I would like to see a picture of it with a big whompin' 32" tire. It would feel like downhill all day to me....

heh, I'm guessing he meant a 32c tire?

Slaps you in the face, but it's true... and I am an engineer and that's why I find it interesting. It's like when they first started making tires with no treads; we all said "no way, you'll hydroplane in the puddles and crash... the tread is necessary to channel water"... we were all wrong. Tread has a purpose but it doesn't help wet weather (or dry weather) traction.

The brake bridge is a convenient place to put a brake obviously, and it also helps keep the rear triangle from getting knocked out of alignment when there's no hub in there (probably the reason your track bike has one. But it's a pretty small little member and there are virtually no forces from riding that it could possibly help with. The brake bridge is about as structural as the derailleur hanger.

Sorry to take the Centurian thread so far off course. Search the forums, you'll find a couple of other hotly debated threads on my bike.


I did say 32mm, does it look different on your screen?

the screen worked, my eyes didn't... you're quite right though, back to Centurions

Heres my 87? Centurion Accrodo....non-Ironman. So far I have right under $100 into it. I have disassembled and cleaned/lubed everything and have it in excellent working order. New tires, brake pads, chain, and grip tape and some serious polishing was in order.

Day 1:
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...S5030450-1.jpg


Then spent some free time cleaning and polishing:
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...h_S5030529.jpg
Did the brakes too but didn't take photos


Clean frame
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...h_S5030545.jpg



Reassembled and ready for the road
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...h_S5030537.jpg


I'm pleased with the quality of this lower end entry bike. It works for my 220lbs self and I appreciate it more since reading Sheldon Browns site.

I have a 60x63.8 Ironman DS Carbon frame with fork, all decals are there in REALLY good condition if anyone is interested, make an offer. it would be a super slick ride (pics on requet)

22lbs, she was a sweet ride. I sold her at a loss, damn.

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/4800/1001801vd1.jpg

Very pretty, indeed. Do you still mourn, or are you consoling yourself with a better girl?

Accordos more than hold their own. Recent sale on eBay for a NOS went very high, but it was fine.
Yours for $100 is a steel steal.

I think it may have been the 32oz of golden ale that got me confused, sorry.

I saw no brake bridge and immediately started thinking about a big rear tire, that 60's car stuff is still in me...

Alrighty, most have already seen this in my thanks post possibly, but I might as well get it into the thread.

Picked this up yesterday.

Serial number is N7S6325, so I figure that makes it an 88. I'm guessing it's 105 heritage make sit an expert.

Note in one of the pics the paint chiop has that Sea Foam, Blue color going on. The forks also have a chip that shows plenty of white. Kind of makes me wonder if it has the same color scheme as the "girl friend" Ironman that's linked in an earlier post.

Most all components are 105, but some things have been switched, such as the Tripole TuVativ, the RD, the Bianchi saddle (the fluted post apparently may not be opriginal), and the wheels. The Brifters are an additoin as well. It still has the 105 SLR brakes though, and some of the 105 stuff that isn't there might make their way to me this weekend.

A re-paint is most certainly in it's future. The current patina is the reult of an Improvised Rattle Can Device gone serioulsy wrong.

Kind of a wolf in black sheep's rattle-can clothing...A lot of potential. The brifters will come in handy. Some did have the fluted post. If anything, the parts for a pretty nice bike. I have no idea the condition of the paint under that rattlecan, but the rattlecan paint comes off of the clear coated frame pretty easy if you want to try that first....

Yep, she has lots of potential. It actually rides fairly well, but is looking like it is headset bearing time.

I figure to try and wet sand with really fine sandpaper to try and see if any of the original paint can be saved. My hope is yes, but I know it was sanded for some surface rust prior the rattle can attack. Judging from the chips and original color seeping through, it really does look to be the same color scheme as the Sea Foam Green and White bike that the guy in an earlier post bought for his girlfriend. At least I hope it is.

Funny thing is, while standing in a friends garage today and drooling over his USPS Team Trek ($7K of serious bike pOrn) I mentioned my new acquisition. Down comes his attic stairs and then outcomes an 88 Master in the marble purple and white trim. He's had it since new, and even lost a race to lance on it back in 99, on ESPN even. It is all original, every single 600 component. It needs new tires and and cables, but other than a tuneup/re-grease, and a clean up, it's pristine.

After we talked awhile, he told me to load it up if I would ride it, he would never do anything with it and it was wasting away. We talked a while longer, and you could feel the nostalgia the bike held for him. I just couldn't do it. Even after his wife came out and told me to take it away, I just couldn't. Heck, the guy still has his Lake shoes with clips for his first gen Look peddles that he rode with on it.

After some more talk, I told him to take some time and think about it. It was obvious the bike held great memories from him. I hope he gives her a good once over and gets her back on the road, but even he doubts he will.

Time will tell, but I have a feeling it will eventually come down to I'll bring it home, with the understanding that if he ever wants it back, it's his for the asking.

How cool. And what an honour, too.

East Hill

You're a better man than I, methinks, as I thirst for the purple fades.

My next immediate thought after the selfish prior one would be to tell him, "I'll fix up mine, and I'll need advice. When I'm done, promise me we'll do a couple of Ironman rides, you on yours and me on mine."

Of course, my third thought was, "sell that Trek, you can buy 25 C&V bikes, and really have fun."

Chances are, he'll get his right while you finish up yours, and you'll both have some satisfying fun. His will likely end up on the market, sooner or later, and you can make an offer, no guilt.

The Ironman put the idea of triathlons and biking into the minds of thousands of folks, especially runners, who'd not given either all that much thought before. Almost everyone I know has come across an Ironman if they're over 40 and still riding.

The marketing factors couldn't have been much better, and the production factors couldn't have been much worse, yet Centurion managed to sell loads of them, and the C&V market is better off for it, with new entry level road bikes selling for the price of 2 or 3 or 4 C&V gems, including Ironman bikes.

Can't wait to see how your diligence and patience turns into your own Ironman. And I'm sure your nostalgic friend will want to have a hand in it, too.

Still riding mine in triathlons after 22 years!
 

Bought this one new in 1986 for about $525. It's a 60cm. It's even been to Hawaii for the 2004 Lavaman. Got's lot's of comments from the kids. The picture is from the Spring Sprint Triathlon on May 4, 2008.

Attachment 74092

Dig it.

Here's my new-to-me Centurion Dave Scott Ironman.

I have one of the rarer non-crazy-80s paint schemes, a subdued metal-fleck silver and dark gray. According to the serial number, it's an '86 model and looks all-original.
Attachment 82822Attachment 82820Attachment 82821Attachment 82823Attachment 82824

Just for documentation's sake:
Frame: 56cm Tange #1
Stem: Nitto Technomic
Bars: Nitto Olympiade 115
Levers: Dia Compe ??
Brakes: Shimano 600
Calipers: Shimano 600
Crankset: Shimano 600 172.5mm, 52/42 Biopace
Front/Rer Der: Shimano 600
Seatpost: Sugino ??
Pedals: Shimano 600
Headset: Shimano 600
Rims: Mavic MA40 32H
Hubs/Skewers: Specialized Sealed Bearing

I'm not sure about the specific models of the ?? items. Can't find a Centurion catalog that has the full list of parts for this model and I don't see the model names written anywhere obvious.

1984 Centurion Comp TA

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/...668015.jpg?v=0

$200 on eBay. Was in pretty good shape.
New cables, housings, brake pads. Took everything apart/off and cleaned it up quite a bit. Rebuilt BB. Cinelli cork tape. NOS brake hoods.

It's equipped w/Shimano 600 all around and everything is stock except for the wheelset and pedals (which I still have). Bought a cheap Alex wheelset and put a 7 sp cassette on it. This bike is incredibly comfortable to ride. I love it.

1988 Dave Scott Ironman Master - Before Pics

Purple Fade
Shimano 600 brake levers, brake hood covers, Brakes, 515 shifter levers, front and rear derailleur, pedals (triangle shaped) and crank arms.
Biopace 53 & 42 gears.
Turbo saddle
Nitto B115 420 handlebar
Araya 700C Super Hard CTL-370 front wheel
Matrix ISO C11 7000 back wheel
specialized transition 700x 20c tires

Thanks to Robbie and everyone who has helped me with identifying it and getting it back to all original.
Over the winter... sandblast, powdercoat paint, airbrush the purple and smoke (I guess), decals, clear coat, handlebar tape and hoods.

Centurion DS Ironman pic gallery
 

Anyone know where to get the white brake lever covers other than NOS at $40 a pair. I can see from the pics others have the same dirt build up as I do. Rebuilding my 1987 DS Ironman Centurion.

Can anyone identify the year/model/frame material of this Centurion on eBay? If you zoom in on one of the pics you can see the sticker on the down tube say "Guaranteed Built With" and, possibly, "Double".

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=010

Can't believe I missed an opportunity to post a picture of the wife's bike.

Since this photo, I've put on a Terry women's saddle, and raised the handlebars.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a39...NewTape004.jpg

Nice one Al! Looks just like the one I picked up last night off CL. Pics to follow.

geek

Our paint schemes are really similar - but different. This is a photo after getting run down from behind by a car with no brakes. Got a new bike out of that and passed this one on to a bike shop employee.



http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1.../Centruion.jpg

PS
This photo (and bike) is almost 20 years old.