RobbieTunes

For <40 miles, that Allez SE, which is more like a crit handler, will feel more agile, and if you pay attention you will be fine.
For >40 miles, the Ironman will be a bit more stable if you tire and a bit easier to maintain your place and relax your attention.
Once you get into the 80’s of mileage, the Ironman is a bit easier to be consistent on. At 100, you realize why you like it.

My opinion only.

ryansu

Thanks for the input -that is what I was looking for

Chinghis

Hey, folks. I've joined your club!

An old co-worker friend of mine dropped me a line this week, and mentioned that he still had the bike he has been wanting to give me for a while. So we got together, and I am now the proud owner of a 1987 Centurion Iron Man Dave Scott Expert. (Do I have all that in the correct order?)

She's a true garage queen. He bought it back in the day to ride and get in shape, etc., but the gearing was too tall for him. Said he had a cassette somewhere that he had always meant to put on, but he couldn't find it.

So I brought her home, wiped her down, lubed the chain, pumped up the tires ... and she rides beautifully. Tires held air, rims are true, everything works like it just rolled out of the LBS.

What's wrong? Oh, the bike computer doesn't display even with a new battery ... need to re-wrap the bars. New brake pads, tubes and tires wouldn't hurt, but other than that she's ready to go. (Don't worry, I'm not gonna go out for a 40-mile ride on the original tires and tubes! Just went for a slow spin around the block.)

I own him one fine barbecue some day.

In any case, here she is in all her glory.

105 components are beautiful.

Condition out of the garage. Never been crashed, I'd wager.

Matching seat bag!

Nitto stem and vintage Cat-Eye.

Quality seat tube.

Holy cow, that cover comes off!

BB Serial Number N6P6754. Database anywhere?

Wait ... there's a friction option?! Sweet!

Miami Vice with a black accent.

She cleans up real pur'dy!

texaspandj

Nice looking Miami Vice, such vibrant colors. Congratulations and welcome.
Gorgeous and stunningly beautiful really. Everytime I look at it new words come to mind.
Inspiring me to wax my MV.

RobbieTunes

Ace bike. Just great.
Welcome to the Empire.

3speedslow

With one of the still functioning saddle covers!

3speedslow

Chinghis

Before any real miles, lube and grease the bearings all around.

aluminummonster

Have always wanted an Ironman, but never wanted to drop the dough on it. After I sold a Circuit that I just could get comfy on yesterday afternoon, the c&v gods smiled on me with a text only CL ad for an Ironman Expert for $100 bucks.

Needless to say, I came home with it. Looks like the previous owner swapped wheelsets, as this one has a Mavic dark anodized wheelset on Shimano 600 hubs and a 7 speed cassette or freewheel (anyone know for sure?) and 600 shifters. Everything else is 105.

Two hours later after some goo gone on the hoods, and some thorough cleaning and lubing, I'm a happy camper.

madpogue 

Wow that's sharp. A 7-speed is probably a cassette, but since it's a swap, only you can know, and only by looking at it.

The GooGone sounds promising; I've read a lot of posts about sticky hoods, esp. white. rosefarts has such a post here from just a few days ago about an IM he's working on for his wife; might be worth a shot.

canklecat

Nice! Great deal too at $100!

Great mix of components too, all excellent.

One of the two red Ironman models is on my bucket list. Some day.

The wheel could be freewheel or freehub, no way of knowing without inspecting the rear hub closely. The bike won't care. Once adjusted you can switch between rear wheels with 7-speed freewheel or another with 7-speed cassette, no problems. I like SunRace freewheels for that -- they're agreeable to both Shimano and Suntour index shifting systems.

I have 7-speed freewheel and freehub cassette wheels -- or *had*, I should say. I had a run of bad luck with wheels and all three rear wheels on three sets went bad a month or so ago. Rims cracked on two with freewheels, and the hub needs overhauling on the third with cassette. Nothing wrong with the original stuff, just 30+ years old, ridden a lot on our rough roads and chipseal. I got plenty of good from 'em.

RobbieTunes

50 yesterday and 70 today.
Temps back in the 90’s .

Earlier in the day. 26 miles in, we found a covered bridge...
On the downhill side of 62 years old....flattering kit for sure!


24% climb, check out the old bridge stanchions for the grade.

I was already in the small ring, but wanted to keep my cadence consistent.
The idea was to incrementally gear up and smoothly get into the grind.


Didn’t work out; dropped chain, barely got unclipped to avoid a fall.


Had to get chain back on; knew better than to start up with crankset on the uphill side.


Got moving, BUT.....


...could not get L foot clipped in.
Kept the foot on the pedal, though, and luckily it didn’t slip, saved my shin.
(you do not want to know what words were being uttered at this time)

So, 16 miles later, went back and climbed it again, cut 53 seconds off the climb time.
Rode the Wraith. I can’t climb 24% on an Ironman.

canklecat

Wow, those look like the original tires too. Super skinny by today's standards, 700x18 or x19. And Wolber Super Champion Alpine rims! I rode a set of those for a year. Just as nice as the slightly lighter Araya CTL-370, those really lightweight low profile climber's rims. And the best looking low profile box section rims with that gray anodized finish, IMO.

canklecat

That looks absolutely brutal.

I'm not sure I could climb that without switching mine to a 110 BCD crankset for the 34T small ring.

Gotta admit, I'd be tempted to try it with my 38, 39 or even 42 small ring, but I'd probably use platform pedals and regular shoes the first time, in case I needed to bail out.

The steepest climb I can find locally is nothing like that. Maybe low double digits, around 15% at worst. And only 400 yards at most before it flattens out a bit.

texaspandj

Congratulations on your great find. That's an '87 expert its original 105 components would be identical to the Miami Vice on this same page.
Cool thing about this era in Shimano components were they were all pretty much compatible, so you could change one component at a time if need be.

texaspandj

My response to anything Robbie post is usually Dang RT.
Looks like fun.

Classtime 

Chinghis Lovely Miami Vice. I had one in similar condition and it is now with a dad who rides with his son and daughter--all on IMs. Too bad about your CatEye. Tap it a little, spray it with tuner cleaner. It's gotta work!

76SLT 

That looks like a really nice Ironman. You did good! Have fun with it.

RobbieTunes

The world just keeps getting better.

seypat

The last 2 IM acquisitions listed are super clean!

seypat

That kit you have on is en fuego! 🔥
The pics with the vehicles in the background really tell the story. I don't know if I could make it even with a triple. Maybe I could zigzagging like one of the riders.
The drops on the bike in the covered bridge sure are shallow.

ilbarbaro

Folks,

I still have my ‘89 purple haze master. What do you think of converting it to a “gravel” bike? Can the frame and fork take it? Can the 600 brakes fit a wider tire like a 28 .. or more?

RobbieTunes

Nope. Neither can the rear brake bridge.

I, too, considered it. A long time ago. Not very workable.

Yes. It’s an Ironman.

RobbieTunes

Thanks.

Yep on the bars. When I was behind him, I was jealous.

Chinghis

Thank you! I find myself just staring at it, honestly. I didn't realize I would find it so pretty.

Those are rare, I take it? Can I hand-wash it, I assume?

Thanks, good advice ... but I was antsy today and took it out on new tires for a 20-mile ride. Sorry, won't do it again But yeah, I will probably take her in for an overhaul and pedal-change. I like the bike too much to topple over in toe-clips at a light because I forgot they aren't clipless! Would also like a nice white leather saddle. The seat today was OK, but won't take much abuse, I don't think. Certainly not the cover, may as well keep it nice.

"Super skinny" - you're telling me! I rode it before looking at them, and then realized that they're 20s. Even at just 80 pounds super-hard ride. I put on some 28s, and, yeah, that's as big as you can go, I think. Kind of had to squeeze them past the brakes.

I thought of doing conversions to make it more rideable, but I remembered today how fun a fast road bike is. So I don't want to change much (certainly too pretty to ride on gravel!), except maybe a lower gear range for hill-climbing. But I do like her as she is.

Thanks, gonna give that a shot!

Thanks, I shall!

ilbarbaro

Thanks, Robbie!

I hate seeing it unused. Might have to put her up for sale.