I finished assembling my c. 1983 Holdsworth Professional today (hope to have some pictures up soon). Despite the very cold weather (well, 58 degrees IS cold, in Tampa :-)), I went for 20-mile ride.
Boy, is this bike smooth! The Reynolds 531 Professional tubes really soak up shocks. It is ten times more comfortable than my Stowe Europro, made with Tange Prestige. Of course, they are not set up the same, but I think a lot of the difference is in the frame.
I was concerned that I wouldn't like the steep seat tube angle. However, I have reached the conclusion that most of what has ever been written about seat angles in general, and their effect on ride qualities in particular, is baloney. So long as you can put the seat where you want it to balance your weight, the tube angle, imho, is not important.
Another thing I once knew but had forgotten, how comfortable a saddle the Selle San Marco Rolls is.
For those who need to know, the parts came out of my late 80's parts warehouse, and are predominantly original Campy Chorus. But since I like index shifting, and since Campy didn't figure out index shifting until 1992 (or later), the derailleur is a 1986 Shimano 600 SIS. I just couldn't bear that Campy Chorus derailleur again. I can report that Shimano SIS has not gotten significantly better in 17 years. It worked perfectly then, and still does. (Yikes, a pro-Shimano comment... please don't hold that against me).
So, to the person who just spent $10,000 on a new carbon monocoque Fondriest on eBay, I say: "Bet your bike doesn't ride as nice as mine!"
Louis Schulman
chilly Tampa, Florida