Back on the Road: Navigating New Turns at Roberts Customs
Hello, and welcome back to all our followers! After a short pause in our journey—a time filled with reflection and recalibration—we're thrilled to reconnect with you. It's been a season of learning, tinkering, and, yes, facing a few challenges head-on, especially when it came to keeping our bikes in top shape. The road hasn't always been smooth, but it's been enlightening, guiding us towards a significant shift in how we approach bike building and maintenance.
Our adventures with daily riders have taught us invaluable lessons, not just about mechanics but about the essence of cycling itself. The trials faced with our Cannondale and Hackney Cycles bikes have led us to a pivotal realization: sometimes, simplicity isn't just an option; it's the key to reliability and joy in riding. This revelation has inspired us to embrace a new direction at Roberts Customs—focusing on crafting bikes that are as steadfast as they are stylish, minimizing complexity to maximize your riding pleasure.
The Path to Minimalism: Embracing Single-Speed
A Fresh Perspective After a Brief Respite
After a period of quiet, we're thrilled to reignite the conversation, especially to discuss a topic that's close to our hearts and wrenches. The past months have not only been a time of reflection but a period riddled with challenges, particularly in maintaining our cherished two-wheeled companions. These hurdles have not only tested our resolve but have ultimately guided us towards a simpler, more fulfilling path in bike building and riding.
Navigating the Maintenance Maze
Our journey into the realm of simplicity began with two bikes that have served as our loyal daily drivers: the Cannondale Bad Boy and a Hackney Cycles Chinese fixed-gear. The Cannondale, acquired as a stellar deal from a ride-to-work scheme, initially promised endless urban adventures. However, the reality of frequent rides unveiled a cascade of maintenance challenges. From brakes to gears and finally, a bottom bracket that bid farewell, the complexity of its upkeep soon overshadowed the joy of riding.
Parallelly, the Hackney Cycles bike, with its sleek single-speed design, painted a starkly different picture. Despite its humble beginnings and the initial scepticism about its durability, it emerged as the stalwart of reliability. Minor upgrades and routine maintenance kept it rolling smoothly, starkly contrasting the high-maintenance saga of the Cannondale.
The Shift to Simplification
Faced with these contrasting experiences, the decision to pivot towards simpler, single-speed bikes crystallized. The allure of minimalistic builds, characterized by their reliability and reduced need for maintenance, became increasingly apparent. This evolution in our approach is more than a trend; it's a testament to the belief that the essence of cycling joy lies in simplicity and reliability, not in the complexity of mechanisms.
Our commitment to this philosophy is not just about reducing workshop hours. It's about fostering a biking experience that's accessible, enjoyable, and, most importantly, sustainable for cyclists navigating the urban landscape. The journey to embracing minimalism in our builds is a reflection of our learning and an invitation to our community to explore the less trodden path of simplicity in cycling.
In this shift, we see not just a solution to the maintenance ordeal but a doorway to rediscovering the pure, unadulterated joy of cycling.
Behind the Scenes: Maintenance Woes
The Cannondale Saga: A Rough Ride
Our journey into simpler bike builds didn't start out of sheer preference but rather necessity, stemming from an illuminating experience with a Cannondale Bad Boy. Purchased in late 2019 for a steal, thanks to a government ride-to-work scheme, this bike was envisioned as a reliable daily driver. Pristine at first glance and barely ridden by its previous owner, it seemed like the deal of the century. The reality, however, quickly unfolded. Riding about 5 miles daily exposed every vulnerability, from failing brakes to a disintegrating gear system, culminating in the bottom bracket's dramatic departure. After a 10-month, £400 service ordeal, primarily due to parts scarcity, the Cannondale saga was a lesson in the pitfalls of complex systems.
Hackney Cycles: An Unexpected Workhorse
In contrast, the Hackney Cycles Chinese fixed gear bike, a stopgap solution acquired for £200 during the Cannondale's downtime, narrated a different tale. Despite its initial flimsy feel and the expected brevity of its service, this bike defied odds. Simple replacements like brake cables and tire upgrades kept it rolling far beyond expectations. This experience was not just a testament to the bike's surprising resilience but also to the virtues of simplicity. It highlighted a truth we were ready to embrace: complexity isn't always synonymous with quality, and sometimes, less is indeed more.
Embracing Simplicity
These experiences underscored a critical realization for us at Roberts Customs. The allure of high-end, feature-packed bikes is undeniable, but so is the appeal of simplicity, reliability, and ease of maintenance that comes with single-speed bikes. Our journey with the Cannondale and Hackney Cycles illuminated the path to this simplicity, steering us away from the maintenance woes of more complex builds. It's a direction that not only promises a smoother ride for us but also aligns with our vision of crafting bikes that stand the test of time and the rigors of daily use.
Through these stories, our commitment to building bikes that blend style, functionality, and durability has only deepened. The shift towards simpler, single-speed builds is not just a response to past challenges but a proactive step towards a future where every ride is as dependable as it is enjoyable. As we continue to share our journey, we invite you to join us in celebrating the beauty of simplicity on two wheels.
The Philosophy of Simplicity
In the bustling urban landscapes, where every street corner presents a new challenge and every mile is a testament to endurance, the philosophy of simplicity in cycling is not merely a choice; it becomes a necessity. At Roberts Customs, our pivot towards single-speed bikes and minimalistic builds stems from a deep understanding of urban cyclists' needs, challenges, and desires for a seamless ride.
Embracing Minimalism on Two Wheels
The allure of single-speed bikes lies in their straightforwardness—a direct connection between the rider and the road, unencumbered by the complexities that often accompany multi-geared counterparts. This minimalism is a response to the urban cyclist's plight: navigating through tight spaces, stopping at frequent intervals, and maintaining speed in a constantly changing environment. In this context, simplicity equates to efficiency, making single-speed bikes an indispensable tool for the urban rider.
The Unseen Benefits of Less
Beyond the evident ease of use, single-speed bikes offer a constellation of benefits that underscore their necessity. The first among these is the significant reduction in maintenance. Without the intricacies of derailleurs, shifters, and multiple cogs, the opportunities for mechanical failure diminish, leading to a more reliable ride. This reliability translates into peace of mind for cyclists, who can focus on the joy of their journey rather than the worry of an untimely breakdown.
Moreover, the simplicity of these builds enhances the overall riding experience. There's a unique joy in mastering the rhythm of a single-speed bike, in learning to use one's own capabilities to conquer hills and distances without relying on mechanical aid. This connection to the bike, and through it, to the urban landscape, transforms cycling from a mere mode of transportation into a deeply personal experience.
A Nod to Sustainability
In a world increasingly conscious of sustainability, the choice of simpler, more durable bikes resonates with a broader movement towards mindful consumption. By opting for bikes that last longer and require fewer replacements and repairs, we contribute to a culture of sustainability that values quality over quantity, and longevity over fleeting convenience.
Learning and Adapting at Roberts Customs
Our journey through the world of bike maintenance and the pivot toward simpler bike designs has been a profound learning experience for everyone at Roberts Customs. These adventures on two wheels have not only shaped our bikes but also the very ethos of our workshop practices.
Embracing a Culture of Continuous Learning
The transition to focusing on single-speed bikes and tackling the intricacies of bike maintenance in-house was born from necessity but has flourished into a philosophy of continuous learning and adaptation. Each challenge encountered with our daily drivers has become a lesson in resilience, pushing us to expand our knowledge and skill set. This evolution has led us to dive deeper into areas previously unexplored by our team, such as the meticulous world of disc brake maintenance.
DIY Repairs: A Path to Self-Sufficiency
The allure of DIY repairs has become increasingly apparent, driven by the desire for greater self-sufficiency and the satisfaction of hands-on problem solving. Our experiences with the Cannondale Bad Boy and the Hackney Cycles fixed gear highlighted the limitations of relying solely on external services for maintenance. Consequently, we've invested in building our capabilities, from basic tire changes to more complex brake system overhauls.
This commitment to DIY not only enhances our understanding of the bikes we build and ride but also empowers us to share these insights with our community. By demystifying bike maintenance, we aim to encourage more riders to embrace the rewarding practice of caring for their bikes, fostering a culture of independence and confidence within the cycling community.
Adapting to Change: A New Workshop Ethos
The lessons learned from our maintenance challenges have led to a significant shift in our workshop practices. We now prioritize flexibility, preparedness, and a proactive approach to maintenance, viewing each repair not as a setback but as an opportunity for growth. This shift has inspired us to revaluate our tools, techniques, and even the layout of our workshop to better serve the needs of our bikes and our community.
Our journey of learning and adapting is ongoing, with each bike build and repair adding to our collective knowledge. At Roberts Customs, we're dedicated to not just keeping pace with the evolving world of cycling but staying ahead of the curve, ready to tackle whatever challenges come our way with confidence and expertise.
Through this commitment to learning, adaptation, and DIY ethos, we're not just building bikes; we're building a community of knowledgeable, self-sufficient cyclists, united by our shared passion for the simple joy of riding.
Embracing the Road Ahead with Simplified Design
As we turn the page on the complexities of the past, Roberts Customs looks forward with renewed vigour and a focused vision for the future. The journey through maintenance challenges and the realization of the inherent value in simplicity have not only reshaped our approach to bike building but have also set a new course for our community's cycling experience.
The Simplicity Renaissance
Our dedicated pivot towards simpler bike builds marks the beginning of what we might call a 'Simplicity Renaissance' in urban cycling. This move, inspired by the resilience and reliability of single-speed bikes, promises a future where the joy of cycling is unhampered by the frequent need for repairs and adjustments. It's a future we're excited to help shape—one pedal stroke at a time.
A Workshop Evolution
These experiences have not just influenced our design philosophy; they have revolutionized our workshop practices. At Roberts Customs, we're embracing a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. From mastering the intricacies of disc brake maintenance to promoting DIY repairs, our aim is to empower both our team and our community with the skills and confidence to maintain their rides efficiently. This commitment to skill development and self-sufficiency is at the heart of our mission to support a more resilient cycling community.
Stay Tuned for What’s Next
The road ahead is paved with exciting projects, insightful maintenance tips, and vibrant community highlights—all centred around the ethos of simplicity. We invite you to stay engaged, share your experiences, and grow with us as we explore the endless possibilities that come with embracing the simple yet profound joys of cycling.
Keep an eye on our updates, join our workshops, and be part of the conversations that drive us forward. Together, let's redefine what it means to be part of the urban cycling community. Here's to a future filled with rides that are as straightforward as they are enjoyable. Stay tuned to Roberts Customs—where simplicity meets the road.
Comments