Classic & Vintage - February and Me. With touring bikes! (cdale, fuji, centurion)

I have been looking for a good loaded tourer for some time, mostly just for interest.
I started collecting some french touring bits in hopes of getting or making a good frame for them.
However the market was awash with classic tourers.
I had a live in with a mint condition 89 cannondale ST1000 but I just could make it work. Frame was too small.
Then I found a Fuji Touring series IV on CL! In MY SIZE!!
but after communications wit the seller he would not budge on the price. It looks great but I dont have $600 to spend here.
Low and behold my waiting paid off in the form of a cheap-as-chips centurion Elite GT
I waited for some portland sunshine to start falling and hoofed it 12 miles out and 12 miles back to grab this thing. Pretty happy with it, only needs minor work, mostly a tear-down and rebuild with new cables.
You want a picture right?
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_eyxn8SPSTwU/TV8T-2slcLI/AAAAAAAAAW4/WywGSrOjYUQ/s640/IMG_20110218_122328.jpg

I know what you are saying to yourself....
Why is the fountain on in the middle of rainy February?
I dont have a straight answer to that.

I know what you are saying to yourself....
Why is the fountain on in the middle of rainy February?
I dont have a straight answer to that.


Because it's Portland...

It's supposed to be sunny this weekend. Right down around freezing Sunday morning, too.

Are you carrying wheels off the drops?

It looks like he's got the wheels on the lowrider racks on the tow bike, pretty darned clever! Congrats on the score PDXaero!

I'll be following this thread closely to see what you do with it. I too just picked up a Centurion Elite GT from another BF member. He is from Alaska, but the bike was originally from Northern California from the bike shop sticker.

I was going to build a tourer with it, but I think I will end up swapping the parts from my too small cross bike to it.

Keep posting pictures of your progress.

Because it's Portland...

It's supposed to be sunny this weekend. Right down around freezing Sunday morning, too.
Figures, I'm doing the jack frost TT Sunday morning.

Are you carrying wheels off the drops?
Sprint wheel carriers! I don't know why no ones made them in the last 50 years.

A little progress, cables, cleaning, greasing.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_eyxn8SPSTwU/TWA1Djz44FI/AAAAAAAAAXU/bpslkX1T1Vs/s640/IMG_20110219_131058.jpg
Rear wheel it came with was not original so I swapped in some MA40/mavic 550s. Also some mavic pedals.
cleaned up a suntour perfect FW about to go on.
Not sure I like the symmetric shifters. May switch to bar ends.
Also, pretty sure i would like to get the original mountech mechs.

I guess no one is as excited as I am.
Built up, tempoary tires, front rack, bottle cages, bartape.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-37SuPx6TXlI/TWN0iF8JTYI/AAAAAAAAAYc/-7tvusOkW-M/s1024/IMG_20110221_163817.jpg
Black tires or gumwalls?

Looks good man! I have no constructive input on the tire selection. I think it'd look equally good with either skinwalls or blackwalls. I dig the lowrider setup that you have on your "tow" bike! Very cool

I guess no one is as excited as I am.


i cant find a nice proper touring frame in my size locally. im feeling jealous more than excited.

Sweet bike. I'd keep the Deore DX derailleurs on it since they are solid performers... I've been half heartedly looking for something similar.

IMO, gumwall or skinwall tires would look best. I really like this bike and also keep an eye out for something similar.

Are those deep drop bars or just an illusion?

It looks like he's got the wheels on the lowrider racks on the tow bike, pretty darned clever! Congrats on the score PDXaero!

I've seen that method on a French touring bike before, only they spares are not mounted to any rack - two angled bars run from the main axle to the axles of the spares. A toe strap or other suitable device holds them upright, on the drops.

-Kurt

Are the Mavic's 27" or 700 ? If 700's did you have any problem lining up the canti's?

I tried a set of temporary 700 wheels on mine with temporary Shimano Alivio brakes and it looks like they will match up with out any problems. The pads end up at the very bottom of the mounting hole though.

Sweet bike. I'd keep the Deore DX derailleurs on it since they are solid performers... I've been half heartedly looking for something similar.
I probably will. not sure that the mountechs would handle this range. Also not sure i need this much range. 50/40/28F 13-32R
Looks good man! I have no constructive input on the tire selection. I think it'd look equally good with either skinwalls or blackwalls. I dig the lowrider setup that you have on your "tow" bike! Very cool
better illustration of the sprint wheel cariers
http://oi51.tinypic.com/al1cg4.jpg

Are the Mavic's 27" or 700 ? If 700's did you have any problem lining up the canti's?

I tried a set of temporary 700 wheels on mine with temporary Shimano Alivio brakes and it looks like they will match up with out any problems. The pads end up at the very bottom of the mounting hole though.
They are 700s and they fit great with the dia-compe cantis. the rear actually lines up better than the old 27"

I guess no one is as excited as I am.
Built up, tempoary tires, front rack, bottle cages, bartape.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-37SuPx6TXlI/TWN0iF8JTYI/AAAAAAAAAYc/-7tvusOkW-M/s1024/IMG_20110221_163817.jpg
Black tires or gumwalls?

Considering what gumwalls will look like after a few PDX rides, what does it matter? ;-)

SP
Bend, OR

Ah, now I understand how the wheel carriers work, thanks for the detail shot. I might have to make a set for my bulk trash night scavenging sessions...

I'm still a little unclear on the wheel carriers.

The bike looks nice, something similar is one my watch list as well.

If you plan to ride it up to Mt. Hood or do a Three Sisters loop fully loaded then you might want to keep that gear range.

(Note for those wondering about the Three Sisters: that is in reference to three mountains in Oregon nicknamed The Three Sisters. I was not suggesting he find 3 sisters to go visit. But then I do have 3 younger sisters in Washington so technically I guess I could plan out a longer route to visit my 3 sisters and to go see The Three Sisters. Hmmm, plans for retirement if I'm ever able to retire. Okay, I've meandered enough within these parentheses so back to the thread. ) {and all said yeah**

Late to the party here dude, great scores and the Elite looks great!

You know I envy you being able to live car free...my job unfortunately prevents that. However, one of these days maybe I'll get a job closer to home AND that doesn't require driving from 3-5 clients a day. :(

Nice scores...and yeah, turn off that fountain! :)