Charles Roberts
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Charles Roberts
Been a while since I posted on C&V...After moving from Buffalo six years ago my cycling taste took a turn from classic to mountain and gravel. Buffalo was so nice for vintage rides, but central New York is quite the opposite. It's hard to even flip bikes out here, which is a labor of love for me. Anyways, my Grail bikes are 30s-40s road bikes, the only thing for me worth keeping. I have a 1970 Paramount, but I have always wanted an English Racer, and I think I struck gold...this is a keeper. A mixture of Campy and Gran-Compe, I'm probably gonna put aero levers and an IRD freewheel on it for upgrades since it's a mutt, but damn I can't wait to ride it...
#3
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,804
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1393 Post(s)
Liked 1,334 Times
in
840 Posts
I love it, but I am a concerned about the apparent crack on the top of the head tube to downtube lug.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
Likes For John E:
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
It's the paint that already flaked off. It's gonna be tough saving the decals....
#5
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 5,670
Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1033 Post(s)
Liked 2,541 Times
in
1,066 Posts
Is that a bike license from Denver? As in Colorado? Fun little extra.
Nice find. I bet it will clean up very nicely. When it does, I advocate a two-step progression: (1) put whatever components you like on it; (2) ride the heck out of it.
But you already knew that.
Nice find. I bet it will clean up very nicely. When it does, I advocate a two-step progression: (1) put whatever components you like on it; (2) ride the heck out of it.
But you already knew that.
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
Likes For bikingshearer:
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Yes that's a Denver license on it, makes me wonder how the heck it got to CNY...this bike has definitely not been ridden on decades. Or it was rode hard and put away wet. BB is rusty as hell, spokes are shot, the brake hoods are melted to the metal, the 52 chainring is warped. This is gonna be fun...
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
A strong mix of parts on this rig. Campy front D, cable guides, hubs, seatpost, Stronglight spindle, Suntour Cyclone rear D and shifters, Cinelli bars, and I don't know what the stem is
Last edited by jish1969; 12-03-20 at 03:09 PM.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#9
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,848
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2298 Post(s)
Liked 2,056 Times
in
1,256 Posts
A buddy of mine rode a Gios Torino, a Pinarello Montello and a Chas Roberts, all Super Record. He claimed if he could only have one, it would be the Roberts. Good luck.
Edit...it was likely a Charles, not Chas, even with the SR. It was well ridden.
Edit...it was likely a Charles, not Chas, even with the SR. It was well ridden.
Last edited by clubman; 12-03-20 at 06:09 PM.
Likes For clubman:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,090
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 269 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4520 Post(s)
Liked 6,404 Times
in
3,684 Posts
@jish1969
That stem is an early Cinelli 1A with the with the small oval logo and what may be homemade milling or?
That stem is an early Cinelli 1A with the with the small oval logo and what may be homemade milling or?
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Well I took it all apart and it cleaned up nicely. This is how it sits after a coat of Johnson's paste wax. It's been so long since I worked on a headset with free bearings, now I can only find 15 of them. I just ordered some new 5/32 bearings, but would anybody like to tell me about how many go in each cup? I've read 25. It's an old Campy headset...
Last edited by jish1969; 12-09-20 at 08:04 PM.
Likes For jish1969:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Cambridge UK
Posts: 852
Bikes: 1903 24 spd Sunbeam, 1927 Humber, 3 1930 Raleighs, 2 1940s Sunbeams, 2 1940s Raleighs, Rudge, 1950s Robin Hood, 1958 Claud Butler, 2 1973 Colnago Supers, Eddie Merckx, 2 1980 Holdsworth, EG Bates funny TT bike, another 6 or so 1990s bikes
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 332 Times
in
185 Posts
'If in doubt , leave one out.'
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks, will do. I'm debating how far I want to go with this now. I'll definitely put the new bearings in the headset, and the Stronglight BB has already been overhauled, but I would need to replace a lot on this. The wheels are toast. Mallard from hub is pitted, 5spd Shimano rear hub on a steel rim-garbage. They're already at the side of the road. The bolt for the Suntour Cyclone RD doesnt seems to be the original, or correct size as it won't fit in the D.
Aside from the frame itself, which I'm assuming since it's a Charles is 531, has Campy dropouts, the best parts on the bike are the Campy seatpost, front D(a touch rusty), headset and cable guide. Cinelli Champion du Mondo bars, and 1a stem(that's been home milled).
The SR crank is nice, though I have to bend the large ring straight again. The brake levers and calipers are Gran-Compe. Rear D and shifters looked like 1st gen Cyclone.
Im torn between looking for a donor bike with a great group and wheelset or just moving the frame/parts separately. Probably wait until after the holidays to decide.
EDIT: After looking at the English Club Racer thread, I feel like I'm leaning towards this direction. SA 3 spd hub. I have to get new wheels anyway, and this eliminates the derailleurs. A 40s-50s club racer has been a grail of mine, might as well make it! Gonna take a while tho...
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...b-bikes-2.html
Aside from the frame itself, which I'm assuming since it's a Charles is 531, has Campy dropouts, the best parts on the bike are the Campy seatpost, front D(a touch rusty), headset and cable guide. Cinelli Champion du Mondo bars, and 1a stem(that's been home milled).
The SR crank is nice, though I have to bend the large ring straight again. The brake levers and calipers are Gran-Compe. Rear D and shifters looked like 1st gen Cyclone.
Im torn between looking for a donor bike with a great group and wheelset or just moving the frame/parts separately. Probably wait until after the holidays to decide.
EDIT: After looking at the English Club Racer thread, I feel like I'm leaning towards this direction. SA 3 spd hub. I have to get new wheels anyway, and this eliminates the derailleurs. A 40s-50s club racer has been a grail of mine, might as well make it! Gonna take a while tho...
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...b-bikes-2.html
Last edited by jish1969; 12-11-20 at 07:23 PM.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: City of Angels
Posts: 4,870
Bikes: A few too many
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 2,182 Times
in
1,184 Posts
A very worthy project for a restoration....nice work saving the decals, I would leave well enough alone and count your good fortunes!
Best, Ben
Best, Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Digging this wheelset, I just wish it came in silver/chrome. The black could look good I suppose....
https://handsomecycles.com/products/...speed-internal
https://handsomecycles.com/products/...speed-internal
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Liberty, Missouri
Posts: 3,120
Bikes: 1966 Paramount | 1971 Raleigh International | ca. 1970 Bernard Carre | 1989 Waterford Paramount | 2012 Boulder Brevet | 2019 Specialized Diverge
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 129 Post(s)
Liked 77 Times
in
40 Posts
Is your rear spaced to 120 or 126?
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I measured earlier with a tape measure and got 124 after I converted, so I assumed 126. I finally found my ruler and it's 120. That SA hub is 127...rats. Seems I need to find an AW hub then...
Last edited by jish1969; 12-12-20 at 10:53 PM.
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Got some new bearings in the headset yesterday, but I think I may only get a season or two out of it. Now I have to wait until my quarantine ends to get to my LBS. The wife bought me the wheels for Christmas, so those are on the way at least. In the interest of keeping it cheap I will reuse the non-aero dura-ace levers that it came with.
#19
Full Member
Got some new bearings in the headset yesterday, but I think I may only get a season or two out of it. Now I have to wait until my quarantine ends to get to my LBS. The wife bought me the wheels for Christmas, so those are on the way at least. In the interest of keeping it cheap I will reuse the non-aero dura-ace levers that it came with.
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Progress. It's been slow going, but it's been frigid in CNY and my kerosene heater can't keep up. Couldn't find a set of long reach calipers until a friend reached out with a newer set of Tektros he had lying around. I had already decided on Tektro aero levers before that because I want it to be comfy on long rides, and in the past my non-aero bikes didn't get ridden as much until I switched.
I need to get a new BB, as there is clicking on the rear sprocket telling me I'm not in line, probably going with a cartridge BB when I get it measured.
. I went through Handsome Cycles and got the wheels-Alex Rims on SA hubs. The shifter hub is a Sturmey Archer SRF-3. Since they are black I paired them with Panaracer Pasela 700x28s.
. The Brooks saddle will be going back on, along with matching Brooks bar tape.
. I have the old Campy cable guide mounted still, and found a Simplex downtube cable guide in my bin. I had the thought that I could route the shifter wire along a more normal path like that, but not sure if it will work. Anybody got any Ideas?
I need to get a new BB, as there is clicking on the rear sprocket telling me I'm not in line, probably going with a cartridge BB when I get it measured.
. I went through Handsome Cycles and got the wheels-Alex Rims on SA hubs. The shifter hub is a Sturmey Archer SRF-3. Since they are black I paired them with Panaracer Pasela 700x28s.
. The Brooks saddle will be going back on, along with matching Brooks bar tape.
. I have the old Campy cable guide mounted still, and found a Simplex downtube cable guide in my bin. I had the thought that I could route the shifter wire along a more normal path like that, but not sure if it will work. Anybody got any Ideas?
Likes For jish1969:
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,831 Times
in
1,997 Posts
Most of the Roberts I have seen have greyhound long top tubes. this one appears in that vein too.
I would consider upright bars.
I would consider upright bars.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,852
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 107 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2341 Post(s)
Liked 2,836 Times
in
1,546 Posts
fun build..... bit of mix and match and it looks like the brooks is coming back to life
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
So question for you pros out there. The OLD on the SA SRF--3 hub is 119 and my BB spindle is 120. I'm getting a noise from the rear sprocket and chain, but should it concern me? While I'm no expert on chainline by a long shot, the numbers match, and the chain isn't hugging any particular side, so I should be good, right? The only thing I can think of is that it's a Stronglight 120 spindle, which is most likely ISO, and the SR crank is JIS. Or the chain/sprocket/chainring size difference.
. I saved a video in my Google drive and attached the link of anyone would care to listen. This is my first time dealing with anything Sturmey Archer so any advice is appreciated.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xZw...w?usp=drivesdk
.
. I saved a video in my Google drive and attached the link of anyone would care to listen. This is my first time dealing with anything Sturmey Archer so any advice is appreciated.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xZw...w?usp=drivesdk
.