HOW WE WORK Our aim is a very simple one - it's to build you a perfect bicycle. Because we are a firm of custom builders, that's something we can actually do. We are also committed to ensuring that the quality of our work isn't compromised by taking short cuts. There is no "production line" at Roberts Cycles. We build our framesets by hand, without compromise and we don't deal in half-measures. Our output is limited to a small number of custom-designed frames per month. With every customer, we establish exactly what he or she wants to use the bike for. For example, it's not simply a choice between racing or touring or mountain biking, but a broad palette of combinations and variations - so it comes as no surprise that our Audax range is so popular, with its blend of looks, performance, comfort and load-carrying capability. Once we've established what kind of riding you do or plan to do we can advise on model design, type of tubing and components. The next stage is to discuss and fine-tune the details with you, the rider, and produce a final specification that we build to. For Roberts Cycles, sizing is not a choice between set frame sizes, but a matter of suiting the bicycle to the rider. We also recommend and can fit components - such as short cranks, narrow bars etc - that are correctly sized for you MATERIAL Steel is our preferred choice for bicycle frames. It's a material with a long history, with well-understood characteristics. Yet it continues to evolve to this day. Better alloys are introduced, ever-finer tolerances become standard and new ways to treat the finished tubing are found. To put it simply, steel just keeps on getting lighter, stronger and more durable. Apart from its historical association with bicycle frames, there are other advantages to working with steel. There is an element of craftsmanship involved that is rarely seen in aluminium, titanium or carbon fibre frame production. Much of this can be attributed to the welding and joining techniques used for steel tubes. Each of our frames is, in essence, a handbuilt work of art. The number of frame tubing options available and our experience of using them to build frames to suit individual riders means that the precise fit and level of comfort achieved with our steel frames is second to none. The more demanding the ride, the better the bike will feel. Every one of our frames is built to last. Steel is a durable material that can be repaired easily. A bent or otherwise damaged frame tube can be replaced with a minimum of fuss (even in far-flung places where getting other frame materials repaired is impossible). TUBES AND WELDING We use tubes from all the best manufacturers of steel bicycle tubing, particularly Reynolds and Columbus. Some tubes are made to our own specifications. Chas rarely builds a bike from a single stock tubeset, preferring to mix and match to more closely meet the rider's needs.  That can mean mixing sets from different manufacturers, such as Tange and Dedacciai. The standard Reynolds 725 tubeset may be too fragile for a heavy rider who wants to carry lots of luggage, or unnecessarily robust for a small, light rider. When you come to Roberts, we offer the flexibility to build exactly the bike you need. All our models from the most to the least expensive, receive the same attention to detail and workmanship. Both lugged and lugless welding (fillet brazing) are excellent methods of building, producing fine, durable frames. Two otherwise identical frames built in the two different ways will not show much, if any, difference in performance, but they will look different. Lugs can be streamlined and minimalist, but they are more often decorative and ornate, showing off the builder's craft as well as allowing for detailed contrasting paint work. Using lugs to join the tubes is the classic way of building a quality steel frame and we've been doing it for a long time. Fillet-brazing is a more difficult technique but it offers much more flexibility in design. The builder is not restricted to the specific angles dictated by using lugs, and can create sloping top tubes, extended head tubes, sharp angles and so on. It's important to fillet-braze frames meticulously and accurately, both for the sake of strength and appearance. At Roberts, we probably have more experience of lugless frame building than anyone else in Britain. It's what a restaurant would call the house speciality. For the record, TIG welding is one thing we don't do. If you want to know more about brazing and welding, take a look at our FAQ. The price of a Roberts includes what you don't see as well as what you do. A nice coat of paint can cover-up a badly built frame. We've seen some of them - they turn up at our workshop for repair. At Roberts we are proud of our longstanding reputation for building immaculate bikes. We use only use top-quality tubing, we braze at the right temperatures, we file accurately and we finish the job with a fanatical attention to detail. When you're speeding down a mountain road, loaded with luggage, and you hit a pothole, those invisible details can make the difference between a successful holiday and an early flight back. MODELS Every bicycle we build is unique. Product pages on this site simply show a selection of the various styles of bicycles we can offer, and give some idea of the thinking behind them, highlighting the interesting and important details of each (and there are close-ups for the anoraks out there!). As for angles and tube lengths, gauges and brands, you'll notice that we don't provide exact details alongside each model. That's because Roberts Cycles is a custom builder and every customer is treated as an individual. So, while one of our Audax bikes may be built with parallel angles and Reynolds 725 tubes, the next one may require a steep seat angle and a lighter gauge of tubing. We'll even combine lugs and fillet-brazing in one frame where it's the best choice. Our only rule is that we build what we consider to be the most suitable bike for each customer. If you are interested in ordering one of our bicycles, please take a look at a few examples of what we do and get in touch to talk through the details or arrange a fitting. Or if you want to know more about our women's bikes, click here.