Chas Roberts custom track

No custom made black hubs available from Royce unless ordering in bulk :(
Anyone (ie about 50ppl) need some ;)?

Custom black hubs from Royce:

1) tomsvoboda
2) b&d

Custom black hubs from Royce:

1) tomsvoboda
2) b&d
3) apolloxl

thread time?

Hi Tom,

It really isn't viable for us with regards the minimum order charge.

It is not possible to anodise over hubs that have already been anodised. I
am really sorry I cannot be of help.

All the best

.... Sad face :(

CHAS ROBERTS TRACK FRAME

TYPE
Track/maybe slightly relaxed track geometry

PURPOSE
Daily commuting
Fixed riding for weekends
Occasional track day visit

MAIN FEATURES
Fillet brazed
Track dropouts
Drilled for brakes (front and rear)
Internal routing???
Higher BB (28/29cm) and (if possible) toe clearance
Responsive, sharp handling
Stability on descents

TUBING ETC
No idea, shall leave to Mr Roberts for best advice (want light but long lasting/hardwearing..)
Fillet brazed
1 1/8” headtube for better stem availability and potential fork interchangeability (? or stay with 1” for classic look...)
Max clearances 25c tyres
Track dropouts
Probably 27.2 seatpost

FORKS
Max 25c clearance
?straight or curved
Drilled for brake
Crown: to suit overall build; CR panto'd
Track rake

SEATSTAYS
Wishbone
Or if not possible/practical/too heavy, these:

REAR BRIDGE
Drilled
Lugless/fillet brazed
Maybe without the pronounced middle block?

REAR BRAKE CABLE ROUTING

If external then this style:
Cable stop (cable inner between the two) This position (about 7.5 o'clock)

If internal:
This style Front and back positions

BOTTOM BRACKET
Approx 28/29cm high
'ROBERTS' panto'd (matt black coloured)
English thread

COLOUR SCHEME
Pearl pink/matt black
Matt black: Rear triangle (upto the wheel rim edge) and forks (if internal routing then the entrance/exit cable guides), BB lettering
Gloss pearl pink: the remainder
Writing and logos all black
Raised (?metal) CR headtube logo

ADDITIONAL INFO
Chainline related:
Shall run Phil Wood/Mack rear hubs and Sugino 75 cranks..

Also will like to have Ck black Sotto Voce headset and Phil Wood Ti bottom bracket

7 Attachments

A bit rough but you get the general idea..
Pic 1 and 2: external cablestops, type and position
Pic3: rear bridge; lugless
Pic 4 and 5 if internal then 4 the type and 5 the positions (unashamedly poached from Scorch's Bridgestone)
Pic 6 and 7: the seat stays I'm veering towards.. Also like the ones on the Panasonic, loved them when I had one so may move the idea over to this new build instead of the wishbone..

I know it needs tidying up but suggestions, comments, bollocking welcome ;) ta

Bottle bosses?

Also not sure what 'Fixed riding for weekends' entales, it's a bit vague. If you're not going for 'guards and want nippy geometry is it fair to say it's short-blast/cafe/short-blast rides when the weather's good?

An internal cable leaves a nice clean tt for carrying/shouldering the bike (up stairs and that kind of thing), it adds weight though.

Oh yeah, forgot the bottles bosses, ta.
Basically thinking it's going to be my everyday bike for everything.. Reading back it doesn't really clarify things as you say, shall change that. Not sure if proper 'guard bolts will fit on the geo I have in mind. Didn't want eyelets on the dropouts or anything so maybe those hidden ones would be the only option.. Saying that the strap on cheaper 'guards never caused me any issues either.
Think I;ll see what he says about the routing eg if internal has a greater chance for leakage and rusting and then decide. It is much cleaner as you say though.

Found a place that doesn'y low flange Phils in black.. Now it's a toss up whether to go for those or custom matt black w pink stripe Macks. The Macks are lighter, that's one of my qualms..

Mmmmm Macks with ceramic bearings...

Thought about chromed track ends if you're going to be changing gearing often?

a la here:

That silver fyxo branded Roberts in incredible and the stays are gorgeous. If I ever have another frame made it'll pretty much be a copy of that. With a modern groupset. And handbuilt wheels. Mmmm....

^^ Sure those are chromed?

They might be stainless 'ends.

This is going to be so nice.
I think the colour scheme is great. I had pretty similar on a Roberts Track and the black stays/fork/decals really pulled out the colour (mine was yellow). Similar style build as well, I built it up with full black parts, it was always in my mind since seeing the frame... Had Sug 75's on a Phil BB (highly recommended) CK sotto voce, Black Nitto sp72, Jag and drops. Looked ace in my mind and reckon this is going to be even better.
I also had low profile custom black Mack hubs on Open Pro CD's (just rebuilding them to Archetypes for my Burls) and would recommend them, especially with ceramic bearings, and a custom pink stripe will be a great finishing touch.
The SS ends is a good idea. Metal HT badge also, is it gonna be black? Bosses-wise i'd pick bottle over rack. I never had issues with clip on guards and Nitto/OMM make great racks for frame without eyelets, but clip on water bosses can be shit and a seatpost cage isn't always ideal, particularly if you might head off for a few days with a saddlebag.
As for routing, I personally prefer internal for a track/fixed bike just for a purer look, but guess it could be a rust trap. Saying that, i have a pretty well worn Colnago with internal TT routing and it is absolutely fine and must be best part of 30yrs old.
Anyway, seems like you're on it and sounds pretty much perfect to me. Must be a lovely process to have consuming your mind. Very envious and look forward to seeing it come to life.

Go for 1 1/8th stem it will mean a better choice of not only stem, but bars.
Get carbon forks. These are ace. If not, Roberts usually do Reynolds 531 track forks as standard. He pushes the stearer through and drills through both.
Roberts do stainless track ends as standard.
How much do you weigh? Wishbones can be a bit noodly. Chas may take it on as a challenge, or refuse flat out.
BB height may compromise toe overlap.

Here is my track bike

Here is my road bike

jaygee those are stunning, have you put them up int he roberts owners thread?

those bikes looked thrashed Jay

The new Zipp stickers make those touring wheels look awesome though..

;)

^^ Sure those are chromed?

They might be stainless 'ends.

Stainless is the word I was looking for.

Thanks for all the comments and advice folks, starting to feel like its almost a forum build going on, love it :)
I think I'm going to push for a 1 1/8 steerer for all the reasons above.
Yup the headbadge will be raised, metal and black.
Think the wishbone is out, Roberts said that it may flex too and it may be heavier and cause more probs than necessary. I weight 80kg. Plus I absolutely love those seatstays I posted :)
The bottle bosses are in too.
Going to go for the custom macks, he recommends metal bearings over ceramics though. Any thoughts there before I send off the final order?
Thanks again folks

I believe the name for those seatstays are "fastbacks". And I agree, they look lovely.

Let's see how quickly this gets cross posted to the porn thread haha!
Saw someone on a roberts cycling through Stratford yesterday, they are just teh sex...

One day I will do a build like this, custom frame, all the parts I want etc...

So here's my final shopping list folks. Shall obviously see what the big man recommends himself. Sizing on Tuesday morning so hopefully shall get to posting a few goodies later on that day :)
Thanks again for all help and suggestions! T

CHAS ROBERTS TRACK FRAME
TYPE
Track/maybe slightly road geometry

PURPOSE
Daily commuting (fixed or SS)
Fixed riding for weekends
Occasional track day visit

MAIN FEATURES
100mm/120mm spacing
Fillet brazed
Track dropouts: stainless steel
Drilled for brakes (front and rear)
Internal or external routing (any problems w internal eg rust)
Bottle bosses on downtube
Higher BB (28/29cm) and (if possible) toe clearance
External headset
Responsive, sharp handling
Stability on descents

TUBING ETC
Shall leave to Mr Roberts for best advice (want light but long lasting/hardwearing..)
Fillet brazed
1 1/8” headtube for better stem availability and potential fork interchangeability (? or stay with 1” for classic look...)
Max clearances 25c tyres
Track dropouts
Probably 27.2 seatpost

FORKS
1 1/8” steerer
Max 25c clearance
?straight or curved
Drilled for brake
Crown: to suit overall build; CR panto'd
Track rake

SEATSTAYS
Fastbacks
Binder built into seatstays as below:

REAR BRIDGE
Drilled
Lugless/fillet brazed
Maybe without the pronounced middle block?

REAR BRAKE CABLE ROUTING
If external then this style:
Cable stop (cable inner between the two) This position (about 7.5 o'clock)

If internal:
This style Front and back positions

BOTTOM BRACKET
Higher for better ground clearance/cornering
'ROBERTS' panto'd (matt black coloured)
English thread

COLOUR SCHEME
Gloss pearl pink/matt black
All writing and logos black

Matt black:
Rear triangle (up to the wheel rim edge)
Forks
BB lettering
CR headbadge: raised metal one
(if internal routing then the entrance/exit cable guides), BB lettering

Gloss pearl pink:
The remainder

ADDITIONAL INFO/EXTRAS
Shall run Mack rear hubs and Sugino 75 cranks..
Also will like to have CK black Sotto Voce headset and Phil Wood Ti bottom bracket

Right, so, I have to put this up seeing I've been to see the great man himself this morning :) The 0530 wake up and all those damn hills down that way were well worth it.
Got there a bit early but he was more than happy to take me on before the actual appointment. True gent!
First i oogled at all his bikes he had there whilst he tidied things up a bit.. Some insane coupled tandems made to take on the world are currently being put together. The usual selection of 953 road gorgeousness coupled with carbon Campag groupsets.. a mere £4500 but IMO worth every single penny.. Then his different track frames hanging on the walls. Mainly to show the type of builds, lugs etc which are available.. I knew I had come to the right place :)!
So first we discussed what I'd be using the frame for. Seeing I'll be doing approx 20 miles on it daily plus extra and then weekends he suggested to go for slightly slacked off track geo both for comfort, speed and handling. He reckons it'll give you more higher speed over longer distances as you won't be concentrating on keeping the bike under control 24/7.
Afterwards it was about what I wanted on the bike.
Wishbone was ruled out as the one available is too thin and twists especially w 80kg on it.. Fastbacks were also ruled out as he reckons they're not as sturdy on a track frame due to the smaller welding/contact area of them to the seatcluster.. Going for pretty much what jaygee has with the seatstays as CR reckons it's the stiffest and best for track bikes he can offer.
External cable run: less hassle to use; no holes drilled in the tt which can crack with repeat tensions especially if he uses thinner tubing; more responsive. It's his cross-over style that runs along the bottom of the tt (right side on the front and left at the back) and tbh looks damn sweet.
SS track ends; 1 1/8" steerer for all the reasons mentioned. He said it was good thinking..
The whole thing fillet brazed of course :)
He did look at me a bit strange when I mentioned I want it pink but said nothing! Going to have to pick a RAL and let him know as I've not actually decided on that yet. Matt black everywhere else as previously suggested. He's got a gloss white with matt black frame on his wall just now and the fork crowns were white with the blades black. Looks stunning and hence I've changed for that look also.
Aaaaaall finished off with a black CK sotto voce... Done!
Measuring was pretty straightforward. Apparently I'm well proportioned. Haha! Approx 56cm tt with a 10cm minimum seat to bar drop but adjustable with a few spacers..
Soooooo £400 deposit later and 3 months to go and hopefully I shall be a proud owner of a new CR piece of amazingness. So far I'd thoroughly recommend him but his history and heritage speaks for itself. If anyone has an inkling for one then don't think about it, just do it ;)!!

Nice write-up.

can't wait.

Great, such a nice way to buy a bike!

I'm not surprised to hear his thoughts on the geo. What (if anything) was said about BB height? Probably not an issue if you like 165mm cranks?