RobbieTunes

I didn't throw up, but almost.
I see the hipster Ironman, but it's a sad day.
At least it's rolling. Stay positive.

flying_rhino

OK, I know it's not an Ironman, but it is a Centurion and it is from the 80's.

texaspandj

And it's Awesome.

texaspandj

Tell me about it!
The week after Father's day I didn't train at all due to illness or possibly hang over. Anyways, we had a a cool front with Temps in the 80s but I didn't get to enjoy it. The week after when I get back it's a 100+ everyday, (it figures). I'm now using my larger bottles on my regular 26 mile route and I freeze them before I ride and by the time I get to the second bottle it's Hot. I ride in the evening about 6pm. On the weekends I ride midday/hottest part of the day and it's like hell....I would guess. Btw 103 in cen-tex today, but fortunately not windy like yesterday, very close to unbearable yesterday.

canklecat

I fill my insulated bottle about half full with electrolyte mix in water and freeze it. Seems to stay cold longer than plain frozen water.

But for a 40 mile ride Friday I also carried a stainless insulated thermos filled with frozen electrolytes. It was still chilled 7 hours later. It's heavier than the Polar and Camelbak bottles but worth it for long hot rides.

texaspandj

For sure, no question, the steel bottles really Work. I have one i picjked for 8 bucks, then my wife found them at the 5 dollar store.
​​​I just dont like the fact you cant squeeze the bottle and have to result to sucking which is difficult even then. So i dont use them, but may have to re evaluate.

fleslider 

FWIW, its a 46cm according to the catalog. there were two sizes of the Ladies Ironman the 46cm with the 24" wheel which you have or a 48cm which has a 700c front wheel.

johnlink

Perhaps one of you would like a Centurion Dave Scott Ironman Race Bike Reversible Jacket. I just saw this listing on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/123224930590?ul_noapp=true

Roger M

My son got his first taste of downtube(and friction) shifting today. Sadly, the Ironman was a little bit too tall for him.



However, The Lemans RS that he and I overhauled was a pretty good fit. He only took a few laps up and down the driveway, but we'll get him out this week on it.

RobbieTunes

Hope it fits.

RobbieTunes

Best Centurion pics are this genre. It's been years, now, but I still get a kick out of seeing your kid and his Centurions. If I live long enough, I'll give him one of mine when it fits him. Write that down.

malcala622

Measuring c-t on seat tube its 18.75" so 47.65cm.

fleslider 

thats why i mentioned FWIW, Centurion measured their frames from C-T-C ish. there was only 2 frame sizes for the Womens Ironman 46cm and 48cm

you can check out the 1987 Catalog here : Vintage-Centurion.com

Here's the catalog diagram for measurement. not real clear but looks like the middle of the seat binder bolt

malcala622

Agreed...measuring c-c it does come out to closer to 46cm.

texaspandj

Too Cool, Roger. That Ironman is sweet.

Narhay

What size, year and component set do you reckon this is?

texaspandj

60cm, '89, suntour gpx . Although the brake levers do not look original. Drive side pic would be more helpful. I dig those bars.

Narhay

Would gpx be indexed and on a freewheel or the funny spacing of cog 1 and 2 of a suntour cassette?

jamesdak 

At the end of this morning's 25 mile ride. Legs a little tired today so I let the Biopace cranks work their magic as I carried a decent pace at a slower than nomal cadence.

texaspandj

^^^Nice!
Good to hear you're healthy and back to riding normally.

canklecat

Looks like the previous owner spruced it up to suit his preferences.
Quick release seat post clamp.
Different stem.
Scott type drop in bars.

I've swapped a few bits on my '89 Ironman Expert too, including a shorter stem and an older style Shimano 600 rear derailleur for the original Suntour GPX. And I'm running it in friction mode after trying indexed shifting for several months. I prefer the smoother and quieter friction shifting -- so do some riding companions, who commented on the loud clunk of the GPX indexed shifting.

Incidentally if you get a hankering to change the gearing the chromed SunRace freewheels work perfectly. I tried a SunRace 13-25 in place of my original Suntour 13-24 several months ago. The SunRace shifted more smoothly, but I didn't care for the gearing steps with the 52/39 chainring combo I settled on -- I replaced the original 42T ring with a 39 Vuelta, which suits me on the 13-24 Suntour freewheel. The original 52/42 chainring with the SunRace 13-25 was good, but I still wanted a bit more help on climbs.

At the moment that SunRace 13-25 freewheel is on my Globe Carmel comfort hybrid errand bike, because it's a much better freewheel than the original Shimano MegaRange -- shifts more smoothly, runs quieter, etc., and doesn't skip. The Shimano MegaRange freewheels are picky -- not enough clearance in the troughs between the teeth in the small cogs, so even a new but slightly oversized chain can climb out of the cogs on hard efforts. The SunRace freewheel cured that problem without needing to swap chains again (I'd already tried three). But I may order a 13-28 or 14-28 for the Globe -- when it's loaded down with groceries it could use a bit more help on climbs. The bike itself already weighs close to 40 lbs with rack, panniers, etc.

RobbieTunes

Indexed, and very solidly so. Spacing on the 7sp freewheel is the same as Shimano, so you can remove the straight-cut freewheel (fully half the "thunk" in the shifting) and swap in a ramped Shimano 7-sp freewheel for smoother shifting.

However, the shifters themselves are the other half of the very solid indexing, and there's no fixing that. It's only a problem if you think it is.

My GPX group has a 13-28 straight-cut freewheel. When you shift, you know it, but it cleanly settles to the cogs and there is no sloppiness. I recommend a better 8-sp chain than Walmart or old-school Suntour. A nicer, newer 8-sp chain and a ramped Shimano or some other ramped freewheel will make it a less "jarring" but still positive-shifting ride, and ONCE YOU ARE IN THE GEAR YOU WANT, IT'S ALL THE SAME.

I agree with canklecat on the front end. Suntour's GPX is nice 52/42, and fine now that I'm in Indiana, but when the hills come out, a 53/39 seems a bit better. Easily done with a 130BCD chain ring swap. The GPX rings are dark gray, but polished rings still match up well with the FD cage.

RobbieTunes

And it's kick ass.

Narhay

Well, i bought it. Look what you've made me do, Robbie!

Will get some "before" photos tomorrow. Despite the upgrades it really does not look like it has been ridden much.

I saw the gpx max capacity was 26T. The 13-28 is shifting ok for you?

RobbieTunes

It's your destiny.


Yes, no problem with 13-28. If you raise that front to 53/39, the wrap could be a problem.

Cleans up well due to the excellent paint quality. Try a hard rubbing with ample WD-40, and you'll be amazed at what still comes off, or was clinging to, an otherwise "clean" bike.