Classic & Vintage - Chas Roberts racing bikes

Hello,

I am looking at a racing bike built by Chas Roberts. I was wondering how they are regarded and where in the hierarchy of classic British makers his bikes might be placed. Are they as good as Ron Cooper and Bob Jackson?

Docus

Hey; I'd ride it...! Cooper is pretty highly regarded, and while Jacksons were nice, for some reason not so sought after... Probably 'cause so many more were built, and sold through mail order catalogs. The Roberts aren't too common, and if that example looks nicely made, and is your size... ride it!

BTW- if it's not your size, and 53-54cm ctc, please let me know... ;)

Here's a picture:

http://i23.ebayimg.com/02/i/05/0b/25/d9_1_b.JPG

It's a 52cm frame, built from Reynolds 853, with quite tight and aggressive geometry. It's fitted with Campy Chorus. However, I don't like the colour! I would probably get it resprayed black... Colour aside, the fundamentals are very good.

What I'm really wondering is whether Chas Roberts is a 'prestige' British marque in the way that Ron Cooper or Bob Jackson is - Ron's frames are sometimes said to be the equal of Mario Confente's. I did see the Chas Roberts page on Classic Rendezvous, but I'm still in the dark about their place in history.

Saw one over the weekend, earlier frame later compnents, Athena or some such, at least not Shimano. $350 was the asking, needed TLC.

Which translates into needs a respray, used well put away wet.

Just thought I'd let y'all know I got the Chas Roberts and am very pleased with it. It fits like a glove, rides beautifully and is in near-perfect show room condition, without even a single chip on the paint or any noticeable wear on the components. Everything shifts beautifully and the frame is light, stiff and responsive. It's somehow aggressive and stately at the same time - a strange but wonderful juxtaposition.

But I reaaaaaaaaaly don't like the colour, so I'm planning a respray in black... This also gives me a chance to apply some original Roberts decals - as seen on the Chas Roberts page on Classic Rendezvous. Unfortunately this means my recently purchased Freddie Grubb is now up for sale... (on eBay now) - those resprays are waaaaaaay more expensive than I thought...

Which brings me onto my question: given the price of a respray, and the fact that some restless part of me can't help but wonder whether my itch might be better scratched by something like a Ron Cooper frame, I'm struggling to decide whether to keep and paint the Chas Roberts frame or put it towards something else, like a Ron Cooper or a Bob Jackson. I feel a little crazy asking this given that I've just sung the virtues of the bike... So I'd be grateful if anyone out there could help me weigh things up by offering some opinions about the place of Chas Roberts bikes in the hierarchy of British makers...?

Have you considered hypnotherapy - to make you like the color? :D

Just thought I'd let y'all know I got the Chas Roberts and am very pleased with it....I feel a little crazy asking this given that I've just sung the virtues of the bike... So I'd be grateful if anyone out there could help me weigh things up by offering some opinions about the place of Chas Roberts bikes in the hierarchy of British makers...?
What I'm wondering, is why it needs to be a recognized upper-end bike...
If it rides nicely, and is solidly built, then why not let it be a keeper? If it's not too fancy, but looks just OK yet rides great, paint & decal it yourself.

Does the frame look artfully built? Are the lugs nicely finished? How's the mitering in the BB shell? Are the stays nicely finished at the drop-out? Plain looking, or fancy...?

I've got a beautifully built Jack Hearne (English) that very few have ever heard of...
Who knows where it sits in the grand scheme of collector bikes, but it's a keeper to me. How many have heard of John Padgett or Saturn (US built)? Another that's gorgeous (to me). The Saturn's lugs are filed in a similar style (thin, nice taper, but square-ish "shoreline", not just rounded off) to those of Chris Kvale (another vintage keeper I have, BTW).

I think it's up to your eye (and brain) to decide where it sits in the heirarchy... Don't just rely on what others say about it.... Too much nice stuff gets passed up that way, while some mediocre stuff may get more recognition than it deserves.

Since I've never had, nor seen a Roberts up close, that's the only advice I can give. If it's strictly an investment bike you're after, a Roberts may not be it.... Or may well be the next hot collectible...

yes, a Roberts is a quality item..............but you know that already;-)

Because Chas is still in business, his stuff is more contemporary than an old Grubb or Butler; no need for him to retire to acclaim his work;-)

Think of it regionally, Roberts is to London and the south-east, what Mercian is to the midlands, Jackson to Yorkshire, Argos to the south-west, Harry Hall to Lancashire...........

These are not undisputed masters, by any means; when I lived in Leeds, in the '70's and '80's, Woodrups was my LBS, Jacksons a 5 mile ride across town, Ellis-Briggs, Pennine and Wes Mason an easy spin away, in adjoining towns. Each had their adherents locally, nationally and in some cases, further afield. A similar pattern developed elsewhere, which ensured quality, if not always innovation.

I have a chase and bought it in the late 80's. It is a great bike with beautiful workmanship.