Unknown Roberts- Tip find

[shepp]

Hi

I’m a mountain biker by sport but know Roberts and I’ve met Geoff Roberts when I bought a bright orange (trek built) Klein from him locally. Lovely bloke!

Anyway I was driving into our local tip a workman chap walked past with this…so I jumped out and asked to buy it. Impulsive and I didnt even check it over!

So what is it? It’s light (I think) and beautiful in the sun! I know it’s a mix of a few original parts but also some modern down grades, I suspect to keep the bike rideable during older age.

Any thoughts welcome

Thank you

Dan

 

[LondonClassic]

Jesus Mary and Jospeh and the wee donkeys....what is it with people finding Rene Herse and Roberts and the like down the tip? A fricking Raleigh Eclipse is the best I ever got

Incredible find...I kind of want to know how much you paid but also don't, IYKWIM..

 

[widowmaker]

What is the matter with people, throw that in the skip

 

[shepp]

Jesus Mary and Jospeh and the wee donkeys....what is it with people finding Rene Herse and Roberts and the like down the tip? A fricking Raliegh Eclipse is the best I ever got

Incredible find...I kind of want to know how much you paid but also don't, IYKWIM..

Dont ask!

 

[shepp]

What is the matter with people, throw that in the skip

It was glinting in the sun as he walked towards my car with it, he said to a college "probably good in its day"...then I clocked the Roberts and that set me off! Can only put together an elderly chap must of had it and its been thrown away by him or younger family?

 

[widowmaker]

It must have been fate, that you saw it.

Good save

 

[sjcprojects]

Wow. It's got just the right level of randomness and ugliness (half a front mudguard and no rear one, a few scapes here and there, nasty stem and bar-ends) to disguise the fact that it's a fantastic bike. Though having said that, some people obviously think anything not 'modern' is worthless. While strangely enough, other people think anything 'retro' is worth big bucks on eBay.

It's pre-1981 from the Reynolds decal, and the lack of braze-ons for bottle cages and shifters backs that up too. Like you say, it doesn't have many original parts left. It also looks like it was built as a road frame, not for touring.

Lose the random saddle, stick some drop bars on it and lower (or even better, replace) the stem, plus add downtube shifters and road brake levers and it'll look lovely. Some people might say to stick with flat bars, but they would be wrong

 

[shepp]

Wow. It's got just the right level of randomness and ugliness (half a front mudguard and no rear one, a few scapes here and there, nasty stem and bar-ends) to disguise the fact that it's a fantastic bike. Though having said that, some people obviously think anything not 'modern' is worthless. While strangely enough, other people think anything 'retro' is worth big bucks on eBay.

It's pre-1981 from the Reynolds decal, and the lack of braze-ons for bottle cages and shifters backs that up too. Like you say, it doesn't have many original parts left. It also looks like it was built as a road frame, not for touring.

Lose the random saddle, stick some drop bars on it and lower (or even better, replace) the stem, plus add downtube shifters and road brake levers and it'll look lovely. Some people might say to stick with flat bars, but they would be wrong

Thank you

I'm confused as to why it doesn't have guides for any gear cables? It does have bottle bosses. It seems to be a 81 as the 531 sl tubes and the decal features were used around that time. Trying to research it now!

 

[widowmaker]

I have some Cinelli bars, Cinelli stem and some drop levers you can have for postage if you want to go down that route.

 

[shepp]

I have some Cinelli bars, Cinelli stem and some drop levers you can have for postage if you want to go down that route.

That's very kind!!! Yes please, and if I don't use them I would pass them on as you have to a deserving bike!