Roberts L'Eroica Build

So this had been a long time coming, but has quickly turned into a last minute scramble....

I picked up a rather lovely Roberts frame a couple of years ago now; knowing it was nice to sit under my bed I decided signing up to l'Eroica would give me the kick up the arse to get it done..

This was it arriving:

Genrally going for a "white and shiny" look.....

The frame had been recently restored, however it did come with a couple of chips :-/

First thing to do was go to halfrauds and decide which of the 50-odd white touchup pens was the closest..... after a good 40 minutes deliberation I decided upon 'Audi ice white'

A very DIY setup:
Cleaned up the chips with alcohol wipes

Only needed a TINY drop of primer

Left to dry over night, lots flattening, a TINY bit of paint, then lots of polishing.
Close enough match....

Now to start the build:
I managed to cobble together an early C-Record Group, but needed to a few extra bits. (if anybody has a decent 27.2 aero post - please let me know!)

Quickly got the gears and stem on, excuse the gold wheels - I just wanted to see it in "bike form"

Next up is to get the bars and brakes on once the last few bits have arrived.

That's big, but super nice. :)

Thanks!
Its a lanky thing @ 63cm - but so am I @ 6'4

Is that frame old enough for L'Eroica?

that is a good question.

but very nice frame

Hopefully! Seller said the serial number shows it was built in 1983

Love this. I shall look out for it in Gaiolie.

Next on the list (and one of my favourite bits!) was brakes - Croce D Aune Deltas
Gorgeous things - in not a little bonkers...

First job was finding the elusive 3.5mm allen key needed for the cable stop, followed by another quirk of the deltas..... Cutting the cable in the fraction of mm's you have between the cable clamp and the bottom of the sealed housing (as pictured) - I just about got my cutters in, but wasnt the cleanest of snips!

Also got some Very shiny mavic MA2's to go with

That yellow saddle had to go - Although I didn't think an beat up old thing from the 80s would look right with the refurb'ed frame / all that chrome so opted for a brooks swallow and matching leather tape

Got the pedals on and I'm done!

Took it out on a hilly 100 miler on the weekend - other than a few bits needed tightening up it rode great! Will get some decent photos on the ride :-)

Very nice - good work.

Thanks!

That's lovely!

A small but important point ( at least, if you want to look fully informed about old kit).

The toestrap visible in the photo appears to be upside down.

This is the reason it should be the other way up: the triangular 'point' at the top of the buckle should be accessible so that a sweep of the hand will undo the strap and allow the foot to come out of the toe clip - essential when this set up is used with shoe plates (now usually called 'cleats' which is the american term) and the strap has been pulled tight.

If you look at any old racing photo you will see that the ends of the straps are left loose and not pushed back into the buckles - this was so that the rider could grasp the end of the strap to tighten it. This would be done as the occasion required, so for a climb or a sprint the rider would be 'strapped in'.

Although I don't bother with shoe plates nowadays, I could give a little tutorial on how to fit them since they can be a source of trouble, but I doubt whether there would be any interest as they are only really necessary for actual racing and I very much doubt if anyone still uses toeclips in competition.

However, this is a smart machine and it would be a shame if the small detail of the toestraps did not look 'gen'.

Cheers for the heads up!
it was spotted at first bike shop I went in - by an old chap who used to race :)

I also didn't know about the trick to twist the strap to stop the buckle slipping round.