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Centurion vs. Lotus vs. Bridgestone

Old 08-18-19, 12:59 PM
  #1  
bsurkan
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Centurion vs. Lotus vs. Bridgestone

I'm 6'4", ~260 lbs and looking for a commuting bike to replace my broken Bianchi Campione D'Italia 63cm (if you're tempted to suggest that I can reuse those beloved Bianchi components to build up a new bike, alas, I sold them off for too little - lesson learned!).

Locally, there are three options available in my size and I'd like to make an informed choice between them:
  • Centurion - boston.craigslist.org/nos/bik/d/stoneham-centurion-elite-rs-shimano-600/6958464666.html
  • Lotus - boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/d/cambridge-lotus-10-speed-road-bike/6958486822.html
  • Bridgestone - boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/d/cambridge-road-bike-12-speed/6958198099.html
I've been reading for hours on these forums, looking up each bike, but it is harder when I have to compare. I'm also not always sure whether there is something uniquely great or weak about a specific bike.

I welcome your wisdom and a hat tip to @ryansu for guiding me to post on this thread.
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Old 08-18-19, 01:26 PM
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https://boston.craigslist.org/nos/bi...958464666.html



https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...958486822.html




This isn't in the same quality class as the other two.
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...958198099.html
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Old 08-18-19, 01:33 PM
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I like the Lotus but it needs new brake levers, like maybe these Tektro ones. Tektro RL520 Aero Brake Levers

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Old 08-18-19, 03:13 PM
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Thanks for the tips, @Bianchigirll! I just tried the Bridgestone and the Lotus, and you were right about the quality difference. It was nonetheless interesting to experience the exotic shifting of the Bridgestone.

I have yet to find a bike that has the reach of my beloved first Fuji road bike. Even the 63cm Bianchi only fit properly after an extended Nitto stem was added.

Thanks for your help!
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Old 08-19-19, 11:40 PM
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Final decision: option d - none of the above.

I ended up trying all three aforementioned bikes. The Centurion had an impressive reach and was a comfortable bike, it simply wasn't tuned well enough to be worth $325.

In the end, I bought a new 64cm Fuji Touring bike. I'm hoping that it will have similar geometry to my beloved 1980s Fuji.

Thanks for all the help!
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