JOHN J

whats up everyone, I hope all is well

we have a scrap steel dumpster at work and Im always checking it out hoping some day ill find a bike or frame that fits me.

I have to be honest ive been searching high and low for a vintage touring frame in a 52 or 54 but no joy in 4 years. so Im close to ordering a custom frame just cuz the newer off the shelf frames dont work for me too well.

yesterday I found a centurion elite 12 bike in our metal dumpster it was in pretty good shape though some paint was gone and rust starting where some cable chafed.

it may be just a tad small for me but agin its in pretty good shape and the wheels dont look too bad either

top tube is 19" .

suntour shifters (cyclone??) down tube friction mounted on downtube not on each side

suntour FD

shimano 105 RD

diacompe single pivot side pulls , not a nice brake!!

im thinking this might be a nice SS project?? but perhaps change the brakes over to mayfac or wieman centerpulls for big tire /fender use.


I got excited when I saw the bike but its looks a bit small and not a touring frame (sigh) but hey it may turn out to be a fun ride.

funny ive found 6 decent good quality older bikes in recent times .

univega gran tourismo I was freaking out untill I stood next to frame it was a size 48 tiny tiny tiny drat drat drat!!! left it at the salvation army

Pugeout UO8 Not a great bike . its a 50 at best ,good condition I took it home but dont know what to do with it

low end lotus again a 48 or so left it at the good will shop

this centurion a 50 most likely Ill have to realy measure it tonight

ross proffesional again a 46 or 48 tiny tiny left it at dump frame only

low end panasonic again probably a 48 it was tiny. didnt take it

these bikes must have all belonged to kids , then the bikes get thrown out by the parents years later???

I just dont find any larger frames.

your thoughts please

have a great day

"John"

tolfan

if you find a smaller frame that is nice quolity you should grab it and put it up for trade. I just got a centurion elite a couple weeks ago. It seems to ride pritty good. Does yours have the mounting holes for fenders, mine dosent?heres a link to my thread, it has a good link to info.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/338647-centurion-elite-photos-ebay-price.html

John E

I realize this is a controversial opinion, but I would rather ride a frame that's a "tad" small than one that's slightly too large (been there ... done that with both scenarios). A long-reach handlebar stem and a long seatpost are you friends.

bikemore 

On frame size. There are frequent (well a few a month anyway) posts to Boston Craig's
List from women looking for bikes that will fit someone under 5'5". There are a lot more
57 then 50s in my experience.

I going to Syracuse this weekend, I would be interested in the small frames for flipping, but
I already have too many that I haven't gotten too. I even have a few 57's I could trade.

JSChance

I agree that most of the frames found are on the small end of the spectrum. I had a nice aluminum mountain bike frame (identity unknown) given to me last summer, but it was too small so I passed it to a fellow biker here at work.

East Hill

Just remember that there are short women out there, not just kids! I'm one of those short women, and you could have flipped those bikes to someone like me for $100 and upwards. Easily...

And for the record, 48cm is not 'tiny tiny tiny', it's just 'tiny' .

East Hill

JOHN J

well it seemed Tiny tiny tiny to me esp the handlbars on these smaller frames , I ride 48s (im a clyde) but Im sorry ill just say small.

Ive posted again on this centurion it my be larger than I think.

ill try to make a point to grab smaller vintage bikes when I see them and make availible somehow. as mentioned I seem to come across 46 48 and 50s most of the time.

have a great day

thank you for the reply

"John"

East Hill

hehehe, I'm just teasing about the 'tiny'. Even I call my bikes tiny .

One of my favourite photos:



My husband's Schwinn LeTour and my (tiny) Centurion Dave Scott.

There is a market for those smaller bikes, trust me .

East Hill

comoto

I need one (a 48)for my son they are hard to come by........
Did find a motobecane super touring that is my daughters size (but shes 5'6")
leaning outside on a telephone pole with the grass mowed around it that was about 10" high.
Even the tires were good and held air! We cleaned it up and it looks as good as my other moto.
The first one ive seen with a triple front chainring.....