I'll post pics eventually, but I scored an Ironman Expert on the local Craigslist a couple of weeks ago and finally had time to give it a good, long ride.

Wow is all I can say! O.k., I can say a bit more. This is the first Tange 1 frame that I've ridden. I've ridden Columbus SL, Columbus Tenax and Columbus SP. Never tried SLX. Of all the frames that I've ridden, this is by far the best ride quality. I was pretty close to my Schwinn Tempo, but after riding this Centurion, the Tempo got sold. Hated to do it, but something had to go.

This Ironman Expert is the one with yellow and purple colors, the "Miami Vice" scheme. I can't bring myself to say pink. But it really isn't pink. One of my oldest daughters said it was pink, but that was just to annoy me. I prefer mauve, or purple, lilac, whatever.

Anyway, full Shimano 105 group with Biopace cranks. Now the good part. This bike had 10 miles on it. Legitimate. I met the original owner, a tall woman and her husband. His Trek was also for sale. He no longer rides and he said if he does again he will probably buy a hybrid.

The wife explained to me that she bought the bike hoping to like road biking and her husband wanted company on long rides. Well, she went a couple of miles the first time, a couple the second time and a whopping 4 or 5 miles the last time she rode it. She hated every second. Just wasn't her thing and she felt scared on the road. So the bike hung in the basement. Where have I heard that before? But in this case it is definitely true. The bike looks like it just came off of the showroom floor. Zero scratches. One small paint chip from moving it around I guess. The freewheel is bright silver, no black at all. The chain and cranks are pristine. The Wolber Alpine rims are straight and true and spin wonderfully. I know I have to have everything greased up, but when I do I'll have a practically brand new ride. It's a 1987 model. I won't ride it again until I have time to service it, but it looks wonderful hanging in my garage.

I have been fortunate to find lots of nice bikes in the past, but this one is the best condition by far.

I'll post pics in a few days. Anybody else have an Ironman and want to share?

Very nice of you to ask,
In all fairness to the other members here, asking that here is like asking "do you have any grandchildren?" in Sarasota.

Most of the Ironman bikes shared on this forum are here in about 3-4 places already.

I recommend cruising through the Centurion Serial No. database.
You could also check in the STI/Ergo thread.

Great score, great bike. I see you've drunk the koolaid (ridden it).
So I'll just send you mine in PM, so as not to bore the others.

As far as yours goes, it is an icon in an icon. The Ironman bike has a following and a past, and almost all active road cyclists have had one, knew someone who had one, or encountered one or more in their journeys. Inside that brand, yours is a well-known version. The ad that featured Dave Scott has your particular model, and the ad, so 80's in itself, has generated many lively comments, some that touch topics not acceptable here... and I mean that in a most non-confrontational way.

Yours is an '87, the first year of "the split." In 1985 and 1986, the Ironman was a sole model, but in 1987, the Ironman line split into two models, the Expert and the Master. The Expert featured Shimano's new 105 line, the 1050 series, and indexed 2x6 shifting. The Master used Shimano's (by then) older Shimano 600 series, the EX (6200). Many people realy liked the new 105, and the Expert sold very well. Other than the component groups, the bikes were identical, and the Expert/Master twin lineup sold very well until it ended in 1989.

There was a carbon fiber model produced in 1988 to go along with the 105 Expert and the 600 Master. It ran Dura Ace.

Thanks, that is great information and I will search the forum for more details. I love this particular edition of 105 components. The brakes work nicely even though they are not dual pivot, for example. The shifting is precise and right now. Nothing to complain about yet.

What other models should I be on the lookout for as an everyday rider? I've heard good things about the LeMans series. Thanks again and I appreciate the pics.

In for pics.

and you lost me.


Just kidding!

Awesome story. Can't wait to see pics.

Not the best pics, but they show the bike and the overall condition fairly well. The only paint chip is on the top tube, near the center of the pic. Very small and seemingly only down to the primer.

Serial # on the bb is: N7B6602

BTW, the original owner had replaced the stock saddle with a gel seat. I took that one off and put a Wright's saddle on it for the time being. All of my Brooks are on other bikes right now. Not sure what I'm going to do, go with the original or stay with a Wright's or Brooks.

The lady said she will let me know if she finds the original one. She couldn't locate it but doubted she would have thrown it out.

I did get a nice stretchy cover for the saddle that says Centurion on it.

Oh, one other thing. The RD on the bike is a Shimano 600, not 105. The original owner says that it came that way. Did I just get lucky? I checked the advertisement that Robbietunes sent me and it clearly shows a 105 RD. I guess this isn't uncommon in that sometimes they put a better component onto the bike when they run out of the stock bit. Or perhaps it was an upgrade?

Another Iron Man, yawn.

You couldn't get me to own another one (unless it was in my size).

I can't stand the colors (that I don't have yet).

I wish people would just forget about this brand of bike (so they are easier to get before someone else gets to them).

Nice to see one in great original condition. I don't know why, but I cringe when I see an ironman converted to fixed gear. Saw one on the train last week, and I asked the guy if he did the work himself. Of course he didn't.

I had 1989 Ironman Expert some time ago. Great frame, rode very nicely. I hated significant toe overlap (got large feet), it was killing me each time I had to do low speed turn. Still, that bike was light and fast. Good catch!

The 600 RD was probably a replacement. Doesn't hurt it one bit, and if you get a yen for Exactness, a 105 RD of that line is about $15 on eBay.

By the way, if you want an original saddle, RobbieTunes can hook you up. Beware they were suede, and turned brown after a few rides....Let's just say mine's been on a few rides. Just let me know.