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Low Budget Centurion LeMans Build
The JYL Casa is crowded. We have living with us not one but two Young People Not Our Children. One, who we'll call "Z", is my daughter's good friend, a fifth-year architecture student, and all-around good guy. Z has a bike. Its not a fancy bike. It is an old college-beater Centurion LeMans, missing its rear wheel thanks to thieves, and fairly trashed out, but he loves his bike. So . . .
We have stripped the bike and Z is looking for a powder coater. He plans a black retroreflective scheme - stealth but safe - and might do some lug lining with a gold paint pen. Components-wise, I'll go to the local bike co-op and find him a pair of matching wheels. I haven't checked if the bike has or will take 700C rims, hopefully either or both. We'll leave the spacing at 120 mm and keep the current drivetrain and almost everything else, because student budget. He is talking about moving the aero shifters to the stem, but I'm going to talk him into splurging on some bar-end shifters. The existing fenders are fairly icky plastic items, hopefully some nicer fenders will turn up at the co-op. Cyclomundo has the decals in black/gold, that will look nice on the black frame CYCLOMONDO - CENTURION The purpose of the bike will be urban runabout, student transport, with some recreational JRA. With that background, any thoughts or suggestions? |
1984-27"
1987-700c if it had aero shifters on top of the down tube, 1984 era and 27" and Suntour LePree If he goes bar-ends, I have the down tube cable stops. Go grey on the powder, coats better and less theft-prone. |
Porteur bars would be nice. For shifters, bar ends would be good; a nice pair of thumbies,eg Deore would also work well if he goes with upright bars. Depending on terrain, a 1x drivetrain might be sufficient for the intended use. |
Just a thought.
Get the powdercoating as it will protect the bike frame. But if you add those decals you will have a shiny, new looking ride wearing shiny new decals. If you are concerned about thieves, don't add the decals right away (you said he's in year 5 so he can can probably wait till he's out of school to add them). Thieves use the internet just like everyone else. Centurion is a name they can Google and see re-sale prices. Without decals it will be just another old steel bike (albiet with nice paint) but the resale value should be far lower than if it had the name on it and maybe they will walk on by. Meanwhile he can enjoy it. |
yeah, just use silver paint stick to write centurion le mans on it so no one forgets! otherwise in 5 years there will be a thread: "what I have a just bought?"
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Thanks everyone.
I have the usual supply of beater bikes in the garage, and may press one of those on him for daily (nightly) use should this Centurion Le Mans turn out too nice. I don't know much about the Centurion brand, how desirable they are, etc. Yes, bike theft is a real problem here. I ride to work by some homeless camps and always see shiny new carbon fiber bikes among the tents. However, using a U-lock and some common sense, I've never had a bike stolen in Portland - in fact, I've never had a bike stolen in my life, although I've had stuff stolen off my bike/from the saddlebag. |
Frame stickers are way overpriced and really not worth the cost. Anyhow, once it's repainted it no longer has it's original identity. It begins a new life as a generic classic build.
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I like the sound of shiny gloss black and gold cals and gold lug striping . If you are wanting to save money why not just rattle can it ? Also VO has these on sale .
https://velo-orange.com/products/vo-...700c-x-37mm-v2 https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/21...g?v=1512765868 |
The Le Mans specs changed from year to year. The 1984 model can be seen here: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/centuri...lemans-12.html i have a 1986 Le Mans RS and it is a superb bike. The 1984 model also sounds like it has really good bones, with a double-butted Chromoly tubeset. If that were my bike and I intended to use it as a commuter, I would get it powdercoated for durability in a boring color. No decals, no pinstriping. I would then choose components that are old and cheap but work well, such as old Suntour derailleurs and cheap SR cranks. I do something similar with old French bikes. My current errand and beater bike is an Astra, which has a horrible paint job and really twisted-up decals. It has Mafac brakes that work very well but are not highly regarded. Similarly, the wheels on the bike work fine but have cheap bits. The only thing I spent any money on is the sealed bearing bottom bracket. In short, look for parts that offer good function even though they are not worth a thing to a thief. |
black centurion with gold pinstriping is a good way to go. I breifly had this super lemans before it was fixed up and ridden off by a student. the look is super classy and timeless and the frame takes it well.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ad590e7a4f.jpg |
That's what I'm talkin' about [MENTION=103617]jetboy[/MENTION] . And nice visual reference , tan wall or black wall ? And on second thought save your money no fenders .
These two cals I think would look good . There are from Velocals they have a matching head badge too . https://cdn3.bigcommerce.com/s-1h8i1...0.1280.jpg?c=2 |
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