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After much arsing around, other priorities and yet more delaying, I finally have got around getting my DOGSBOLX frame repaired and restored back to it's former glory. It was purchased in 1993 so approaching 25 years old and was an SE version with a production run of just 10 frames using lighter tubing than the standard frame. It developed a crack in the top tube around 8 years ago and by the time I got around to thinking about getting it sorted out, Chas Roberts had taken his sabbatical to France and I was left to ponder alternative options.
Fast forward to last last year and I heard that Chas' brother, Geoff, was still frame building and doing repairs down in Sussex. A good chat later and the plan was to swap out the top tube was to be swapped out and paint the frame with the original Roberts graphics. It also turns out that Geoff would have built my SE frame back in Croydon at Roberts Cycles.
The frame is all done and I'll be collecting in a few weeks after Easter and will start building it back up to use mainly on the road and some light off road. Geoff kindly sent over a couple of photo's of the finished frame.
https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/15721472/
https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/15721473/
Sounds great - a mate has one. Can't see the pics though
Yeah, the attach image on here sucks.
Nice idea, like that fact that you are the only owner..
Lookng forward to seeing the pics.. the URL doesn’t work..
Links should be working at least. Will figure out the insert image later on. Would be easier if it let me edit the source code.
Lovely stuff, always wanted a classic bollox. Get it up on retrobike!
The links work now..
Thats a work of Art right there..
🤩
I must say, that looks fabulous. A nice touch that the original builder has carried out the repair.
The images didn't appear because you didn't link to an actual image 🙄
That looks lovely!
Stunning
That looks bloody lovely.
Very nice. I do like a wishbone. The geo looks suitably 90s too.
Nice, these have always been very handsome frames indeed.
That is lovely! Very jealous
I had a Chas Roberts Genesis ( so below the Bogsbolx). I hated it !
To much like a road bike, too big, and paint that chipped when the rain fell.
It cost me 600 quid in 1990... I rode it for 5 years as I was too embarrassed to confess ....
The only thing better than those pics of it restored is the great story of the frame and it's history go with it.
You'll never get rid of that will you? It's a keeper. 😃
I love that.
Sublime! Now make sure you ride it to within an inch of it's (and your) life. Don't just hang it on a wall and stare at it...
Outstanding.
Seriously............!
if that's an 18" (or 19"?!) then please give me first refusal if EVER you decide to sell.
I have my 1988 now rather rusty White Spider frame still. Don't think I'll ever get round to doing anything with it but I'll not get rid of it.
There was one for sale on Retrobike but I just looked and it's sold.
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=379327
Thats loverly.
One of the bikes that were "the perfect bike". Fantastic to see one restored to former glory.
I don’t often get bike envy but I am now. as I’ve had and still have some nice things but growing up that was one of those thing I lusty after but could never hope to have.
But as above ride it , it not just for looking at
cant see my current fullsus or race bike lasting as long as that
It will be ridden. I'm selling off my Trek Procaliber to make sure the Roberts now covers all Hardtail duties. I'll have to be a little careful with it as it was made for me with my 18 year old 9.5st race weight at the time. Now my playing weight for Rugby is 13.5st so I'm conscious of that. Being fully rigid is going to naturally hold back speed on trails a little anyway.
Thanks to all the comments so far. Looking forwards to building this up and documenting its progress along the way.
A couple of small parts came in today that I wanted to get in ASAP due to availability diminishing.
Ritchey Logic 1" Headset
BBB 580mm Handlebar
The Handlebar won't be a keeper long term but will do for getting the bike built and riding if nothing more appropriate becomes available in the meantime. If anyone is selling a black Bontrager (Titec) or Ritchey Handlebar in decent condition then I would be really interested for this build.
Slowly getting a few parts into the frame. Headset is now installed and the fork is now a part of the bike again! Got hold of a Ritchey WCS Seatpost so I can now safely have the frame setup in a workstand. Next job is to rub down the paint on the quill end of the stem with some emery paper or cloth after from the respray so it will pop into the fork and get the handlebar attached.
After this I'll take a pause for thought and decide which way to go on gearing and then on wheels. Still tempted by modernising so I will offer up a GXP Crank into the shell and get a feel for how that is in terms of clearance, chainline, Q Factor, and go from there.
Middle burn rs7 or rs8 and a taper B.B.
works well lasts ages and looks right
Build complete!
Maiden voyage today for the first time in 8 odd years with a short road loop I do over lunchtime. Really impressed by how well it rides and my average speed was the same as the Trek Procaliber I sold off to make way for the Roberts. Having exclusively ridden carbon and aluminium frames over the past few years, it's easy to forget how compliant a good steel frame can be. I will also need a bigger chainring than the 36t installed as was spinning out easily on descents.
Err, wow. So much hope, so much disappointment, you appear to have made a wonderful looking frame into a shocking looking bike, fair play.
I mean, that chainset? Get something silver and skinny, a Middleburn perhaps. And a silver rear mech too, maybe some NOS XTR from SJS. And those pedals, some PDM 747's would be perfect.
Sorry, I'm sure it's lovely and means to world to you, but that's not the right build IMO.
That's a bit harsh, I like your Bolx just the way they are. Always wanted a Yates D.o.n.k.i.s.N.o.b. myself
nice!
Just perfect!
Well done - great bike.
Great looking frame... screaming out for some retro cranks or at least some middleburns.. skinwall tyres and low front end! Pedals :-/
loving the history behind it!!
The pedals are just for a quick pedal to the local shops. For riding I chuck on SPDs. Finding a handlebar is a bit sof a pain as I'd like a Ritchey or Bontrager but most come too narrow for me and tend not to have the combination of angle and up sweep which you only tend to find with a riser. Ultimately I want to be comfortable on the bike.
i was talking with BETD about getting hold of some original middleburn cranks but that didn't work out in the end. RS8 cranks were an option but for the cost and faff it was cheaper to go with the XO option. The plan is to keep an eye out for some black Cooks Cranks like I used to have on this bike years ago and the XO's can go on my Bird AM9.