Commuting - Old "Le Monde Centurian" road bike

My uncle has an old Le monde Centurian road bike which he bought 25- or 30 years ago.(he isn't entirely sure) At any rate, it is equipped with a ten speed drive train, Sun Tour components, center pull brakes, steel rims, and a quick release on the front wheel. He has not changed anything more than the tires the entire time he has owned it. He rode it a lot for a few years but has not been on it for fifteen years. He offered it to me if I want it. It is very fast and responsive but difficult and painfull for me to ride due to it's dropped handlebars and my bad back:( I was wondering if any one is familiar with this bike. It seems to be pretty solid and well made. The frame is especially interesting, there are no welded joints. The steel tubing is fitted into sockets and brazed. I dont know if this is good, bad, or just the way bikes were built back then. Any way, I was thinking of "hybridizing" it by adding a flat bar, new aluminum rims, triple front chainrings, and a 9 speed cassette in the rear(if all that is even possible). Would I be destroying a classic, or just wasting my money? Any one have an opinion on the subject?

I had a Centurion Lemonde in the late 80's, grey with pink lettering. I had bought it used and I suppose it was probably about 10 years old at the time. I don't know if the bike is considered a classic, but it defintely is a solid bike. If the frame fits you, you should go ahead and fix it as you see fit. If the used parts are in good condition you might as well hang on to them in case you want them in the future.

Good luck!

I own one of these fine beasts at present. As it was much more of a road bike than my mtn bike and I saw it hanging for a song in the local bike junkyard (fully original parts). I bought it. I have put about 1300 miles on it since I bought it a few years back and the only thing I have done is change out the back wheel with a quick release, and put new tires on it. I am contemplating changing it up to a 7 or 9 speed as there is a hill near my house that about breaks my knees under the present gearing (luckily it is not on my commute route). I have hit pretty chuncky potholes on it and not being a light guy (190 pds) with 20 pound backpack on was amazed that everything held together fine. Glad to finally get some idea of how old the thing is. I was thinking early 80s but now realize it is a little older than that! I have taken it on 70 mile rides with the original saddle but ended up getting a new one as the old one was pretty hard and unforgiving. I figure I will ride it until it dies. I am contemplating a seatpost Pannier rack for it to get the pack off my back. The biopace chainrings on mine are a little funny when I stand up on it, but other than that I have no problems.