Classtime 

Is that the rebuildable BB? And is the '89 rear end 130mm? I've got that group in a box and was going to put it on my wife's MV but she doesn't ride much lately.

texaspandj

It's a cartridge BB so not meant to be rebuilt.
My '89 is the standard Ironman 126 rear spacing. I never coldset I just install rear wheel.

fleslider 

Color combo for 83 Elite will be updated on the next update for the site. colors were Sable and Royal Blue

I would guess its a early 83 Elite. it looks to have a 1982 color and plastic headbadge, but a 1983 Downtube logo.

markwesti

I know we have a few Triathletes here , not to mention some very serious distance riders , and a few building TT bikes . This possibly will be of interest , I ran across a little tidbit of info from O'l Shel . It's about BioPace chain rings . Skip down to the title What are they good for ?

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html

Classtime 

I think they are great for riding my IMs. They came equipped with them (as did my Schwinn Tempo and Cimarron) and therefore, they are good.

markwesti

^^^ I have them on my 86' IM too , I like them . I had them on my 84 ' Comp TA but I changed them for rings that looked more correct . I sold the Comp but I kept the black ring and the silver ring . Sliver ring DA . I think this winter I'm going to do a test between the two .

IMG_0135 by mark westi, on Flickr

ddeand 

My “new” ‘87 MV has BioPace rings, and I really can’t tell the difference between them and a standard ring. Maybe I’m not paying attention.

texaspandj

I always go back to a cycling magazine Ironman review. "At it's best it helps a little and at it's worst you don't notice it". Or something to that affect.
Personally I think I have 2 Ironman with and 2 without biopace and I can't tell the difference, but I do Hope it helps.

seypat

If you think the Bio Pace rings help but can't find the size you need, Sugino and Sakae had their own versions as well. Sugino Cycloid and Sakae Ovaltech respectively. There's usually some sitting on the dock of E-bay watching the tide roll away.

You might find the size you need.

top506

I can't feel the difference riding them, but my knees can after 50 miles or so, especially on hilly routes. With round rings knee pain starts, but the Biopace rings stretch the comfort zone another 15-20 miles. Been a fan for years.

Top

top506

Did the Cycloid and Ovaltech come in 130BCD? I've never seen any, just 110s.

Top

canklecat

Out of curiosity, I've been riding the Trekenstein with Biopace for several months (chapeau, @texaspandj). To me, there's a distinct difference that's hard to describe. Mostly it affects my cadence and pedaling style.

And I've kept conventional round rings on the Ironman, although I've switched from the original 52/42 Suntour to Vuelta 50 over 39 or 38, depending on which freewheel I'm using, SunRace 13-25 or 13-28, because I'm very picky about gear step spacing. For a couple of months it's been 50/38 with 13-28 freewheel, perfect for getting all spinny uphills into headwinds, or when my legs feel like jello (specifically, this entire week). On the Ironman my cadence tends to be 90 rpm like clockwork. Looking at the graphs from Wahoo Fitness and Strava, I'll occasionally dip into the 50s when standing to climb, and 130+ rpm on downhills. But the graphs mostly show nearly level stretches of 90 rpm, varying only slightly. Just feels natural.

But that didn't translate to the Biopace. I didn't begin to get the hang of Biopace until I deliberately slowed my cadence and used harder gears. It seems to resist smooth rotation at faster cadence, but offers some mechanical advantage when I choose a harder gear and stick to 60-80 rpm. Instead of spinning evenly I switch to deliberately mashing down to coincide with the extended lobes of the oblong chainrings, especially in the smaller ring where there's more noticeable mechanical advantage on climbs or into headwind.

And I had to shift the 52 Biopace ring one notch away from the default position, or 72 degrees. That felt smoother. I tried the same with the 42 small ring but it created an annoying dead spot. The smaller Biopace ring feels right to me in the standard position.

I also tried a regular round 38 ring with the Biopace big ring but kept dropping the chain. No way to finesse the MicroShift brifters, which are indexed on the left/FD side, to avoid chain drops. Didn't have that problem with a round big ring, so I'm guessing there's too much difference in diameter between 52 and 38. I switched back to 42 Biopace and had no more chain drops.

The only problem is that when I've ridden mostly Biopace for a week or so, when I switch back to the Ironman with round rings, my cadence is herky-jerky for awhile until I regain that smooth spin. I've become so accustomed to mashing down with Biopace, it takes awhile to unlearn when I switch bikes.

I'm still not sure whether round or non-round is "better". Too many variables: bike weight and design, slightly different geometry and fit, saddles, pedals, wheels and tires, and the engine. Some days my engine barely runs at all, other days it's pretty smooth and strong. I *think* I'm consistently faster on the Trekenstein with Biopace, but the bike is also 5 lbs lighter and the slight speed advantage seems most noticeable on my hilly routes. Not so much on flatter terrain.

Eventually I'm gonna get another Ironman with the Shimano group and Biopace so I'll have a more equal comparison.

seypat

Can't confirm the Cycloid came in 130. The Ovaltech did. The ones pulling Otis Redding duty have some decent prices. Go take a look.

TriBiker19 

I'm blaming the face shield helmet on @RobbieTunes and the googly eyes on my 9 year old. You should see the other stuff he stuck those to...

RobbieTunes

Made my day.

seypat

If you can see well through the googly eyes, I'd leave them on. Reverse intimidation. Give people the Lance "look" with that setup and they won't be able to concentrate because of the humor. Plus, it's a great icebreaker/conversation starter. Nice looking helmet, BTW.

canklecat

Reminds me, that Base Camp aero helmet was on my Amazon shopping list last year. I need to check if they still have 'em. Good price, under $30. Assuming they aren't made of eggshells.

I doubt I'd wear an aero helmet often -- too hot in Texas most of the time. But it'd be handy to try for some new PRs/KOMs in cool weather.

madpogue 

As if the IM(s) won't be.....

Hackman61

So I was able to score a Red/White 1987 Ironman Expert this weekend. It's a bike I wanted 30 years ago. It needs rubber and I'm not sold on 23's so I was thinking Continental 25's. What flavor of Conti's would you guys recommend for the IM? It could also use some new white hoods and white bar tape. Any suggestions are truly appreciated. Bike just needs a thorough cleaning and some Testors touch up paint. I can't believe how light the steel frame is. It's lighter than my aluminum Sirrus. It's going to be a blast getting this bike out on the road.

texaspandj

Congrats, now where are the pics?

Classtime 

@Hackman61 I'm a Continental GP4000s fan and just put a pair on my wife's 87. Deals can be had on the 4000s because the 5000s replace it.

markwesti

Because you asked , I would switch to tubulars
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tubular-Con...QAAOSwfcVUCc4g

Then I would get this fork .
Tange ''Large'' Chrome Cinelli Style fork for 700c short reach brake racke bike NOS gorgeous chrome!


Last I would switch to Newbaum's cloth bar tape black of course and some black hoods .
Have a nice day .

Hackman61

Working on that Texas...I"ll try to post some tonight.

RobbieTunes

Put them on the back, with a smile face under them in white decal..... Just sayin'...

The Base Camp helmet is a LOT cheaper than an Air Attack.....
(I had to go up a size, recently, so I know...Belieeeeeeve me, I know).
Once in a while, I see the replacement shields on sale, but almost never the clear replacement shields.
I didn't wear my shield helmet in St. Louis this weekend, wore just an Air Attack and round Rx suns.
I like the expandability so I can wear winter caps under the helmet.

I floated the idea of going "no helmet" on RAIN next year. if it's hot again.
That idea was very quickly, very flatly nixed by a person who cares.
End of discussion, period.

canklecat

Continental Grand Prix Classics. Handmade in Germany, skinwalls, 700x25 only. They aren't actually advertised as skinwalls but when I got 'em I discovered the sidewalls are very thin and supple, translucent against the light. Reddish brown sidewalls, old school tread pattern, very appealing tires. Great price too, around $30-$35 each via Amazon. I rode 'em for about 500 miles this summer on my Trekenstein 5900 crabon fibber bike and liked 'em. Hardly any visible wear after 500 miles. But I took 'em off to put on the Ironman, although I haven't done it yet. The 700x25 is a tight squeeze on the Trek, but will fit fine with the Ironman.

If the original white hoods and tape are salvageable, the best stuff I've found for cleaning up grimy rubber is also the cheapest -- LA's Totally Awesome Oven and Grill cleaner from Dollartree. Pump spray, not aerosol. It's not that horrible caustic stuff in compressed gas cans. The ingredients are pretty much that same as more expensive cleansers. Leaves my Ironman's white hoods clean and pliable. I don't use it too often, but it works great on black grimy smudges. Good for overall grime on the whole bike, rims, etc. I follow up with a thorough rinse in clear water.