Lugs. Who needs them?

Yet again, I have elected to start the New Year by building a frame with the legend that is Geoff Roberts.

As I have now done this a few times, I thought it might be a good idea to have a crack at building a fillet-brazed lugless frame.

I e-mailed Geoff a few times at the end of last year, and after a bit of back and forth, we settled on a light tourer, built from Columbus Max - a copy of a Roberts fame I had spotted in the Roberts thread on this very forum.

Imagine my surprise therefore when I arrived on Monday morning to find a box of tubes on my bench, bearing the legend Columbus Cento.

Now, the Cento tube set is, without doubt, a thing of great beauty, a wonder to behold. A tubeset so expensive and esoteric is not, however, the first thing one would normally select for ‘having a go’ at something.

The bulbous bottom bracket for example requires the fabrication of some particularly complex mitres. It is what I believe more experienced frame builders describe as ‘ a bit of a twat’.

Anyway, we have cracked on, and as I left today there was something resembling a bicycle frame in the vice.

Quick style note: today I tested the Rapha Mechanics Jacket, as endorsed by framebuilding legend Ricky Feather. If, like me, you think this jacket might improve your brazing action, save your money. It won’t.

Pics;

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Ok la la!

The forward facing dropouts feel so wrong on a cento frame but this looks awesome

There was some discussion about the dropouts. As this is a fillet brazed frame, having to slot the stays, rather than having socketed dropouts seemed more appropriate.

What really swung it though, was that they are authentic Columbus dropouts.

I like to think Antonio would be happy about that.

wow! thats super cool

bulbous bottom bracket

What brand of electric assist motor are you installing?

Cleaning up a fillet brazed frame is a real ball ache. Still not finished :(

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I saw on Facebook that someone was using a cento tubeset on one of his courses.

Bravo, looks very nice.

Phase 1 done:

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To be honest, I think Geoff was more excited about the Cento than I was.

Looks amazing dude.

Ta;)

The most puzzling question is why you didn't build this at home on your new frame fixture :)

I still haven't finished putting that frame fixture together.

I summer, I was building it on a table in my garden, and some b*stard nicked the table!

Need to get back on to that.

Besides, early visit to Geoff has become my traditional way of starting off the New Year.

I’m liking that you’ve gone external for the cabling.

Subscribed

Might be hard to find tapered forks with the right tyre clearance which take rim brakes.

Decals have arrived from H Lloyd.

Had to have them made x1.5 bigger, due to the enormity of the tubes.

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Has this been painted yet?

Just seen this.

Strange, as I am about to go off to Crayford to see the legend that is Dave Crowe - legendary sprayer.

Has this been painted yet??

Subbed.

Need to find time to go to Crayford to pick it up.

Made the trip to Crayford this morning.

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Look great - especially love that Columbus dove seat lug.

Nice. Still haven't finished filing the fillets on mine, let alone started painting the damned thing.