The Roberts Cycles Handbuilt Bicycle Owners Club

Thanks to both.

The paint has some scratches (thin but deeps) and the decals have raised ends and some parts broken, especially the front.

also at the junctions of the 'wire-guide' to the frame is rusty as "little bubbles" growing up. :(

this is pretty cool:

As is this little write up on the LCC site: http://lcc.org.uk/articles/london-classics-roberts

and Roberts themselves have a new website (not been mentioned here yet I don't think) http://robertscycles.com/index.html

Hi all, not been riding for about 12 months due to my old knees, been getting the bug again and decided to get an old racer just for the "occasional" ride and get fitter. I found this Roberts at Recycles in Surbiton, bit scratched but straight and rides very smooth. Serial number is 984011 so i think it's a 98 frame, 531 Reynolds with Shimano 105 gears, brakes and hubs. Will probably ditch the mudguards when I can figure out how to do it ! and maybe change the stem to a shorter one if any ones got any ideas in that regard. Full service and new Vittorio tyres included for £300. I hadn't even heard of a Roberts bike untill last Friday but very pleased and love the ride!

Sorry guys, I haven't posted enough on here yet so can't upload the photos but will try again.

Still trying! Will contact the admin.

The best way to do it is get the url of the photo and then copy it into the box that appears when you press the 'mountain' icon.

^^Get these pics up!

4 Attachments

Had my first decent ride on the Roberts last night, handles great, much faster and stable into corners than I am. Only drawback I found was the gearing was a bit limited on hills for my unfit old legs and knees! Think it's a 11-22 rear cassette, I'll persevere for now and wait until I'm fitter before changing anything but does any-one know if I can just change the rear cassette or is there more to it?

Cheers Rob

yes should be able to change it for a 13-26 or something. I assume its 8 or 9 speed? Looks like you might have a 42t small chainring also. 39t is preferable in a hillier area!

Cheers thiscocks, yea that's what I was hoping , I don't know much about gearing etc. Will have a look at the chainrings tonight when I take the guards off. Its actually not that hilly, I was in Richmond park and used to go round there with my Fuji track until my knees started playing up. Have to look after them a bit now, the guy who had the bike before must have been a pretty good climber!

yes if its not to hilly a 42 / 26 bottom gear is fine. Its what I have on mine(see pic above). It equals more or less the same gear ratio as the once standard 39 / 23 set up. Looks like a nice ride!

Cheers, like your bike, what year is it? Also want to lower the stem on mine as feels and looks a bit high.

Not sure what year- got it seconhand, sometime in the 80's!

Picked up my Clubman at the weekend

oh yes, thats where Roberts excell IMHO, gorgeous looking bike, you must be chuffed?

Cheers, yes very chuffed. It rides even better than it looks. I've got a Belgium trip at the end of the month so can't wait to get some miles on it. I started off looking at Raleigh and Ridgeback tourers, but ended up talking myself into spending a shed load more on this beauty. Best decision.

What's up with Roberts building the HT so high above the TT? He done that on mine even though he could've pushed the TT up at least 1cm more (my nuts would've been safe) so just wondering if it's something new going on or any specific reason..

Touring mode to Brighton...

Are you still riding that Roberts?

What's up with Roberts building the HT so high above the TT? He done that on mine even though he could've pushed the TT up at least 1cm more (my nuts would've been safe) so just wondering if it's something new going on or any specific reason..

There is - less spacer (which is redundant since every Roberts I've seen is enough to have an entry in Spacer Porn).

On a touring bicycle, even with the bottom bracket very low, and enough standover height, you'd want plenty enough to comfortably mount/unmount the bicycle without difficulties when fully laden.

I asked to make sure that my HT is long enough to only show a little bit of stem (quill), which I liked and leave enough room to increase the height a tad.

^I was told the same thing about mounting fully laden when I was getting measured for the bike. I had no input into geometry decisions as it’s my first tourer, I just said I don’t want to feel stretched when I ride it, as I do with my Plug and did with my Alpinestars and Orange of old.

^^^Is the amount of head tube sticking up above top tube purely an aesthetic thing or are there handling implications? Handling feels fine to me, any wobbles I think are me just getting used to drop bars.

Just searched for the spacer porn thread. Could no find.

IMHO it's more the fit rather, a custom bicycle mean the geometry fit perfectly, even if you "slam" that stem on your, the saddle to bar drop will still be very small.

I see your point, if the frame was built specifically to my dimensions, why the need for spacers? It could be seen as a bit of a bodge. I'll ask Chas the question if I go back in. I'm 5'8" and on the receipt for the bike it's identified as a Clubman Compact.

Cheers Ed. Aye still riding it a bit and playing about with things but the V1 is pretty much the usual goer these days.
zakar, did he put you on a jig or just take measurements?