TriBiker19 

Anyone stumbling into this thread is going to wonder what the hell is going on that we discuss Ironman bikes and write bicycle-centric bodice-rippers.

top506

Now you HAVE to write a bicycle-centric bodice ripper!
Gauntlet thrown.

Top

TriBiker19 

But who has the collection of bikes—the hero or the heroine?

or, she has a collection of vintage and he’s got a collection of modern and they squabble over who’s got the better bikes?

MTB vs road?

texaspandj

Yes, an '88 Expert.

madpogue 

It was trouble from the start. She was Suntour; he was Shimano.

(or) She was Reynolds, he was Columbus.

(or) She was presta; he was schrader. Carrying two pumps on a day's ride was.... unthinkable. "Can't you bring an adapter?", he asked.

(Eek, sorry, we should leave such material to the one person here who actually knows how to write this stuff.....)

TriBiker19 

I have one of those adapters...and I’ve used it. Recently.

Do I have to turn in my Ironman Nation card?

canklecat

Some Topeak pumps have interchangeable chucks for Presta and Schrader. I have the RaceRocket HP and HPX, both with the easily adjustable chucks. They work great. Best mini-pumps I've used. Good ergonomics, decent volume per stroke for high pressure tires. The fatter RaceRockets are better for mountain/hybrid tires -- more volume, lower pressure.

The Blackburn Core Slim is almost a good as the Topeak RaceRocket HPX -- similar length and effort per stroke. And in some ways the Blackburn feels more solid. But it lacks the flesh-friendly ergonomics of the RaceRocket's rubber covered rounded ends. And the Core Slim is Presta only.

On the plus side, the Core Slim has a good Presta core wrench, proper metal. The Topeak RaceRockets claim to have Presta core wrenches, but it's just soft plastic that'll strip if the valve core is more than pinky-finger pressure snug.

RobbieTunes

No, or I have to quit, too.
Ironman Empire understands the thrill of putting an adapter on and rolling the dice at a convenience store air compressor....We embrace the danger.

TriBiker19 

Thank you. I was trying to figure out if it was my pump or my incompetence. I couldn't rule out either option.

Oh gosh, now I told my romance writer friends about you guys and they're encouraging me to use your ideas...

Ottomotion

Just picked up today......


I love the 80's fade paint jobs....

Battle of the fades! Who wore it best? Trek 86 or Centurion 88?

texaspandj

Wow, that purple rain is really nice.
Naturally I have my biased opinion on who wore it best (Centurion Ironman) no doubt. But beyond that, the trek will be a lot easier to touch up the paint.

Ottomotion

Better camera pics...
All original. Tires, bar tape, etc...
Ridden a couple of times and set in a corner. Rims have no brake scuff.

New cables, tires, tubes pads, tape and hoods and then it will be ridden.

seypat

You have to have one on your person in case another rider needs it. In your case, you might come along Brad Pitt(or whoever it is on you hottie list) and he has a flat on his beach cruiser. He doesn't have a pump and has Schrader valves. Just saying. Might be fodder for the book. You'd have to change the names to protect the innocent, of course.

seypat

Clean and fresh! Showroom condition.

madpogue 

What innocent?

TriBiker19 

Me! My mind is as clean as freshly fallen snow.

FWIW, Brad Pitt doesn't hold a candle to Scott Bakula.

What is in the background of those purple haze pictures? Pretty.

Ottomotion

Not a Willys....a 39' Ford DeLuxe coupe. Willys would not have a quarter window...but similar otherwise....(split rear window, etc). My Ford does have a 392 Hemi which can be found in many drag Willys back in the day....
Another fun project to keep me away from the TV.....

By the way.....similar trying to find unobtanium parts.....like white brake hoods. Any help would be appreciated.....

TXsailor

I have pretty good luck cleaning white hoods with Bleche white tire cleaner but it probably is hard on the rubber. I saw yesterday where someone recommended cheap cooking oil mixed with sugar. Then dust some baby powder on them if they are sticky. Haven't tried it yet. Check that stem. If its original its probably above the"safe" line. I love my Purple Haze. Its not near as clean as yours and I bought it with mismatched components so It now sports Dura-Ace 10 speed.

TriBiker19 

I read about vegetable oil and sugar. Worth a try...super cheap fix if it works.

canklecat

If the original hoods are still intact, try LA's Totally Awesome Oven and Grill cleaner, in a pump spray bottle. It's not caustic oven cleaner like Easy Off in compressed gas aerosol cans. I checked the material safety data sheets -- it's basically the same surfactants used by many "green" cleansers, but much cheaper. Costs a whole dollar at Dollartree for a quart or larger pump spray bottle.

I use it to clean my bike, hubs, chain, etc., and the white hoods on my Ironman. Wipes grime right off with just a sponge, no abrasives or hard scrubbing. Leaves the hoods very soft and tacky, so I don't use it too often. The ingredients don't list ammonia, but it smells like ammonia. That's a solvent for latex and some rubber, so I try not to use it too often on the hoods -- maybe a couple of times a year.

Ottomotion

Thanks for the tip! ...and the price is right!

The left hood is super gummy so Im not sure it can even be saved. We shall see....

phtomita

WD-40 was the answer for me. I tried soaking, rubbing when I got the Ironman to remove the dirt of the white hoods with no good results.
Installed back anyways and read about using WD-40. I gave it a try and ohhhhhhhhhh

seypat

Red/white 54 in Big D. 140 smackers.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/bi...072688477.html

madpogue 

How did the seller, who evidently can't find his SHIFT key, get "gruppo" right, but "tubbing" wrong?

canklecat

I saw that this weekend. Thought about it. Frame is too small for me, but the components would work on another frame. But, nah, I'll leave it for someone who can ride it as-is.

I heard a rumor from a local bike flipper that there's a bunch of factory original Centurion Ironman bikes stashed in the Fort Worth/Dallas area, presumably from a distributor that long ago went bankrupt. So nearly-new looking Ironmen occasionally show up on craigslist for around $200 or less. That's how I got mine in 2017, which had fairly little ride wear but some scuffs from indifferent storage and handling.