mtnbke

Orange bikes and Sachs New Success shifters? Groovy.

How come you refer to your shifters as ARIS? Wasn't ARIS just the Sachs acronym for Advanced Rider Indexed System? I mean we don't refer to a Shimano shifter as an S.I.S. shifter we'd usually just call it say an Ultegra 9-speed, or 6500 shifter. I don't think I've ever seen anyone refer to New Success shifters as ARIS. My understanding is that there were different group levels within the Sachs hierarchy, after the ARIS indexing changes, with New Success being above Rival. I love the use of the New Success shifters. Sachs New Success is some of my favorite kit.

Now that I'm learned up on Centurion, I think the most beautiful bike with bang for the buck in mind is the mob of orange Centurion bikes that can be found on craigslist. Beautiful paint and nice chroming. Usually can be found in immaculate condition considering almost every LBS back in the day (and many today) don't bother to properly fit the customer, and the bikes left them with aching wrists, necks, backs, etc. as the size and fit were usually just all wrong (but was already built up!). Its astounding how many of these are in nearly perfect condition for stupid cheap.

It may sound insane, but I'll put a nice condition orange Centurion Lemans or Super Lemans up against a Joe Bell or Rivendell anyway. They are just gorgeous in my mind. Good solid epic bikes from the hey day of "peak Japan." Only with a US nameplate. I still sometimes wonder whether Dorel actually owns the rights to the Centurion brand or just DiamondBack. I wonder if they'll ever try to revive it if they do own the rights.

Its interesting to me that you managed to top the Orange Centurions and did it on a $250 budget for your respray and decals. Thank you for sharing the Manassas shop that did this for you. I think they'll be getting some business from many of us relatively soon. That is just a beautiful bike.

As for the Conti Contact tyres I'm a HUGE fan of the old Top Touring 2000 tires that you used to able to get that were handmade in Germany with the gum walls. Down to my last sets now, and they admittedly are starting to dry rot (actually long ago) enough to spook me. I love the Conti Top Contact II, TourRide, Touring Plus, Contact II, etc. and they are my default go to tire depending on whether I need a stronger sidewall for the tandem or the touring bike, or want a faster tire. I almost never build a bike with slicks almost always building up bikes with a Conti touring tyre. The maddening thing about Conti to me is that they don't offer their touring tyres in a 700-35 offering. They jump from 28 to 32 then 37, then 42 and 47 with no 35 offering. I know they make their 'cross tyres in 35 why not touring tyres? I was so frustrated on a recent tandem build that I couldn't use a 37 Conti because there wasn't enough chain stay clearance with the Velocity Chukker rim I was using. Instead of just moving down from a 37 to a 35 I'd have to fall all the way to a 32 if I wanted to stay with Contis. Schwalbe, Panaracer, and seemingly every other touring tire maker offers 700-35s. Sadly I don't have a Conti on the rear of the tandem anymore. Which makes my eye twitch. May just go to 32s even though I know better. Don't let anyone tell you they don't like the Contis on your bike. That's a bike to ride, not a race day queen.

Like most people I love your build. I hate the Flite saddle, that looks like it will make your willy go numb, but other than that a beautiful bike. I'd change the saddle, stretch the frame to my size, and maybe change the calipers to something more modern that would stop a little better, but beyond that I LOVE the build. Orange plus New Success shifters, is enough to get my attention.

Would you post a walkthrough of what you did post paint to put the decals on the bike? Did you send it back for a clear coat after applying all the decals?

Gorgeous bike. Just truly a gorgeous bike.