The Roberts Cycles Handbuilt Bicycle Owners Club

Latest Roberts project is this Cumbria 26” wheel tourer. Stuck some Compass tyres on for a bit of gravel.

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Tandem cranks are a matter of personal preference. You can have them parallel, at 90degrees to each other, or anywhere in between. We have them with the pilot cranks advanced by 5 degrees or so. As the more powerful rider at the front I find it better if I attack the power stroke slightly ahead of my stoker - my wife who is less powerful (she will dispute that!). It also smooths power delivery and lengthens the power stroke. We prefer that set up, but other tandem teams will have their own way of doing it. Andy

Hi, thanks for the info on tandem cranks, learn something new every day :). Last time I was on a tandem was in the 70's in Hull lol

Really lovely looking bike!

Bought this frame off the forum. And quite a few of the bits too. It's super versatile but probably not really excellent at any one thing. But I am fond of it. Have always been curious as to how it was ridden by the previous owner, as the tyre clearance is really quite limited for an audax bike. Also weird 1 inch threadless forks...

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Thanks! Few tweaks still to make but I had a good initial ride out.

Lovely filet brazing on your frame

Also weird 1 inch threadless forks...

FTW! Fantastic bike!

That said I have trouble with my 1 inch carbon forks on the Roberts... I need to take it to a proper bike shop.

:)

what's the problem?

Currently have two Roberts about to be restored/built: first being a very early Charlie Roberts race frame, the second being a Chas Roberts (Winston Vaz build) fillet brazed fastroad/Audax frame. I also have two other Roberts, one tourer (riding it but needs love) and another very early frameset.

what's the problem?

When properly preloaded with no play in the headset and resistance-free rotation of the, the steering makes worrying noises when there's weight to the front of the bike (braking to a stop at low speed for instance).
I suspect that the mad long one inch carbon steerer flexes, acting as an intermittent over-load of the headset, but you'd think Columbus would have make sure their steerer was rigid enough to be used over its full factory length. I double checked the Campagnolo record headset mounting diagram and I have correctly sequenced the parts...

Quite a collection.

What's the plan with the fillet brazed one? Got a similar frame on the go.

Oof, lovely Mat!

Plan with the fillet brazed frame is for Winston to restore/repaint in pale green pearl (original colour) with period (80s) C-Record - have all the components + rare dark green San Marco Rolls, Cinelli, Mavic rims. The early frame will go to Geoff (Roberts) as his Dad built it. I see your F/B frame is earlier than mine - to me, it looks earlier than the frame number suggests !

it looks earlier than the frame number suggests

What makes you say that? I bought it to ride so definitely won't be a period build.

Mine will be a period build simply because I have the components, I only say yours looks earlier as I know a fair bit about Roberts (I didn't say it is earlier).

Ok what makes it look earlier? I don't know anything about Roberts :) I got the frame number off the steerer as there isn't one on the frame. However I'm can't be 100% sure the forks are original.

For me what makes it look early-ish is the lack of brake cable braze ones on the tt. You say you only have a number on the steerer - Roberts frame numbers are either on the BB or rear dropout (and of course on the steerer).
Btw, that style of seat stay is called shot in, a better picture would help.

Roberts on eBay -bit of damage though.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F202572357915

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Does anyone know if there is another Roberts Rendevous this year. I was really disappointed to have missed last year’s.

Just checked there Twitter account.. nothing as yet... if there will be it'll be in the summer months.

My Roberts. 1993, Columbus Max tubing. I’ve had it about 5 years and am the second owner. It had an 8 speed Campagnolo groupset when I bought it but being the wrong side of 60 I found I was struggling to keep up with my club mates on it and “garaged” it in favour of my Colnago C40. When I upgraded the groupset and wheels on the C40 I took the old stuff and put that on the Roberts. So now it has Campag Eurus wheels and Athena 11 speed groupset (save for the original Record brake calipers and front derailleur). It was always a lovely ride but now it rides like a dream and weighs in at 9.2kg. I can’t wat for the better weather to come and can give it the outings it deserves.

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Thanks @wildwest. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled. I don’t want to miss the next one.

Me too. Was gutted I couldn't make it. Would love to show off my '1 owner from new' custom Campag Delta/DA7402 1988 Criterium. Would also be great to finally meet Geoff.