Scored this today in Vero Beach, FL for a Benjamin.
My size, Tange 1 frame is excellent, wheels are true, 22 lbs.
Will need tape, cables, tires, hoods, full lube, and a frame-off clean & polish.
Based on T-Mar's analysis, serial # N7E5459 puts it as an '87.

Question #1 :
I've always ridden with toe clips and straps. Are these Look pedals a good way to introduce me to clipless pedals? Could I even find shoes to work with these pedals (9 1/2 wide)?

Question #2 :
With the pink housing and decal accents, I'm tempted to rock some pink bar tape, but in reality I doubt I would be so bold. But, I was a huge fan of Crockett and Tubbs - so maybe it's not such a stretch! What say you...yea or nay on the pink tape?

Pics are washed out and lousy, I'll update as restoration proceeds.

Thanks for the photos, that's a sharp bike.

I suddenly occurred to me that I might have a red one like this in a garage storage location that I abandoned years ago. I didn't know it was worth much and just kept the wheels iir.

I recognized that early SIS gruppo, and recall that my frame is on the big side that I now prefer, so might be my next project if it's still intact.

Somehow I just never had the Centurion brand on my radar until I found BikeForums C&V. I bought an orange Semi-Pro that came along later, but still wasn't reminded of that old Ironman, and even the Ironman(?) Carbon that I just bought failed to remind me of that old red bike that I bought cheaply while buying a Raleigh Pro, and then never worked on or rode.

No doubt some here will be convinced I must have lost my marbles. Even the old ProTour15 that I sold cheaply, what was I thinking? I'm thinking its the graphics style, from a time that just doesn't conjure any bicycle nostalgia with me for some reason. I raced motorcycles back then, and had chronic knee tendonitis that kept me off bicycles for all but the shorter rides during those years. I suppose also that the whole Ironman thing somehow completely failed to register with me back then, like "who is Dave Scott?".

So thanks for showing this one off, it looks nearly new.

Now you're talking. Great score, great bike.

Yes, those Looks are a great way to get into clipless. They use the red Look "Delta" cleat, which is very affordable.
Yes, shoes come in 9.5 wide, but you're more likely talking about a EU size 43 or 43.5. Socks make a big difference in bike shoe fit.
Pink wrap, well, that's unique, but go with what you want.

By the way, those Specialized 700x19's may be a rough ride.

The #1 way to make that bike ride another 200% better is to have the wheels tensioned and trued, again. The tension is a big deal, then get some nice 700x23 tires (such as the Continental GP4000S II now on sale for 40/tire at Performance. You will be hard pressed to believe the difference. The ride will be on a par with many Italian frames costing a ton more.

Outstanding '87 Master.

You
Are
Ironman

Jeez, thats a lot of bike for $100. paint even looks to be in superbe condition.

+1 on looks being pretty good. but i think the pink tape is gonna over do it. personally id switch out the cables for white ones.

Well done, low low miles on that beauty, and a Turbo saddle! I lucked out and got a low mileage '85 Master Ironman and keep the pink housing as long as I could, but you can not match it so free to take your pick of today offerings. White tape for aesthetics and ride with pride.

What Robbie said re your Q's, great score. You'll love that saddle, and if you, let me know. I want to put them on all my bikes. Enjoy!

Pink bar tape?
Sure!
Ironman paint schemes lend themselves to excessive bar tape treatments:



You'll find it's a great ride.

Top

That thing is beyond Crocket and Tubbs. That sucka is full on Glenn Frey.

The H is O. Baby.

Thanks for the comments and compliments. Working over the wheels again is a good idea. They are fairly true, but I don't know much about tension or how often it needs to be redone.

I realize that I'll be switching tires, they are currently 19c...very narrow! Michelin Lithion 2's get great reviews, maybe I'll give them a try.

Another cool thing about this bike is the gold anodized brakes, levers, chainrings, and rims. I don't know how common this is with the 600 groupset, but it looks pretty snazzy.

Yeah, white housing and tape will likely be the end result. Pink is fun to consider, but is pretty radical.

Tony, go ahead and pimp your ride. My girlfriend said if she didn't know me, she'd question my manliness. Whatever! I can't wait to show her my 1987 Schwinn Prelude.

Congratulations and welcome to the Ironman owners fraternity. You acquired the hard to find Master at an incredible deal.

TIRES - I run 28cm, but I would recommend 25cm as there is little or no clearance at the fork casting. Go for white walls or white striped tires.
Amazon.com : Serfas Seca Wire Bead Tire with FPS : Bike Tires : Sports & Outdoors

CABLE HOUSING - If the pink housing needs to go, white or Jagwire Titanium braided would look sweet.

Sweet deal.

I'd go for the full 80's vibe: pink Benotto ftw! But sure, white tape will look fine too.

Those pedals will work fine, although they're on the heavy side and aesthetically a little clunky, at least to my eye. I prefer these Looks, or, better still, these Shimano pd-1056, both of which can generally be found for peanuts on Ebay. The bearings on all these pedals seem to last forever. The red cleats will give you the most float and are a good place to start.

REAL MEN DO RIDE PINK!

Great deal. I bought a rode hard put away wet 87 pink and yellow Ironman for $60 without wheels or saddle. It had been raced by someone who'd competed in salt water and the seat post was almost permanently frozen in. Took me 2 hours to cut it out.

I have some pink Fizik bar tape. I bought one roll dirt cheap on eBay and the seller sent me four! PM me...

Also here's an eBay link for some pink Jagwire cables and housing (both brake and derailleur cables) $13.59 with free shipping:

Jagwire Brake Shifter Cable Housing Kit Road Mountain Bike | eBay

No relation to seller, yada, yada, yada...

BTW, Tange #1 is the same wall thickness as Columbus SL tubing, good stuff.

verktyg

Chas.

That's a really nice bike. I say definitely yes to pink handlebar tape. It will look really good.

We want a ride report! With the current or new tires.

Schwinn Prelude?

Nice catch on the Ironman , it is very nice ! I would lose the pink housing and go with black tape , black tires . You are gonna love how it rides .

Well, I finally retrieved the Ironman bike carcass (with missing wheels and missing mtb handlebar), but it's not a Master, it's a 1985 Expert.

I'll post a photo when I start a new thread after taking angle measurements. Big frame would have been good but for the 175mm crankarms.

the Miami Pink and Teal should fit right in Down there.. [oh but you are in Michigan.. n/m]

Yea the Look Cleats and Buying the shoes can be done.., cant walk in them , so there is that, take them Off leave them on the pedals

if and when you do go into Tri racing.

SPD types cleat in recesses in the shoe sole are walkable.

Congrats and awesome deal. A whole $200 less than I paid for mine and looks to be in better condition than mine was when I got it.

Nice bike! Definitely pink tape.

I got my brother hooked on cycling, and classic and vintage as well. He rides an Ironman Expert and he really loves it. Same frame I believe (and it looks like wheels too), but with a Shimano 105 groupset.

Master is Tange 1 tubes and I believe the Expert is Tange 2. A minor difference.

Not quite. Both had the same tube set. The difference was the groups built on them. Experts tended to be 105/GPX, where Masters were 600.

Top

Very nice bike...rock the pink...go for it...with that housing, it would be rocking cool!

Me bad, sorry. That's what you get for reading Sheldon Brown in the wee hours and relying on your senior memory.

Both are Tange 1. Only difference is groupset. Been there, done that. Kept drinking, though.