Centurion Renaissance
 

(Caveat: I don’t usually read these long opening posts; so, I’m not expecting you to either. Good pics will follow for the ADD types like myself.)


Black bikes are not my cup-o-tea, or so I thought when I bought this bike for the expressed purpose to resell it. The renaissance part is about me, and how I’ve opened-up my approach to what a bike should be and look like. This bike was dirty and obviously well-ridden when I first got it home; but I was surprised by how fit it actually was when I got down into the nitty-gritty of it. But, for the first time, I didn’t give it the same care that I have on every other bike I’ve owned. And, I think that brought some bad Karma onto my sorry a** ; or, maybe the bike just didn’t want to be sold again.

I cleaned it a bit, lubed it, and rode it. “This is a nice riding bike”, I thought to myself, “but it’s going up for sale, so don’t get too attached”. Having gotten sick of white bar tape (the obvious choice), I put some grey cork and a low-profile saddle on it and put it up for sale at a reasonable price. Here’s a post I put up in frustration on the appraisal forum after 2 months without any responses. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...this-Centurion

Sometimes you have to live with a bike for a while to really get a sense of it.

The renaissance moment came when I remembered why I was selling this bike that rode and fit me so well to begin with. Oh ya, I was selling this bike to fund another bike project! The heck with it, this 'is' my new bike project.

So, I deleted my craigs ad and did what I should have done from the beginning, make it my own. I completely started from the frame up; treated what little rust there was around the lugs, JP Weigled the frame thoroughly, touched up the paint, polished and waxed it. New cage free bearings went in the BB. I cleaned and polished all components; put my best wheelset on it, (Campy Victory Strada tubulars) and my Brooks. Lots of yummy stuff. Really put my back into it and gave it my best. I even tried my first twine treatment. Oh, and the bike weighs 21.2 lbs without pedals at this point.:)


(I’ve seen this done before and thought it annoyingly clever; post the intro sans photos. The bike needs some finishing touches, a good 15-20 mile shake-down ride to ensure it is sound, and some good pics will follow. Hopefully I’m not building this up too much. JR)

Tease! Big tease. No fair!

Nothing sets off black like polished components, a little contrasting lettering, and some lined lugs.

Your teaser worked. Click-subscribe.

I have been waiting so long for that perfect Masi to fall into my lap that I put the strip and powder coat for my Bridgestone on the back burner. The longer I waited the more ridiculous Masi pricing has become. But I also realized the Bridgestone works pretty good for the type of riding I do. A Masi would probably not survive.

I remember that posting and I thought it was a great looking bike.

your lucky it fit, the three bikes I can't sell are too small!

A seriously fun rider.:)
http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/w...EliteRS025.jpg
http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/w...EliteRS027.jpg
http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/w...EliteRS021.jpg
http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/w...EliteRS011.jpg
One thing that I will have to get is some red straps for my toe-clip pedals. I think that would have really worked here.

What a Difference!!! Nice Job!!! :thumb: :thumb: went from "blah" to "BLAM!"

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/w...onElite008.jpg

andy

Elites are so bad-a$$.

Thank's Robbie! I couldn't help but put up one last photo of the final version.(or at least I think it is?) Tubulars are nice rollers, but don't seem very practical as a daily rider. I also love my Brooks, but this low-profile saddle seems more appropriate for this bike. Anyway, thanks for indulging me.:)
http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/w...iteRS016-1.jpg

Did you ever consider yellow or blue accents? I think it would look ballin'.

Very nice!

I don't know that white is the obvious choice on a black and silver bike. That red tape looks fantastic, and picks up the tiny red details elsewhere on the bike. On the saddle, though, black might be obvious, but I'm glad to see someone else with a brown saddle on a non-earth-toned bike. I have an antique brown Brooks Imperial Narrow on my Red/White Centurion, because they were out of black. Now I'm glad they were because I love how the brown looks.

I like it, I think I am going to do a honey colored brooks and similarly colored drop bar wraps for my black elite

Looks great. I would go one more step, pick up some red housings and red bottle cages and you are there!!! (I guess thats two more steps).