Very neat bike and a nice price as the condition looks good.
I remember the couple who imported many of these. I think they were called "Cycle Imports" of Cornish, Maine. Around 1979 they represented Charles Roberts and McLean Fonvielle at the NY Bicycle Show at the old Coliseum. That pair had a pretty good eye for builders.
Joe B-Z
GNNJ
> Well, I've recently been selling off lots of stuff accumulated over a
wide
> span of years with my eyes clearly focused on purchasing two bikes. One
of
> the deals fell through and the other ended up going on eBay but I won that
> one for what I think is a fine price. What I purchased is a early
eighties
> Chas Roberts frameset with an eclectic composition of components. I've
been
> looking for a quality, relaxed geometry frameset with a triple crankset to
> use for riding some of the biggest hills here in Northern CT and then to
use
> this summer to ride up to the top of Cadillac Mountain, with my daughter
> Leah, in Acadia National Park. Each year we vacation up at the park and
> spend the week mountain hiking and biking. Last year my family and I rode
> up to the top of Day Mountain on our mountain bikes and that got Leah and
I
> going on the idea of doing Cadillac together. Leah rides with me on and
> off, I restored a early Team Fuji for her, she runs cross country, is very
> athletic and a joy to ride with. It's nice that as a teenager we have a
few
> things still in common. I digress.... So, I've been waiting for the right
> bike in the right size to come along. She appeared and I bought.
>
> I first saw a Chas Roberts at the tiny little Monson swap and show a few
> winters ago and remember how nice the lug work was, how the decals and
paint
> were conservative and understated, and, how much money the seller wanted
for
> that frameset; $700 firm. But it left an impression. Then I heard about
> this bike. Did some searching and quickly found a little about Chas
Roberts
> on Dale's site along with the Roberts website; they still make only custom
> frames/bikes.
>
> See the link below for some pics:
>
>
http://ebay.com/
>
> So, I'm curious. I've now seen two in person and just the few on Dale's
> website. Anyone know a little bit more about the Roberts Company. Have
any
> direct dealings with them? Own/owned one? Riding impressions?
> Workmanship? Etc., etc.
>
> Mine just arrived today and I was not disappointed. Lugs are very nicely
> filed, paint is quite good too. Lug outlining is a bit below par as the
> lines are very thin and were not applied by someone with as steady a hand
as
> I would have like but they do not detract in any way. Some Campagnolo
> components, high flange hubs seem a bit odd for an 80's bike, Suntour
> Superbe stuff is a favorite of mine and then a nice TA triple. Bar and
stem
> are not my size nor bend so they'll be replaced. Saddle has quite the odd
> shape which doesn't really show in the pics and can't imagine will fit me
> (at least I hope not!) so will get replaced too.
>
> If the weather permits, I'll get her out for a ride this weekend and
report
> back.
>
> Thanks for listening. Comments especially appreciated (on list preferably
> as these bikes have not gotten much, if any, list time).
>
> Eric Elman
> Somers, CT