Roberts Roughstuff

On holiday in France the other week, I had occasion to cycle 'off-road' which I enjoyed a great deal.

I was however a little concerned cycling over gravel, chalk and flint on my best bike with narrow wheels not best suited to the purpose.

I have therefore determined to build up a frame I have had in the shed for some time:

I am well out of my comfort zone on this.

The fine men at Talbot Wheel Works /Blue Door Cycles in Crystal Palace are building me some wheels right now, so I have decided to start a thread on this to encourage me to get it built as soon as.

I would be really interested in hearing from anyone who has a set of Veloce Flat bar levers in good condition that they would sell me.

Your shed .. ugh

^ extreme jealousy; take it to Winston for tea once built he might've built it.

Apparently, with Roberts frames, each builder cut a different shaped hole in the seat tube when brazing the top tube to the seat lug. I might see if I can find out what shape belongs to which builder.

Which year is it? Did rough stuff ever get wishbone like dogsbolx?

Also cantis or v? Have you already done NOS xtr?

I believe it is a '95. I have never seen a Roughstuff with a wishbone.

As for the build, I am going to make it up as I go along. I would like to use as much stuff as possible from my parts bin, which means I am likely to go Campagnolo. I will either go flat-bar with veloce levers, or drops with ergo's and cross-top levers.

Off to collect the wheels in a mo.

Gorgeous frame, drop bars would be my vote but either way the frame is a winner.

+1 on the loveliness of the frame. Will make an ace gravel/cx bike. Does it take 700c or 16" wheels?

I spotted some ten speed campag flat bar shifters in the counter cabinet at BLB, albeit hidden behind their bargain basement basket

^ I too have seen these, I must pluck up the courage to ask 'how much'?

Picked up the wheels yesterday. EDCO hubs / Mavic Rims:

I may have mentioned above, these wheels were built by Joel at Blue Door Cycles in Crystal Palace. I have had various bits done by Blue Door over the years, and I cannot recommend them too highly. Nice bunch of people, know what they're doing.

Blue Door is of course also the home of Talbot Frameworks. Go there, support them.

Interesting how the fork ends have the 'egg-timer' bosses brazed to the blades rather than on the ends, and hardly any end visible. Looks like it's gonna be a flippin nice bike.

Thanks, I will try and do the frame justice - whilst attempting not to let the cost run away with itself.

To save a lot of messing about, does anybody know what Bottom Bracket I need, if I am to run Campag 10 speed double with a 135 rear end?

Read here - http://www.bikerumor.com/2012/11/28/tech-breakdown-how-135mm-rear-hub-spacing-affects-road-bike-chainline-shifting/

Might not have a solution but maybe can shed some light on things.

Cheers.

I'm just off to watch Jason Bourne kick the shit out of some bad guys, so I'll read that later.

No doubt it will be crystal clear when I've had a few drinks.

Any updates?

A few parts have arrived, namely; some bars and a seat post, but nothing else.

I need to get my shit together, sorry.

Has shit been put together yet?
Only just discovered this...
Good stuff once again!

Shit still all over the place, could be a while before this gets done:(

If you're struggling to find flat bar campagnolo shifters as I did,
drop bar shifters on an a Nitto albatros work surprisingly well.

Any update?

Lovely, following!

Incoming..

Mental

Phwoar very nice (was secretly hoping for drops)

Sorry to disappoint ;)