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Post your Centurion Ironman.. For the love of 80s paint jobs!

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Post your Centurion Ironman.. For the love of 80s paint jobs!

Old 08-21-20, 04:14 PM
  #8926  
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I sold both of mine last October.....built up a new one in May.

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Old 08-21-20, 06:53 PM
  #8927  
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Originally Posted by texaspandj
That's awesome. I love the look of that particular year of DA brifters. Of course I like DA period over anything else including campy.
Are you still insisting on keeping your Ironman stock?
Yeah, after I experiment a bit with other downtube shifters and rear derailleurs I'm planning to return the Ironman to mostly stock. After getting the Suntour GPX group tuned to my liking it works really well. And it looks great, very sleek.

I need to clean up the GPX RD first, but I'll probably put it back on in a week or two.

Here are some photos of the Ironman today with Shimano 600 Tricolor (which I didn't realize is 8 speed until this week), and Shimano L422 Light Action 6 speed friction shifter. It's smooth. But I'm gonna take it off and save it for another project.

And I'm not sure whether I mounted those L422 levers correctly. There were no specific installation instructions in the Shimano archives, but were for Dura Ace Light Action downtube shifters, so I used that as a guide.

To take up the slack in the cable I had to tie down the spring loaded levers with a Velcro strap, then hook up the cables. The levers protrude up at rest. Similar to the Dura Ace downtube shifters but not quite identical.




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Old 08-21-20, 07:57 PM
  #8928  
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Schwinn pixie stingray convertible

This week has been slow with bike repairs. Fortunately we're going to open our business again (in a safe manner) next month.
So since it's been slow I asked my son to get the schwinn pixie out of his moms shed that we put there back in '95. My two sons and I were building low rider stingrays bitd and we acquired this pixie stingray for it's short crankarms. The short crankarms allow you to really drop your bike low but ultimately we didn't need them. So it's been there rusting away for 25 years!
My intentions are to bring it back close to original for my daughter however she's growing so fast so in the meantime of cleaning and polishing I've decided to turn it into a BMX style (because that's what I had on hand) so she can ride it. The coolest thing is my daughter actually said it's Cool and currently doesn't want to paint it...I think that's weird considering her being a fan of bright neon colors, rainbows and unicorns.
Anyways, thought I'd share.
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Old 08-21-20, 08:09 PM
  #8929  
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Rusty Crusty

Top tube is removable, allowing it to be a girls bike

Rusty Trusty
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Old 08-22-20, 11:36 AM
  #8930  
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Originally Posted by texaspandj

Rusty Crusty

Top tube is removable, allowing it to be a girls bike

Rusty Trusty
Removable TT is handy!
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Old 08-22-20, 06:47 PM
  #8931  
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Got today’s century in. Tomorrow is another day.


Three of us took turns pulling, 2 minute intervals.

Ride for Heroes. They did a great job using COVID protocol. We pulled into the parking lot, and they came to us with a golf cart. No contact check-in, and we rolled on our own, in intervals. Rest stops were spaced out well, but they served across the table. Masks were mandatory (we took them off for the photos). Afterwards, in keeping with potential HnHH, I had too many margaritas and Gail had to drive.

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Old 08-22-20, 08:56 PM
  #8932  
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Originally Posted by RobbieTunes
Got today’s century in. Tomorrow is another day.


Three of us took turns pulling, 2 minute intervals.

Ride for Heroes. They did a great job using COVID protocol. We pulled into the parking lot, and they came to us with a golf cart. No contact check-in, and we rolled on our own, in intervals. Rest stops were spaced out well, but they served across the table. Masks were mandatory (we took them off for the photos). Afterwards, in keeping with potential HnHH, I had too many margaritas and Gail to drive.
You 3 still look fresh! It must have been a good day.
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Old 08-23-20, 05:48 AM
  #8933  
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I think I have the problem figured out with those Shimano L422 Light Action friction shifters on my Ironman. I forgot that the new cables came from a sketchy source. I got bulk packs of cables and housings a couple of years ago and they turned out to be mediocre quality. The cables stretch a mile before finally settling down, so I needed to pull the slack after every ride to reset the shifters so they'd cover the full range of the cassette.

I think the L422 lever pulls enough cable to cover an 8-speed cassette, which I might try -- just got a new SunRace 12-28 in the mail this week. I've had good luck with a SunRace 8-speed 12-32 cassette on my Univega for more than a year, although I need another rear derailleur to use the big cog. The original Exage RD covers only 7 speeds unless I switch to friction mode. There's a little cage pivot stop machined into the inside of the RD that I might be able to remove with a moto tool to give it room to cover 8 speeds in index mode.

And the cable housings compress so much the brakes will barely work the first few rides until the housing has compressed enough to stabilize. But I'm not replacing any housings for now, until I buy some decent stuff from Jagwire or Shimano.

I took a couple of test rides Saturday and things seem okay, although I had to keep torquing down the bolts to prevent shifter creep and ghost shifting. I'm gonna try a long ride Sunday and see how it goes.

They are nice shifters but I'll probably switch back to the original Suntour GPX group soon.
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Old 08-23-20, 08:15 AM
  #8934  
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Originally Posted by seypat
You 3 still look fresh! It must have been a good day.
Agreed. That looks more like a before pic than an after.
Looking good, keep it going R.T.
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Old 08-23-20, 08:26 AM
  #8935  
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Originally Posted by canklecat
I think I have the problem figured out with those Shimano L422 Light Action friction shifters on my Ironman. I forgot that the new cables came from a sketchy source. I got bulk packs of cables and housings a couple of years ago and they turned out to be mediocre quality. The cables stretch a mile before finally settling down, so I needed to pull the slack after every ride to reset the shifters so they'd cover the full range of the cassette.

I think the L422 lever pulls enough cable to cover an 8-speed cassette, which I might try -- just got a new SunRace 12-28 in the mail this week. I've had good luck with a SunRace 8-speed 12-32 cassette on my Univega for more than a year, although I need another rear derailleur to use the big cog. The original Exage RD covers only 7 speeds unless I switch to friction mode. There's a little cage pivot stop machined into the inside of the RD that I might be able to remove with a moto tool to give it room to cover 8 speeds in index mode.

And the cable housings compress so much the brakes will barely work the first few rides until the housing has compressed enough to stabilize. But I'm not replacing any housings for now, until I buy some decent stuff from Jagwire or Shimano.

I took a couple of test rides Saturday and things seem okay, although I had to keep torquing down the bolts to prevent shifter creep and ghost shifting. I'm gonna try a long ride Sunday and see how it goes.

They are nice shifters but I'll probably switch back to the original Suntour GPX group soon.
Yep, it sucks when things don't work to your standards but it's awesome when you figure it out.
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Old 08-23-20, 01:24 PM
  #8936  
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I'm going to join your club. Or thrust my wife into it more accurately.

I'm planning to pick this up on Tuesday. It's the same size as my wife's ****ty (modern) motobecane but with 700c wheels. Far cooler.

Still too big for the wee little lady but she rides like 3 times a year, it'll be a lot more fun having this around. It's currently for sale for $80.

And this is the best pic I found.

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Old 08-23-20, 05:56 PM
  #8937  
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That little Expert looks great. My wife has an 87 MV and we planned on doing some Tri Sport events but her ears are a mess and she's a runner ... but my daughter's BF did a 1/2 IM solo event on it during his visit yeesterday.
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Old 08-23-20, 06:15 PM
  #8938  
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Originally Posted by Classtime
That little Expert looks great. My wife has an 87 MV and we planned on doing some Tri Sport events but her ears are a mess and she's a runner ... but my daughter's BF did a 1/2 IM solo event on it during his visit yeesterday.
I've done two Ironmans and probably 50-60 shorter events. My best was the 1/2, I actually won my age group on those occasionally. This was 20 years ago. I did it on a Felt B2 when they were still a boutique company. 650c Hed 3, Vision one piece aerobars - quill, and a 56t big ring.

I sometimes miss those days but I can barely swim across the pool anymore.

Funny enough, I always thought that Ironman bikes were a total gimmick, since they were road bikes and most definitely not tri bikes. Maybe if my tri days were 35 years ago, they would have made more sense.

​​​​
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Old 08-23-20, 06:20 PM
  #8939  
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Originally Posted by texaspandj
Agreed. That looks more like a before pic than an after.
Looking good, keep it going R.T.
It is, note the long shadows.

101.4 miles yesterday, 91 degrees.
108.69 miles today, 94 degrees.


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Old 08-23-20, 07:06 PM
  #8940  
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You, sir, are a better man than I.

Or at least a younger man than I.
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Old 08-23-20, 07:47 PM
  #8941  
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Originally Posted by RobbieTunes
It is, note the long shadows.

101.4 miles yesterday, 91 degrees.
108.69 miles today, 94 degrees.

Super Cool and to top it off your jersey has my Spirit Animal on it.
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Old 08-23-20, 09:34 PM
  #8942  
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Originally Posted by RobbieTunes
It is, note the long shadows.

101.4 miles yesterday, 91 degrees.
108.69 miles today, 94 degrees.

I'm not worthy........... of that kind of mileage. I'm getting on my knees to bow down.
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Old 08-24-20, 04:48 AM
  #8943  
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Originally Posted by rccardr
You, sir, are a better man than I.

Or at least a younger man than I.
Just younger.
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Old 08-24-20, 08:40 AM
  #8944  
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Given the scarcity of used bikes here lately, I brought a truckload of them to my LBS to sell for me ---

I am hoping that these machines go to homes of some new Ironman enthusiasts !

'87 Expert and '89 Master ---- theres a smoke color '90 DiamondBack MAster TG hanging on that wall as well as a passel of Cannondales too --- 10 total. (hoping to fund a new MTB build )

But I chuckle when I look at that wall now - because its a scene straight out of 1989 or '90 now !





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Old 08-24-20, 09:14 AM
  #8945  
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I've been doing a bit of google-fu about this bike I'm going to be picking up for my wife tomorrow.

It was built one year, 1987, with a Georgina Terry design. That means 24x1 front wheel. Most of the rest of the bike is 105.

It looks like I can get exactly one tire for it. I might get two, since in the event of damage, but it's always going to be a mail order. 24" presta tubes are readily available surprisingly. Thanks to wheelchair racers, I can probably relace the rim if needed. So that's somewhat reassuring, though I can't imagine a bike like that could possibly be on the road in another 30 years.

The Terry design had only one size and it's smaller than her current bike thankfully. Importantly, due to the funny front end, it's got a shorter top tube.

I'm actually pretty hopeful that this bike is going to be the best fit she's had. At 4'9" (she lies and says 4'10"), she's never had a bike actually fit. That's why running suits her.
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Old 08-24-20, 09:28 AM
  #8946  
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Originally Posted by rosefarts
I've been doing a bit of google-fu about this bike I'm going to be picking up for my wife tomorrow.

It was built one year, 1987, with a Georgina Terry design. That means 24x1 front wheel. Most of the rest of the bike is 105.

r.

I have one of these I am freshening up a bit to sell also --- hoping the right woman of modest stature can enjoy it !
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Old 08-24-20, 10:09 AM
  #8947  
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Originally Posted by DMC707
I have one of these I am freshening up a bit to sell also --- hoping the right woman of modest stature can enjoy it !
Whats it worth, in case she hates it?

I'm only paying $80 for it, so I am going to get it just because I think it'll be fun to fix. I was thinking 300-400 on eBay.
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Old 08-24-20, 10:39 AM
  #8948  
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Originally Posted by rosefarts
Whats it worth, in case she hates it?

I'm only paying $80 for it, so I am going to get it just because I think it'll be fun to fix. I was thinking 300-400 on eBay.
Yknow - im not sure

It can go one of two ways

1) Its a specialty piece - with a 24" front wheel purpose designed for those short in stature - and in a cool color -- so its worth more than a regular Ironman !

or

2) I ts a specialty piece - with a 24" front wheel purpose designed for those short in stature - and in a "unique" color -- so its worth less than a regular Ironman !


But a good Ironman in ready to ride shape should be worth $275-300
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Old 08-24-20, 11:07 AM
  #8949  
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Originally Posted by DMC707
- and in a "unique" color -- so its worth less than a regular Ironman !
If this were the case, the MV '87s would be worth less than the red/white ones. 'Course, maybe they are (shrug).....
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Old 08-24-20, 11:30 AM
  #8950  
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Originally Posted by rosefarts
I'm going to join your club. Or thrust my wife into it more accurately.

I'm planning to pick this up on Tuesday. It's the same size as my wife's ****ty (modern) motobecane but with 700c wheels. Far cooler.

Still too big for the wee little lady but she rides like 3 times a year, it'll be a lot more fun having this around. It's currently for sale for $80.

And this is the best pic I found.

FYI, this is a 48cm with 700c Wheels.
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