Classic Steel Road Bike Restomod | Simon Smythe's Stunning 2001 Chas Roberts Dream Build!

[@yayasgoal]

I have a Rourke, made from Reynolds 853 pro team tubing. It is six years old and looks just as good as when i collected it. Steel is the best.

[@SIvers-or2ke]

Oh mate, I reckon you’ve inspired a wave of us “older riders” to rethink our dusty old frames that have been in the garage. The thing you didn’t mention is that it, most likely, has lived in the lounge room since it was finished. I’m both envious and very happy for you. Enjoy 😉👌

[@simonsmythe7648]

Haha, thank you, glad you like it! I did a couple of evening TTs on it and it was actually pretty fast despite the head tube feeling very flexy compared to modern bikes (you forget what 1in is like). Now I’ve had to give the wheels back though 😢

[@mikespadafora9077]

Beautiful! I have dumped all my carbon bikes and only ride steel. I prefer how they ride. I am not a racer so the extra weight is a non issue! Steel is real!!!

[@JustinBannerman-u3c]

In '84 I had a frame built for me using Columbus in the main triangle and Reynolds 531 in the fork and rear triangle. We used Cinelli lugs, Campy dropouts and a Henry James fork crown. The seat tube cracked so after a couple of years of it hanging in the shed I had it fixed. The frame turned out spectacular painted in a deep red similar to your bike. I pulled a Campy SR 11 spd group off of another bike that I had and a set of Mavic carbon clincher wheels. I purchased a Black Industry's carbon 1 piece bar and stem. Very light, sexy and expensive. I had a Campy SR seat post from 1980 that I used just for some vintage bling. After much internal debate I replaced the fork with a Ritchey carbon fork with a thread less steerer and a Chris King head set. The bike turned out amazing coming in at 18lbs. Such a beautiful bike to ride. Like your bike, it is not "race bike light" but it is a true joy to ride. I have a carbon bike kitted out with Campy SR EPS but it is hanging on the wall of my shop.

[@peterdelmonte9832]

I’m 74 today and totally agree with you about Chas Roberts frames. Several decades ago I rode from Welwyn Garden City to Penge and back just to look in the window of the shop. I remember there being a tandem frame on display and to me at that time it was almost unworldly in its’ flattened tubed beauty. More recently I spoke with a couple in Woodbridge, Suffolk who each had Robert’s frames road bikes. There are many well constructed British hand built frames from that and previous eras but few if any are better to my eye.

[@dskordo]

Really enjoyed the video. I laughed out loud at the sram powerlink....as that's what is holding together my Campag 11 chain. Lol

[@ShawnStradamus520]

Love the build! 💯 There are lots of neo-retro builder’s on KZbin doing “museum piece” projects, but this is the only one that I have seen with a true modern “performance” build. A few years ago I started a similar project with a 1986 Bianchi Mondiale SL. It was my very first racing bicycle and had been bouncing around my basement workshop for decades. The original fork was destroyed in a crash, so I also used the Columbus carbon 1” steerer fok because I wanted a modern cockpit (I like the points of contact to be the same on all my bikes). I originally rebuilt it with Campy 10 speed Centaur shifters/detaileurs, brake calipers, and an old Chorus aluminum crankset/sealed tapered bottom bracket combo with Scirrocco wheels. The bike came back to life life beautifully, but I found that I rarely rode it because it was too heavy/slow (9.5k) for the competitive group rides that I typically do, and I rarely ride on the road alone these days for safety reasons. This year I decided to take the build to the next level to see if I could get it to the point where it really delivered a modern performance feel. So I upgraded the crankset to Record 11s UT, and the wheelset to BORA 50 tubulars with Vittoria Corsa Pave tires. The newer build comes in at 8.5 kilos with pedals/bottle cages, and definitely delivers the performance ride that I was hoping for. It is now fully rideable in most “flattish” competitive group rides. The steel frame delivers a stiff responsive ride with a built in dampening quality that is not present in my carbon or aluminum frames, although I must admit that it does not climb as efficiently as a carbon bike frame from say ten years ago. The current crop of road disc carbon bike frames are another story, but I digress… It is very satisfying to know that after nearly 40 years my Italian steel frame still performs very well for much more than just L’Eroica rides. Steel is indeed real! Cheers!

[@BICIeCOMPUTERconGabriele]

Thank you from Italy, for pronouncing "Campagnolo" perfectly!

[@Raymond-Farts]

It's awesome you have a good steel frame builder in your country. Here in the US we have Chris Bishop, a guy who creates beautiful steel frames exactly how you want. I have him building a lugged frame with Columbus steel, filleted lugs, straight blade forks, and Campagnolo Centaur 10 speed. I built the wheels myself using Pecenti rims and an Onyx Vesper hub in the rear and White Industries hub in the front. It's been almost one year but the frame is about complete, it goes to paint just before Christmas and I'm having it painted a Dark Midnight Blue Pearl. I just know this bike will be special and I can hardly wait for it. I like the video thanks for making it.

[@kevingove1879]

Stunning paint. And a classy build. Enjoy your dream bike.

[@aluminati9918]

Campagnolo Chorus= excellent choice sir! Nice frame color too.

[@markowsley4954]

Beautiful bike! I miss my custom made Waterford built paramount OS from 1990. Loved the lugged steel frames from the 80's and early 90's.

[@jimmorrison8835]

I would just hang it on the lounge wall and look at it-a real work of art.

[@B.E.Greatful]

Very nice build looks beautiful I would love to see more videos like this. Resto Mods of any kind are always beautiful. Old world hand craftsmanship with new world technology living in harmony beautiful bike thank you for sharing

[@johnflynn4923]

Chorus was an excellent choice for the groupset, best value / style combo out there, sets the bike off beautifully and nice attention adding the Vitt Graphenes on the Boras. Sitting still the bike looks fast - you're going to need a very big bag of excuses ready if you're not first to the cafe on that!

[@tomnewman6760]

I've started riding mine

[@Bicyclechris]

I built up a Colnago 60 on a Super Record groupset which cost around 2,300 USD for the groupset, which cost less then a Shimano Di2 setup. It was well worth it to me.

[@OldDavo1950]

I have 2 Bob Jackson one 1973 another is 1983 both beautiful bikes to ride.

[@mgapagnolo4476]

Running with Chorus group set on my Tommasini Tecno. Love it. It is a 2004 frame and originally put chorus group set on the bike, but two years ago I had a new Chorus group set put on. I think Chorus is a excellent choice.

[@PatrickJamesKiernan]

Beautiful! Careful where you park it at the pub!

[@TheVolksbar]

She's stunning; you are a lucky man !

[@petinka721]

What a great bike!

[@BleakVision]

It looks great! Only caveaz is that plastic fork, which makes it almost as fragile and life threatening as full plastic bikes.

[@savinecycles]

Always wanted a Roberts frame as a kid. Now 55 n have had three, still got two in boxes in the garage gotta build them up again. Started building frames myself back in 2010 n have customers all over the world since then hence my Roberts frames in boxes.

[@_SpaceDad]

A black Sharpie pen will take care of that handlebar tape. Great bike!

[@DrJRMCFC]

An absolutely beautiful build. Superb paint job. Incredible value too. Only thing I would change is the Chris King headset for a Campagnolo thread less. A minor point though. Next time use the Campag chain tool ;-)

[@billkallas1762]

I'm still riding on my steel race bike, that I raced on from 2002 to 2017. Built from True Temper OX Platinum, with a 1-1/8 top and down tubes. I built it with Shimano 7800, and a 53x39 crank. When I was racing, I used a 12-23 cassette.(I now use a 12-25, because I'm out of shape, and old-old-old)

[@jorgecanceran4091]

thank you sir for sharing your technology and latest products of your classic bike, more power.

[@thebutcher1412]

Wow that is a sweet looking bike. I’m a young and new beginner rider. I bought a colnago C50 from a friend of mine but I also picked up a vintage frejus steel bike and after seeing this bike build I know exactly what I am doing

[@lfoster7601]

I have a 1983 Carlton Pro Mk 5, which I retro-retro modded to use 9spd Campagnolo Racing-T. Utterly superb to ride, and I really like the Racing-T - "trad" 53x39, with a spare 30 chainring. Gets my old butt up the Scottish hills in Style and down the other side at lightning speed .I used a set of gold Khamsin wheels to offset the scarlet paintjob the previous owner put on the frame. Looks great, handles beautifully, rides sublimely, and weighs just over 9Kg.

[@daning9456]

Had a Roberts bike tailored made for me in 97 with Campag. Record (Record is the top at that time, no Super Record), 9 speeds. I think it is a Columbus frame, forgot after all these years. There is no label on the tube to identify which is strange. I only done 500 miles and then left it hanging on the wall all these years to admire at. Last week, I started using it for the first time after all these time. I am 70 and retired. I was thinking of finding my Roberts a good home. After watching your video, I think I ought to give it another go.

[@simonsmythe7648]

Yes, definitely do it!

[@daning9456]

Been cycling everyday now. One thing bothers me, in your video, you said you spent £4500 on new equipment, using top handlebar and seat post etc, and yet you opted for Chorus instead of Record to save £600, your "excuse" seemed to be Chorus was only 100 gm heavier than Record etc. Sure, £600 is a large sum, but when compare to £4500, I would have thought the Record upgrade is good value for money.

[@RobinHood-yk8og]

​@@daning9456 He said he'd borrowed the wheels from a test bike and the groupset looked to have had plenty of miles on it already. Aside from the frame, I suspect the only item purchased specifically for this bike was the handlebar tape. Even including that massive handlebar I'd guess less, a lot less, than £1000 was spent out of pocket for this bike.

[@lpi40]

Just Awesome

[@matthewwatt3650]

Geez what a stunner!

[@jamesb1717]

That' is a great looking wagon. 👍

[@richardcarr6493]

l LOVE it pass it forward when you re done with it :)

[@steppings5645]

What an absolute beauty. No carbon bike gets me as interested as steel.

[@ogden99]

Stunning bike!

[@unairamos74]

Gorgeous bike! I’m going to go down the same road with a 12s Chorus groupset and a classic aluminium Orbea frame, custom painted. A dream build !!

[@jono1457-qd9ft]

I agree. Chas Roberts steel frames do look extremely well made

[@hai-hotranphotography1169]

Nice build. Thanks for sharing my friend.

[@jalovecjoffrey9542]

What a colour ! Amazing . Beautiful bike, great chorus group set and high end wheels match perfectly. The integrated bars looked too modern for me. Great work by the way

[@chrisvanbuggenum871]

Gorgeous!!

[@add28]

Amazing, the bike looks fantastic!

[@david_r_munson]

Great inspiration for me. I’m a fixie rider who’s wanting a road bike, but wanting to stick to steel. Where I live, there are a lot of older steel frames in circulation, and this is precisely what I plan to do with my new build

[@salva.]

Happy for you! It looks amazing 👏🏻 🍻

[@jamiecox2506]

Campag cable kits are such high quality - you'd never want to hide those. I hope you turned the cables so the logo is facing outwards!

[@tongalizia3175]

Excellent built,, love the head badge made out of steel.. all new bikes are decals ,,,steel is real….believe it until you ride one….

[@katzsteel]

That is a gorgeous bike! Wow!

[@DannerPlace]

What an excellent build, I would love to have that bike.

[@kenblair2538]

That is a beautiful build. Great color, as red is the fastest. Ride on. KB

[@johnwilson230]

Lovely build steel all day thats what i ride. My ride and commute ride is a old 80 s Peugeot i done a few upgrades but kept a few old component's. All the best 😊

[@playandteach]

Surprised that a frame that age has a sloping top tube. Also the geometry looks more laid back than I'd expect. Gorgeous. I had a Nigel Dean ( think I've remembered that correctly) that this reminds me of.

[@walcottav]

That's a beautiful machine; good luck and enjoy the ride!

[@dionowen6050]

Simon very much enjoy your videos. Jealous of your work space. I work as a professional comedian and bike mechanic. I do most of my tours via bike. I'll be in the UK starting in August hopefully get to join and your cycling club for a ride at some point!

[@murphykenji]

I don't have this kind of money, but I think I have a similar appreciation for steel bikes. The Schwinn I've been riding is a semi- compact geometry Reynolds 853 frame with a slightly sloping top tube. I added a 3T ergonova handlebar, Bontrager stem and Ponza saddle to make it feel less like a late 90's bike and I assembled it with a used Veloce 9 speed group and Campy wheels. Cost all in was about five hundred bucks.

[@solitaryrefinement6787]

Change the tape for one little logo? Sharpie it. Steel is now officially the connoisseurs' frame material. One has to be really mature as a cycling enthusiast to be willing to give up a pound or two in a build for a sublimely riding rig and at the end of the day, the more comfortable one is, the longer they can ride and the more enjoyable the experience is. I don't think I can ever ride carbon or aluminum again and titanium just doesn't have that "real" feel that steel has. Steel lets you feel the road while not being jarred by it. For me, it's "the" most connected feeling of all the modern materials out there.

[@gregdevins9372]

gorgeous bike - nice work!

[@ramblingimbecile2295]

Steel bikes are just beautiful and I actually prefer them being modernised like this. I'd love to have a go at doing a build but it's all the tools that I'd need to buy that would mean I'm better off just buying a new bike

[@robbchastain3036]

Or just meet in the middle--round up a steel frame and either paint it or have it done and then get the components and such and take everything to a local bike shop. And I agree, steel frames with modern wheels and components are gorgeous.

[@hnelke]

Great and beautiful 👍

[@barrybarnard836]

Freaking awesome, nothing compares with steel and Campagnolo, what an awesome bike, enjoy ❤

[@Daniel-yf9iy]

Beautiful build. Congratulations!

[@ben4373]

Beautifully done. The nicest riding bike I own is steel (a 1984 Basso Astra Columbus EL). I'd be interested to see the tyre clearance at the chainstays though, must be super tight (you didn't say what tyre width you'd chosen). I would have chosen Deda for the finishing kit but really can't fault your choices, looks superb; but what bottle cages will you use?! Thank you, great content.

[@SurpriseMeJT]

I've got a Gunnar Roadie made in Wisconsin and it's 1.6kg for the frame. I have never owned a carbon road bike. Only steel and titanium for me.

[@RenghisKhan]

Beautiful! If you're gonna put a bottle cage on it, I suggest the Lezyne Power Cage (black, naturally). I guess it depends on how far it is to the pub really....

[@wiggostheone5424]

Absolutely beautiful

[@AMehta-ok5pf]

Just stunning!

[@Superfly1503]

That looks amazing. Beautiful build. I’m doing something similar with an old aluminium frame I’ve had lying around. I’ll be using this as inspiration.

[@rangersmith4652]

Lovely bike! Your color scheme is gorgeous, and your choice to use up-to-date componentry makes sense. I've made a different choice with my 1980 Motobecane, opting to reuse the original cockpit, Shimano Altus groupset (retaining the downtube shifters, of course), and 27" Rigida aluminum wheels. It's getting resprayed in a non-original color but will get 95% original decals -- reproductions, but spot on aesthetically. I hope it turns out half as nice as this one.

[@barrymonaghan6593]

Roberts is still open. Younger brother Geoff now runs it.

[@rob-c.]

Yep. Had a steel frame repaired by him last year. Great service and a wealth of bikes to admire up on the walls.

[@attybong]

i always dreamed of building a roadbike like this .. nice one !!

[@jonburnell532]

That does look really beautiful 😍

[@thomashardbattle4287]

Wow the frame still looks modern for being 20 years l Old

[@richcrompton6891]

Absolutely stunning build

[@alistair410]

A thing of beauty.

[@jahseantenn4574]

Beautiful build🤩🤩🤩

[@marvinsmall5002]

Looks fantastic . .. I love Mercian with rim brakes. Steel looks far better.

[@carlrichards9333]

Roberts frames are some of the BEST steel frames made in the UK, there not easy to get hold of due to being now sort after, I bought "The Roughhstuff" frame back in 2007, its a Touring frame and to this day its as goid as it ever was, the craftsmanship is incredible and from a comfort point of view its second to none, Fantastic Frames

[@johnrozee2648]

have done similar with a 80's pinerello, but have kept the Ambrosio excellence wheels it came with. see you on the Sunday run

[@williamgalbraith3830]

Class job 👏👏👏👌🏻👌🏻

[@OM-sb2bd]

That is a gorgeous bike! I recently got a new steel Gunnar (made by Waterford) road bike with full Ultegra and some pretty decent HED wheels - loving it.

[@Maaaarrrryyyy]

Great product and company

[@Doty6String]

Gorgeous

[@cheronoliver6508]

Wow 🔥🔥🔥

[@AndrewGustyn]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful frame and build. What bottle cages are you planning on using?

[@andypettitt1344]

I’ve got a Roberts White Spider which I had custom built in 1990 from Columbus Max OR with its original Campagnolo MTB groupset.

[@michaellandman8419]

Gumwall tires makes it perfect

[@simonaspden1705]

I love red bikes!

[@fuzzi1002]

Very, very nice bike, I would choose a straight seatpost .....

[@nicholascowen]

looks amazing

[@manequito55]

That bike is stunningly beautiful. Great build and everything just looks very nice. I was wondering was width tires you used and how much clearance you actually ended up with front and rear.

[@simonsmythe7648]

Thank you - glad you like it! I used 25mm Corsas. There was plenty of clearance at the front; a bit tighter at the back but no danger of tyre rub. I have given the wheels back now 😢 so I’m sorry I can’t tell you exact measurements.

[@thomaseisen304]

Who cares if it is a bit heavier than a modern bicycle frame , the feel of driving it and it's durability´is way above what a carbon frame will give you so in my mind worth any penny you paid for it ! Beautiful paintjob btw ! I own an old Dawes Syntesis and just love how it rides. Have fun !!!

[@tommyclarke2007]

Beautiful job and presented like a zen master! I would like to get my old Carlton sprayed really well in its original colours - can you recommend a painter please & thanks

[@Bodkin_Ye_Pointy]

So I have an 80's bike sitting on the wall of my garage. I wondered why in Britain you guys are all about steel. The bike I have on the wall is Chrome Molybdian, obviously an alloy and a big thing in the 80's in Australia. It still has the stiffness of steel but a bit more shock absorbent I think.

[@CupraCorsa]

Can’t wait to turn my Merckx CorsaExtra into a build like this one

[@martinmagnago4330]

This has inspired me to restore my Roberts. I love the finish on your frame Simon, what are the colours used (RAL)?

[@simonsmythe7648]

Sorry for the late reply! I’ll ask Dave Crowe at Colour-Tech. Glad you like it 👍👍

[@russellbaker4256]

Beautiful setup. Probably would have gone for period correct Dura Ace or Record off eBay. Totally agree with the saddle rather than 3d printed with carbon rails _albeit lighter_

[@GhostYT_lat]

At 5:20 when you're presenting the bars to the camera and just sitting there with your elbows on your knees and your hands grasping the bars it looks like they are about 10 inches too wide. i mean it's obvious they are too wide (which is just preference I assume) but the margin is enormous. Two of you could squeeze side by side between those drops, lol!

[@ericthered1240]

Cool video

[@forimollabao]

Fantástica!!!

[@richardcarr6493]

BTW CAMPY ZONDA C17 WHEELS SHOULD WORK WELL HERE AT 1540g and fit the build !!