texaspandj

Dude even us ,riding ironman,would ask about your Ironman. One sweet ride. Way to represent.

RobbieTunes

Dude.

jetboy 

this.

on a side note I have noticed some price inflation on the ironman front.. which might be due to threads like this. I wonder if we should switch tactics and start telling everyone what piles of crap they are and how they make ones balls shrivel up and fall off in the toilet- plop... plop. finished.

texaspandj

Hah.
Actually I base the state of our economy on the going rate of the Ironman. Suffice it to say "happy days are here again?"
Secretly waiting for the next financial meltdown.

RobbieTunes

For a few years now, I've been accused of hyping the brand and inflating the cost of the venerable Ironman. On vain days, I want to believe it, but I know it's not true. If anything, my hype raised the bottom end prices from the $90-$150 range to where it is now, with affordable bikes still able to be purchased for $250-$350, and frames $125-$225 (mint or re-done). Perhaps my hype got a few people to simply unload the Ironman that had been in the basement, attic, garage, etc. That's a good thing. Perhaps there aren't that many left any more? Doubt it, they sold well. I do think the "activity" has helped uncover more and more models like the Lemans RS, Semi Pro, Pro Tour, Elite, etc. That is a great thing.

I kept a spreadsheet at one time, and Ironman sales were consistent across models and years between $240 and $280 per bike, over a sale run of 120 bikes. Then, something happened, most likely Google. When someone wants to sell one, they Google, and they find us, and other Ironman models that are being sold at higher prices than before, and so it goes. I do think prices have risen, and I don't mind that much, because they are still bargains compared to their Italian counterparts to which they cede little, if anything.

I once asked a race director why he charged $45 to enter a triathlon (1987), when most of the event was underwritten by Coors Light, anyway. He said "because you'll pay it." That would be the case, I think, for expensive Ironman models.

When you buy a bike, a set of wheels, etc for riding, owning, and having as your main ride, price is really not that relevant over the long run. For example, a $1000 set of wheels, measurably and distinctly better than a $700 set of wheels, on a bike you'll own for at least 5-10 years? No real difference. I look at "keeper" frames that way: almost whatever it takes, within reason. Now, designating a bike as a "keeper," that's my problem, and I suspect for others, as well.

I will admit to hyping the Cinelli Equipe Centurion more than any bike, mainly because I really like that bike. I like the back story, I like what Cinelli did, the frame story and Chirico. I bought my first one, complete, for $356, and the wheels had been upgraded to Campy Chorus/Sun M14A. My next one was under $500, all original. After that, they seem to have gotten expensive, depending on the condition of the chrome. They've come out of the woodwork, with the production models in silver bringing the most, but the other, less pedigreed models being sold, fakes and all, for about 3x what they're worth, in my opinion. The frames, of course, are more Cinelli than Centurion, and I think that's the draw. I owned an Equipe and a Super Corsa at the same time, and I'd take the Equipe, probably for geometry, as the Super Corsa was more aggressive than my taste, especially for 100 miles.

texaspandj

First it's not all hype as the saying goes. However I do consider you the spokesman and that comes with certain rights to aggrandize.
As jetboy has stated somewhere on BF: The relative low price of the Ironman is due to its high quantity and not low quality. As we all know.
RT you're absolutely right. Google brings those sellers here. Or in my case buyers/owners too. And that's where you shine. Because what an owner of an Ironman thinks you definitely amplify and also substantiate. Thank you for that.
Although I aquired my dream bike 86 in 2006. Believe it or not I actually owned two before that. Back in the early 90s a friend gave me a 60cm MV. I cleaned it, rode it a bit and then eventually gave it to another friend. And then in 2001 I bought a Terry style for 50. bucks at a flea mkt. Cleaned it rode it. But once again the CIM didn't fit so sold it to a guy I knew for 60. He was buying it for his wife.
I'm not a fan of Centurion across the board I simply love those CIM. As a brand I'm probably partial to pinarello and most Italian bikes, however "been there, done that, choose this." Hah. Later.

Classtime 

You guys gave me the go-ahead on this CL frameset. The 600 group with hubs now laced to open pros came off my son's crashed TREK 560. The brake levers are current production Dia-Compe. ST 57 ctc, TT 58 ctc. 22 lbs and very fast as shown.The saddle will be replaced.

texaspandj

Nice build, looks good. Congratulations. And welcome to the forum. Looks like a great fit,as it's set up nice. I've always dug that paint color/scheme.
I'd go with a white saddle as it is.

RobbieTunes

Be still my beating heart. Such a cool "Smoke on the Water" fade.

Welcome to the forum, and we'll send the cult squad to insert the chip.

seypat

If anything, this thread informs people that the Japanese made some fine bikes. That those bikes should not be ignored or looked down upon because they are not European. I think the term "sleeper" comes to mind.

fleslider 

The problem is stopping.. its a addiction.. Gotta collect them all!

texaspandj

I was gonna comment I Agree.
Then I looked to see how many you have and I LMAO. As in you got it bad too.
My bike count is limited only by my finances and not my good sense.

lesterp66

Commuterized Ironman

texaspandj

Nice first year (85) Ironman put to good use. Awesome. Wecome to the forum .Component details please. Is it yours? How do you like it as a commuter? Thanks for sharing.

RobbieTunes

All the hype I've done and it's still a sleeper.
Just a sign the ones available were meant for us.

RobbieTunes

Like commuting on a Ducati. Looks like early SSR wheelset.
What is the rack mounted to?

texaspandj

Here's another CIM found on the commuter thread " Got balled out for riding my bike ". Very funny, worth the read. This bike is owned by velocity, the original poster of that same thread.

lesterp66

There is a blend of 600 and 105, dt swiss made bontrager racelites and p clamps on the stays for the rack. It's an awesome commuter because it's an awesome bike

jetboy 

i also use my IM for commuting. I always tell people its a good reason to go to work in the morning.

RobbieTunes

I went to a bike yard sale in Richmond, VA. Early on, a guy pulls in pulling a trailer behind his fixed gear. In the trailer is his folding table, boxes of parts, etc. He runs the co-op in Richmond, and was getting rid of stuff, looking for other stuff. His fixed gear had all the usual decals, stickers, but none of the "hipster with money" items. Bullhorns, front brake, saddle, that was about it. Under all the stickers and decals: 1986 Ironman, red/white. I mentioned it. He said "my favorite bike of all time, Ironman bikes f&^*ing rule." That was it; I just had to set my tables up next to his, and whatever I didn't sell, including some new tires, tricolor stuff, etc, I put on his trailer. He came loaded, went home loaded, but it was all turnover/upgrade.

The grey-haired old dude and the young earnest badass.
Swap nouns if you want.

We are everywhere.

Ironman.

texaspandj

This is jet boys bike and one of my favorites. Sorry, I just had to repost.
Jet boy, your comment on the commuter forum was classic and every time I think about it, it makes me chuckle out loud.

jetboy 

thanks. as noted its hard to go wrong with an IM. this forum made that bike happen: frame is from the sales section- seatpost is from robbietunes - rest is a hodgepodge.

DMC707

I've got 2 and am eye-balling another one that will require a bit of a road trip, - I dont know how i get sucked into these little accumulations like i do --- I buy complete bikes with intentions of stripping them for parts to build up some of my old , neglected racing framesets (The tri color 600 and 105 parts on a lot of these Centurions is good stuff for that purpose) - Then i get mesmerized a bit when i put 'em on the stand and if they're in nice shape to begin with, i can't strip 'em down --

Regarding those old Shimano components -- i was giving a buddy a pretty nice Ultegra 9 speed STI group to update his Ironman Master to STI, -- as we got to the brake calipers, - i looked at the mid 80's Shimano 105 forged calipers, - then looked at the newer school Ultegra dual pivots , and i just told him - "Its your move on these, -- the new stuff might work better, but the old stuff is much prettier" --- he left the brakes alone


MAny people would say i'm wasting my time and would be better off with 2 or 3 vintage Colnago's/Cioocc's/MErckx/Moser or whatever than 10 old Cannondales and Centurions collecting dust -- i dont know -- i guess its just easier to build a collection of $300 bikes than $1500 bikes -- i'm a tad OCD as well

RobbieTunes

Shakedown cruise on my '86 with the 5700 STI's. Smooth, quiet, agile. 44 miles, and the 3 carbons I rode with thought it looked pretty cool. We encountered a pack going in the opposite direction, and stopped to chat. One guy looked over and said "An Ironman. Are they making them again?" My 3 buds laughed, and said "yeah, he'll make you one."

texaspandj

That's really cool. And what a compliment. Just like someone mentioned before: You build em like they just rolled out the factory.
DMC707 Easier to collect 300.00 Than 1500.00 bikes (exactly) especially when they ride just as well.