canklecat

Martial arts training is the best all around fitness program I've found. Especially the mixed martial arts approach, which covers the entire body more than just boxing. When I first heard of high intensity interval training and Crossfit I thought, "Oh... I've been doing that for years in the boxing gym." Three minutes full gas on every station, one minute rest. It's pretty darned intense.

In cycling I've modified my training approach. For a couple of years I focused on spinning, mostly out of concern for my knees. I've avoided the knee injuries and joint deterioration that plagued most of my family. My few knee injuries healed quickly without surgery.

But I finally realized I was plateaued in conditioning. Even doing HIIT on the trainer with cadence up to 160 rpm I wasn't improving. I'd hit my aerobic capacity, which is never gonna improve (too many bouts with respiratory illnesses as a kid).

So in late summer 2019 I switched to more low cadence drills, mashing the biggest gears I could push. I started carefully to ensure I maintained good ergonomic form. I gradually worked up to standing to pedal for longer distances. At first I struggled to stand and pedal for longer than 15 seconds at a time. By now on good days I can stand to pedal at a moderate effort for up to a half-mile 2% grade (plenty of those in my immediate neighborhood). By early December I was doing entire 90 minute, 25 mile rides averaging 60 rpm and mashing bigger gears.

That finally got me past that plateau. I've gone from averaging 15-16 mph overall on longer rides to 17-18 mph. Mashing bigger gears at lower cadence keeps my heart rate well below threshold. I'm recovering quicker between hard efforts, not getting gassed out and gasping for breath, and on good days keeping up with younger riders.

And now I know why Merckx and old school cyclists did the rock 'n' roll, with plenty of body English and torso movement to keep up that momentum, especially on climbs. It's almost impossible to mash big gears at slower cadence and not rock around a bit, especially if you weigh less than around 175 lbs.

VintageTTfan

You might have a point there seypat.....I like your spirit........

norcalmike

Any love for the 84 turbo I picked up tonight for a cool 100?
It's really clean and in original condition sans tires and seat.
just the ad pic now. It's in my trunk at work.

TXsailor

Looks great and I'll bet it rides the same. I'd have jumped on that deal too!

seypat

Sweet! Extra sweetness for only having to part with a single Benjamin. I am shocked just like Benjamin was.

norcalmike

I spend an unnatural amount of time searching for 100 dollar classics. Honest ones too. I avoid the sketchy ones. He was a real nice guy with unfortunate medical issues. He couldn't ride it anymore. I promised it would be preserved and cared for just like he did.

Classtime 

Nice score. I luv my '84 Turbo even though the paint is a bit beat up. Mine is a 24" with a 57cm CTC top tube. Yours looks like a 22" measured in the Centurion fashion CTT. When you get a chance, I'd like to know your top tube measure. Got to love that bronze treatment on the components and I wonder why they didn't use bronze colored Arayas.

norcalmike

When I get home in the morning I will take measurements and better pics. this one has some scuffs and scratches here and there. the levers have some good rash.
Its definitely a bit small for me as I prefer 23s or 58s but maybe wider bars and longer stem will make it work.
I really love the anodized hubs

TXsailor

I wish you were close to N.Texas I might work a trade with you for a 58cm Cannondale R400 that is a little too big for me but is a really nice bike. I have been riding 54 & 56 cm Ironman bikes but am going to give this bigger bike a try.

norcalmike

I have a couple of bigger bikes. I love the long reach. It feels good. I just had to get over the higher stand over.

RobbieTunes

Sweet frames, they are.
Same color as mine.

norcalmike

Pulled a spare Rolls off the shelf and made a height adjustment.
there are some loose spokes and wheels are out of true. As soon as I find my spoke wrench I'll remedy that.
I don't want to test ride until then.


I wish it was a 23 but it's so cool I'm gonna tough it out.

texaspandj

Very nice. It looks like a 58 to me, at least the way Centurion measures it (CtT). So have you measured it yet?

TriBiker19 

I'm seeing several Centurion Elite RS and Cavaletto bikes show up in my local listings for what I would consider a decent price (~$150). Where do those fall in the Centurion hierarchy?

Not that I need another bike, but there are empty spots in the rack...and I haven't come across a Bridgestone or Panasonic for my husband. He doesn't know I'm getting a road bike for him.

ryansu

I am no expert but according to the 86 catalog The Elite RS comes after the IM with Tange 2 tubing and Shimano 600 components. If you are considering Japanese Steel for the Hubs then Miyata, Nishiki and Specialized also made some great steel bikes BITD as well.

TriBiker19 

This is the one that I'm looking at. I hate that there are no closer pictures, though.

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...048892256.html

BFisher

Here is the EliteRS/Super page from Vintage Centurion:
Centurion Elite RS/Super

Seem like pretty decent bikes. I'd be glad to give one a go.

The Cavaletto was lower end.

madpogue 

Rocket-Sauce posted this on the "eBay/CL Finds" thread. Maybe someone down there can look it over for you, before you commit to a road trip.

norcalmike

22 inches CTT

TriBiker19 

When I went back and looked at the pictures of the Cavaletto, I noticed the stem shifters and realized it was a silly question. oops.

PugRider

Picked up this Ironman yesterday for $30. I'm not usually one to haggle, he was initially asking for $50 but the more I looked the more issues I noticed. It's my first Centurion. It seems to be all-original, and has a full Shimano 600 6-speed group save for a pair of Dia-Compe brake levers. There are no dents or cracks but the paint is really not in great shape, and the seatpost was stuck (I was able to get it going with some moderate effort without damaging the post). The 600 pedals must have been neat at some point but these look like they are too far gone. I am loving the Araya gold rims but there are some rusted spoke nipples that will need to be addressed. The hubs and bottom bracket are in decent enough shape; I've seen a lot worse with other projects. The (I'm guessing) original chain passed both sides of the Park Tool chain checker test, so the freewheel and crankset are probably good to go; they certainly present well. The Turbo saddle is a little scruffy but again, not the worst I've seen.

My gut is telling me it needs a strip and repaint, but I kinda just want to get it sorted and ride it for a bit before making that decision. If I did I probably wouldn't recreate the original paint/decal setup, which would make me feel weird, given the Ironman's iconic color schemes. I have no problem with a little patina, though, and I'll probably do some touch up and maybe a spray of clearcoat to get it back on the road. It's a 56, I think. From what I've read about Ironman sizing, they sold them in even increments, and this one measures 55.8 cm from center to top-of-seatpost.

It's currently stripped down to the frame, which was sprayed on the inside with WD-40 and coated on the outside in a Barkeeper's Friend paste to get going on those rust spots. I'm looking forward to a winter project, and I'm looking forward to riding it--I read all the Ironman posts around here with interest. They seem very highly regarded. I haven't really been out looking for an Ironman, but I was happy to have this rough-around-the-edges example fall in my lap.

Centurion Ironman by Eat More Plants1, on Flickr

Centurion Ironman by Eat More Plants1, on Flickr

Centurion Ironman by Eat More Plants1, on Flickr

Centurion Ironman by Eat More Plants1, on Flickr

TriBiker19 

Welcome to the group! I'm just north of you in the Gardner area.

I'm jealous, if your bike had been a little smaller, I'd be asking you if you'd be willing to part with it for a multiple of the price you paid. I love my Centurions! The folks here are fabulous. Truly.

I think that's an '86?

PugRider

Yeah I haven’t gone too deep down the Ironman rabbit hole yet, but that sounds close.
being a 6 speed I figured 85. Can’t wait to ride it!

rccardr 

Yep, it's an 86. 85's were friction shifting 600. Has the much prettier fork crown, too.

The DC levers were OEM, guess the Shimano levers were either unavailable or too 'spensive to include. BTW, I have excellent examples of both the 6208 (non aero) and 6209 (aero, in same bronze finish) levers, either of which could have been spec'd with that 6208 group if Centurion had been willing to pony up. Excellent hoods on 'em, too.

If you like those pedals, I can send you a nice pair, prolly with toe clips and straps. Might be 105's instead of 600's but they look and work the same.

madpogue 

+1 on the '86, good catch on TriBiker19's part. The specs match my '86, right down to the Aero Gran Compe brake levers. I think it was mentioned somewhere way up-thread that the Shimano 600 aero levers weren't quite ready for the '86 model year rollout.

Also, I think it's a 54cm. Mine's a 56, and it has a finger-width or so more head tube. RobbieTunes has one or two (or ten or...) 54s, so he might have a better sense visually.

Tough call on the finish. Yeah, it's one of the rougher ones seen here. OTOH, those graphics may not be much fun to match.

And yes, without poring over the >8000 posts in this thread, I'd be willing to bet a nickel you win the award for the best effing deal on one of these yet.