sjpitts 

My second bike purchase is a Centurion Pro Tour 15. This bike, in contrast to the schwinn circuit in my other post, is actually in great shape. I am not sure of the year on this one.

When I went to look at this bike my intention was replace the scwhinn circuit. This bike is the right size for me after all. But after realizing it was a touring bike with cantilever brakes, and after the seller agreed to sell it for cheap, I changed my mind. I now think I want to keep both. I think I want to put some "bigger" tires that will allow me to ride some of the rougher canal banks around here. I live in Mesa, Arizona, and it seems like some of the better places to ride are canal banks. Some are paved, but most are gravel. And some can be even rocky. One that I have not ridden-- to the granite reef diversion dam-- is supposed to be one of the rougher ones.

The trick is that this bike has 27x1 1/4 wheels. So my tire choices are limited.

I did some searching and found three good choices:

Michellin World Tour in 27x1 1/4
Kenda Krosscyclo in 27x1 3/8
Club Roost Terra in 27x1 3/8

The michellin is a touring tire, the club roost is a cyclecross, and the kenda is somewhere between. I am not sure which to choose. I guess I am not sure how much "lugs" I need just to ride touring bike down a a canal bank. Do I need a full on cyclecross tire like the club roost? I sort of doubt it. But I also doubt that the world tour would be enough-- it is really just a touring tire. So I am inclined to go with the middle road Kenda

So this is a long post-- as I am really looking to for some advice as to how much tire you really need to go down a canal bank. But I guess I will also show off my new centurion

Jared

riva

I have the kendas, they are more like a 1 1/8" imo. Gravel might be ok but prolly not rocks.

mandrake

Very clean! Also has the original rack. I like SunTour Cyclone MII derailleurs.
Same color and size as my Elite GT, 1984. Good luck with it, it's a fine touring bike.

riva

You can always go 700c and try to cram some 32's or 35's on there.

BTW nice centurion, nicer shape than my new 83 elite.

T-Mar

There's a Centurion Serial Number Database thread where you can find the build year, based on the serial number. My guess would be 1981-1983.

Caferacernoc

You are scoring some good stuff.

WNG

Nice find! She looks to be in excellent condition. As suggested, swapping on 700C is worthwhile. But with cantilevers, you may not have enough adjustment. (some cantis don't have a lot of pad position tolerance)
I'd recommend fitting your Circuit's wheels on to see if it's feasible before buying 700C wheels.
Do post your ride reports on the canal banks. I just moved into East Mesa recently and in search of safe and fun routes to ride with my family. The streets are too dangerous IMHO.
I have the CAP canal run pass my property, but I think that one is off limits.

skyrider

Sic bike lots of potential for touring

NormanF

32c would fit. I got the Schwalbe Delta Cruiser tires for my Schwinn Super Sport. I'll ask at the shop if the black shipped me would match the root brown frame - I ordered creme. Anyway, 700C can give you wide tires. I think on older sports touring bikes 35c is the max that can be put on them.

sjpitts 

Thanks for all the replies. I checked for the serial number, and it is N3L0670. So I guess that would make it an 83?

Jared

sjpitts 

Thanks. I love the color as well. I haven't thought about gravel hitting the frame-- and now you are going to make me nervous. But to be honest, there are already more than a few little scratches on the bike.

Jared

T-Mar

Yes, it's a 1983 model, Specifically, it was built in late June, 1983. BTW, the color is called Gun Metal Black and original price was $435 US.

Exit.

If you switch to 700c, you can run Schwalbe Marathons, which are really awesome thicker road tires.

mrmw

The Michelin World Tours mounted and inflated to max inflation pressure are 33mm wide.

You don't need lugs for rough surfaces. Read more at sheldonbrown.com.

What you need for rougher surfaces is to cut your tire pressures by 30% to 40 %.

Then reinflate when you return to asphalt.

RobbieTunes

Great bike. I haven't seen any rough and ready 27's in a long time, if ever.

sjpitts 

One more question about this bike. What size do you think it is? I swear I tried to follow the instructions on how to measure-- and measured from the center of the BB to to the top of the top tube and got 23 inches. Or just about 59 cm.

But now I see Robbie selling these other centurions here:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=520793

And it looks to me like my bike is closer to the size of the 56cm ironman than the size of the 58cm turbo. Am I just measuring wrong?

Jared

sjpitts 

Can anyone help me with this? And I had the same question on the schwinn circuit.

Jared

RobbieTunes

Centurion measured from the center of the bottom bracket, along the side of the seat tube, to the top of the top tube. They used the "end" of the tube, whether it was "scalloped" on the side, or not. Often the lug on the top of the seat tube raised up to a point on the front part, but Centurion, I believe, measured to the lowest part of the "cutout" on the side. And on my models configured that way, it's also very close to the top of the top tube.

I use my 56cm Centurion Ironman bikes for reference, mainly because they've all been sold to me as 56cm bikes, and measure 56 cm using that method. They also pretty much measure 56cm from the center of the bb to the top of the top tube.

Using them as a reference point, I've measured and labeled my 54cm and 58cm bikes as such.

I also support this by referring to the carbon Ironman frames. Mine are clearly marked "60x62.5" on the bottom bracket. They do measure 60cm from the center of the bb to the opening of the seat tube on top. However, the overlength lugs used to hold the tubes clearly skews the effective size, which is closer to 58cm. In fact, the standover is identical to the 58cm bikes I've got.

I can't get a good look at Jared's head tube, which is how I generally make my guesses, but I sure don't think it's a 61cm. It does look more like a 56. The Ironman frames had the pump spike, which made it easier to guage the frame size. I'm pretty sure my Turbo is bigger than his Pro Tour.

And I'd sure like to have that Pro Tour.

sunburst

Beautiful Centurion! I would have bought that in a second.

So anyway, another good choice that I think would work for you is the Schwalbe Marathon. I put them on my touring bike for road and limited trail riding. They are comfortable riding tires (supposedly absorb road vibration), with some thread, and I believe the #1 touring tire in Europe. I could only fit the 700x28s, but they should be even better at 27x1 1/4.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/psc7m...27_tire/pp.htm

This is a good price also. My LBS sells them for $50 each!