abarth

Thanks guys for your reply. T-Mar, I can't imagine a regular road bike get steeper head tube angle than 74 degree. How much steeper did it get on the later models?

I like edgy bike, can't wait to build mine up.

RobbieTunes

I don't know for sure, as I don't have the info, as far as the changes.
I would suggest the '84 catalog on the Comp TA would be pretty close for the 85's geometry.

The Ironman frame is certainly not an inhibition to hammer time. You pound it and forget it.
I like mine for criteriums and long tri legs as well as anything, and use very stiff wheels for crits.

For long rides, like 100-milers? Well, you'll realize about mile 50 that it's advantage is an efficient uptempo pace, not perched liesurely comfort. Sit back on it, and the handling and ride change a lot, which is a feature of well-balanced frames.

I have never, ever felt any inclination to put a rack, fenders, or carry weight on an Ironman frame. Once you ride one, you realize the balance and agility makes the notion of adding things an instinctive head-shaker. It's almost a shame to carry water or a seat bag, and I resist the water bottle on almost all supported rides.

If you like edgy bikes, you are on the right track. Not harsh, mind you, but a good bit of attitude. Certainly, not the only frame like that out there, but widely available, and with instant membership in the cult.

flyfisherbob

My Lemans RS Original components, second frame. I was hit by a car less than one month into ownership, trashing the frame. The local LBS swapped out the components onto the new frame, and I was back in business. This was my Triathlon bike back in the day. Nothing added or changed except a set of bolt on aero bars, and pedals for cleated shoes. The young-uns love to hassle me about the "old school" ride when I take it out with a group. Nevertheless, still a very nice ride, and I can't see ever getting rid of it.

Serial# N6D6833 Either 56 or 58 cm Is there a decal somewhere that I missed that has the size?
Frame Tange 2
Fork Tange 2001
Shimano downtube indexed shifting
Rear deraillure Light Action
Dia compe brakes

RobbieTunes

Welcome to the arena, and how about some pics?

I'm not familiar with frame size indicators on the limited number of models I'm familiar with.

The Cinelli Equipe Centurion had the 2-digit frame size stamped by itself on the bottom of the Cinelli BB shell.
The Dave Scott Ironman Carbon had a STxTT size formed into the bottom of the alloy BB lugs, even showing a 59.5 on one sized model.

I'm not familiar with models up until about 1983, and I know of none from there until Diamondback became the brand that carried frame size decals or stickers. I had a later-model Diamondback Expert that clearly stated 23" on the seat tube.

Chicago Al 

Here's an example of the Australian Centurion brand. As you'll see: same logos, clearly from the same sources as WSI, even a repeated model name, Turbo, but a very different bike. While the US Turbo was top of the line, from 1983-94 only, this is a late 80s bike and more high-to-middle of the pack, more like a LeMans RS: Champion #2, Suntour Ole group, etc. Biopace chainrings but that has to be a sub at some point. I have seen other 'Turbo' model bikes from Oz but recall them being more like an Ironman...maybe there were different levels of it.

https://www.bikesmoveus.com.au/showthread.php?p=133155

Psuedo

I was given this magazine for this... Bicycle, Feb 1989

RobbieTunes

Thanks, Psuedo, for the great contribution. So, the color combination for the '89 is called dualtone marble. Excellent.
And in the text of the ad is the new frame geometry, 1/2 a degree more (74.5) than the '88, I guess, based on some of the charts we've seen.
Definitely saving that one for my info stash.

If anyone noticed, the '89 Master was spec'd with Sampson clipless pedals.
I have a set of those, no cleats, if you have an '89, and want to keep them around.

RobbieTunes

Half a degree, to 74.5, per the ad just listed.

Psuedo

I'm told by the person who I got the catalog from (a guy from the same bike shop I work at, now only on the weekends since I got a different job) that there are more centurion ads in his collection.. that was on page 2/3 .. the next page was the index, the previous page was the back of the cover..
I can also try and get some better shots later, that was with the flash in a dark room, on top of my LeMans, so I assume a flat surface would be better

RobbieTunes

We need to send you a scanner.

T-Mar

Ole was Sutour's response to Shimano Sante. It was a produced for only one year and defines this as a 1989 model. The chainring's are not BioPace and are OEM. Sugino manufactured these cranksets for SunTour and countered BioPace with their own elliptical chainring called Cycloid.

Chicago Al 

Of course, makes much more sense that it's part of the Suntour group than having been changed out for BioPace. Looks like a nice bike...I wonder how the coming years fared for the Australian Centurion importer/marketer.

RobbieTunes

Nice example of the differences we can note. Tange labels are consistent with US models from '85-'87.
Not sure about the wheels, as the rear is not QR, and is a wider, "shouldered" model more consistent with the Lemans and Lemans RS. I can't tell about the front. Font is consistent with Centurion from '86 to '89, but I'm not sure if the Lemans models had lettering on the seat stays in '88-the Ironman models didn't (squiggles instead). The graphics between and around the fonts are interesting, not the myriad of geo-shapes of the '88s, but more than some other years in that range.

T-Mar

Robbie, a quick look at a 1989 USA ad shows Centurion on the upper stays and a non-gradiated down tube font.

RobbieTunes

I wasn't referring to the graduated font as much as the wholesale change in fonts for the 1986 year, when the thick letters were dropped. I noted that the '88 models had no lettering on the upper stays, instead having the geo-shapes. The lettering was back on the stays in 1989.

When JR replicated the decals for jmazz's 1988 smoked fade, he simply replicated both the DT lettering and the squiggle-shapes, then put a smaller set of each on the decal sheet, so an owner could install either on the upper stays.

My '88 Master and my '88 Carbon both have shapes on the upper stays, and no lettering. JR did an amazing job on the Turbo decals, which I thought were difficult, but he said the '88's were harder to duplicate due to the graduated thickness of the font that you mention. I've often wondered if they actually tried them on the frames before production, or just drew them out, approved them, and then them made.

The Equipe may have looked a lot different if it had come out a year later.

If I could do it over, I'd have used the Turbo-style headbadge, incorporated the word "Equipe" somehow, and just used the Cinelli colors. It would have been more age-appropriate with the other '85 head badges.

T-Mar

I've been having some problems with the database lately, or so I thought. Normally I cross-reference my data to the post number in this thread, in case I have to refer back to pictures, correct input errors, etc. Lately, I've found that the cross-reference isn't working. So, I went searching for the post with an indisputable point of reference, the celebration of the 1000th post. It didn't turn up anywere near number #1000, but at #847! That means at least 153 posts have gone missing! Notably absent are posts by Ashley (forum ID A.Winthrop). Does anybody know what happened with Ashley and why his posts have been deleted?

Chicago Al 

Ashley appears to have removed all his posts on BF around Sept 2010. In searching under his name there were of course many posts, but what I found was the *content* removed...surprising the post doesn't survive in the thread just as an empty placeholder. I had a PM exchange with him earlier this year, and he didn't say anything about it but did say he was running out of steam in his hunt for more Centurion info. Not surprising!

xn7

merry christmas centurion owners!

regarding ashley i exchanged a few pm's with him in november he had a lot of information to share. seems like a great guy that knows his stuff.

although i've posted up my centurion a few pages back i'll toss up the serial and some more pictures in a few days. along with my girlfriends 85 if she feels up to it.

hope the holidays have been treating everyone well.

cehowardGS

Not My Size!

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/m...744999563.html

sarals 

I actually posted this as a "barn find" in the 50+ Forum. It's not exactly that, it's a bike that belongs to a friend. She bought it new in 19??, and it's barely been ridden. She asked me to "have a look at it and ride it" for her, so I did. I cleaned it up, checked it over, and it's practically brand new - and it looks it! I rode it a couple of times, and it's not bad. It's not set up for me, it's (really) heavy, it doesn't stop as well as I'm used to, but it is pretty and it is pristine. Here she is:



Can any of you folks share with me the year it was made?

Merry Christmas!!

RobbieTunes

I used to think I knew, but if it's not an Ironman, I haven't a clue.
The deal with Avenir was pretty late, so I'm guessing 1988 or 1989.
As the Diamondbacks that followed in the early 90's also had the Avenir branding, I venture '89.

sarals 

Robbie, here are a couple of other shots of it. There is some detail, plus you can get an idea of how clean it is:

b dub 

I've posted this bike before elsewhere but since this thread is dedicated to Centurions here I go:

Centurion Turbo
- 4B06657
- Based on the headtube decal I thought it was an '83, but after reading post #62 the serial number indicates it's a 1984 model
- Previous (first) owner replaced Suntour components with '85 Dura Ace pieces including headset, hubs and 6-speed freewheel
- Brake levers are Dia-Compe Aero Gran Compe. Would be nice to replace them with matching DA 7400 levers eventually...
- Original non-lugged fork was replaced with all chrome lugged fork to accommodate DA headset. I don't know the make of this fork
- Rims are Mavic Velotech
- While it's totally cool that it came with the original Turbo saddle I had a hard time getting used to, therefore have swapped it out with an Ideale 90 since (not in pictures)

This bike has quickly become one of my favorite rides.

sarals 

B dub, that is a PRETTY bike!

RobbieTunes

Beautiful Turbo.
Headbadge decal changed between 83-84.
Not sure which came first, that one or the big C with Centurion across the middle...