
Can anyone tell me anything about the Falcon Grand prix
It's black with gold decals, brakes are gold anodised as are the crank arms.
Fitted with Campagnolo fr & r mechs and shifters
10 spd
Any help appreciated
Andy
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Can you post a picture to help with the ID? Is paint original, parts original, etc. These are things that can help with identification.
From the sound of the name, maybe mid to late 80's. Falcon at that time was pretty murky, with few details available.
From the sound of the name, maybe mid to late 80's. Falcon at that time was pretty murky, with few details available.
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New to this site so can't figure how to put up pics as it wants an url address to even search for the pics.
Paint looks original as do all the components, fluted seat post is something else I forgot to mention.
Rear mech hanger is part of the frame. Sr handlebar clamp.
Thanks Andy
Paint looks original as do all the components, fluted seat post is something else I forgot to mention.
Rear mech hanger is part of the frame. Sr handlebar clamp.
Thanks Andy
#38
Pedalin' Erry Day
Andy, the best way to post pics on Bikeforums is to upload them elsewhere online and link them to your posts here. There are many options when it comes to pic hosting sites, but if you want a simple one that doesn't require creating a user account I like Postimage.org.
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- A friend of mine picked up Falcon Triathlon 600 recently for 30.00 at a thrift shop in the Atlanta area. Excellent condition though it appears the previous owner had swapped a (nice) wheel in that didnt match. Not sure of the dropouts but does have 531c tubes and 531 fork. Cool 80’s ride for a steal.
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- A friend of mine picked up Falcon Triathlon 600 recently for 30.00 at a thrift shop in the Atlanta area. Excellent condition though it appears the previous owner had swapped a (nice) wheel in that didnt match. Not sure of the dropouts but does have 531c tubes and 531 fork. Cool 80’s ride for a steal.
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- A friend of mine picked up Falcon Triathlon 600 recently for 30.00 at a thrift shop in the Atlanta area. Excellent condition though it appears the previous owner had swapped a (nice) wheel in that didnt match. Not sure of the dropouts but does have 531c tubes and 531 fork. Cool 80’s ride for a steal.
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The presence of 531C indicates it's no older than 1983. Falcon totally revamped their lineup for 1988 with the Triathlon series being discontinued, so it should be 1983-1987, in which case it should be easier to narrow down from the components. Shimano 600EX (Arabesque) would be 1983. Fricition shifting New 600EX should be 1984-1985, while indexed shifting New 600EX would be 1986-1987.
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