flyfisherbob

First of all, thanks to all who provided encouragement and advice. This was a fun project, especially since this was my old tri bike, so I am excited to have it back into better condition. The only things not original when I began this were tires, tubes and bar tape, so a rebuild was very overdue. Lessons learned: While much of the project went better than I expected, I have some things to get better at doing. First, setting up and adjusting single pivot sidepulls can be a challenge. Do any of you replace with dual pivot upgrades? Second, rear derailleurs can be hinky as well, particularly if grit and gunk get on threads. Third, I have a ways to go before I get a really clean wrap of the bars. Practice, practice, practice. Fourth, while I prefer to support the LBS, I am pretty sure I spent two to three times as much getting parts from them as I would have from other sources. Nonetheless, their help was appreciated, especially for a first time build. Now, pics as promised

devinfan

That looks fantastic - very classic looking!

cehowardGS

Looking dam good!!

RubberLegs

Nice! Great Job, a lot of satisfaction doing it yourself!!!

Bianchigirll 

It looks really great! I still have trouble wrapping bars. As for the brakes.... most of my rides have regular sidepulls and I find them no harder to set up than DPs. What I hate is Cantilevers but somehow I managed to collect 3 cross bikes, and 3 MTBs with cantilevers OY!

Bruce Enns

Awesome bike flyfisherbob, what year LeMans is that? I just picked up what appears to be a very clean identical bike on ebay, with all the same components in a 57cm frame. I should have it on Wednesday and hope to have her on the road Saturday. I bought it for my Son's girlfriend, she saw one and fell in love with the color scheme. It'll be an early Christmas present from us to her .......TMI, lol.

balindamood

Red and white bike are the bomb.

flyfisherbob

According to the database thread, it is an 86 model, which memory serves as about right. I like the looks of the white bar wraps on your pic, but only when they are brand new. After a while they seem impossible to keep clean. I feel the same about the brake hoods, but haven't found an alternative. As an interesting note, the components are more original than the frame. I bought this bike, and a month into ownership hit a lady that pulled in front of me leaving a shopping center. Three dents in her car, from my front wheel, head tube, and helmet. Result - frame bent beyond repair and a deep appreciation for helmets. LBS swapped the components onto a new frame, front wheel was not even out of true. Good luck on yours - they are a very nice ride.

Bruce Enns

I sent the e-bay link to RobbieTunes and he thought mine was an 86 also. I don't have the s/n as of yet because I won't get the bike until Wednesday. I guess the s/n data can be a bit vague on the Centurions.

I understand about white bar tape, mine will soon be some other color thats not such a PITA to keep looking nice, lol.



Cheers,

RobbieTunes

I have always liked the '86 RS.
Superbe all-around bike, can do centuries and tri's with equal ability.
You did a great job.

This is a good month the red/white Centurions.
Like there's a bad month for red/white Centurions. Yeah. Right.