My $25 Centurion
08-08-11, 05:16 PM
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My $25 Centurion
I came accross a C/L ad a few weeks back for a "Centurion 10-speed", asking price of $25. The photo was pretty fuzzy, showing a vintage bike that had a bolted on aero bar. I called on the bike and the owner indicated that it was a Semi Pro. The bike has some history, having been ridden by the first owner in the Iron Man. It was sold to the next owner who had it handing in his garage for years. He later gave it to the person from whom I bought it when he heard that he intended to do a triathlon. That person rode it in an Olympic length triathlon and then stored it, finally listing it on C/L when I bought it.
The bike is almost all original, with only the seat having been replaced. The SN starts with M0K, so I am assuming a 1980 bike. It was REALLY dirty and needing the normal parts replaced. Sorry, no "before" pictures. I completely stripped the bike and repacked all the bearings. I replaced the cables (Jagwire) and housings, brake pads (Jagwire), brake hoods, rewrapped the bars, and added my SPD pedals. I replaced the 90mm SR stem with a Nitto 110mm stem which I polished to better match the bike. I also took an old Avocet Racing saddle and recovered it in undyed leather. All in all, I am very pleased with the bike.
Yes, I paid the asking price, no haggle.
The bike is almost all original, with only the seat having been replaced. The SN starts with M0K, so I am assuming a 1980 bike. It was REALLY dirty and needing the normal parts replaced. Sorry, no "before" pictures. I completely stripped the bike and repacked all the bearings. I replaced the cables (Jagwire) and housings, brake pads (Jagwire), brake hoods, rewrapped the bars, and added my SPD pedals. I replaced the 90mm SR stem with a Nitto 110mm stem which I polished to better match the bike. I also took an old Avocet Racing saddle and recovered it in undyed leather. All in all, I am very pleased with the bike.
Yes, I paid the asking price, no haggle.
08-08-11, 05:20 PM
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Wow, Preynmantis, very nice score. Did you eat the seller's head off, too? 
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'72 Cilo Pacer • '72 Peugeot PX10 • '73 Speedwell Ti • '74 Nishiki Competition • '74 Peugeot UE-8 • '86 Look Equipe 753 • '86 Look KG86 • '89 Parkpre Team Road • '90 Parkpre Team MTB • '90 Merlin Ti
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-Randy
'72 Cilo Pacer • '72 Peugeot PX10 • '73 Speedwell Ti • '74 Nishiki Competition • '74 Peugeot UE-8 • '86 Look Equipe 753 • '86 Look KG86 • '89 Parkpre Team Road • '90 Parkpre Team MTB • '90 Merlin Ti
Avatar photo courtesy of jeffveloart.com, contact: contact: jeffnil8 (at) gmail.com.
08-08-11, 05:24 PM
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Un-*****ing believable!!! Sorry had to say it!
Congrats on your sweet Centurion. Envy...envy.
Congrats on your sweet Centurion. Envy...envy.
08-08-11, 05:35 PM
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Yowzaaaa!
08-08-11, 05:47 PM
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That looks very dangerous! - that crank has holes in it, and the frame tubes are probably hollow! Why, that bike could collapse any second! 
-Better ship it to me for repair.
-Better ship it to me for repair.
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08-08-11, 05:52 PM
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interesting, looks like it is very close to my super elite. Love mine, also got it in Colorado for $75
08-08-11, 05:55 PM
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$25? 
good greif
good greif
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
08-08-11, 05:57 PM
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incazzare.
Sometimes I can't even find lunch for $25.
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08-08-11, 05:58 PM
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Were you grinning from ear to ear when you finally saw the bike in person? If not you must be one hell of a poker player.
A find like that dosent happen very often.
A find like that dosent happen very often.
08-08-11, 07:14 PM
#11
Dropped
Wow, nice job! That thing is squeaky clean.
08-08-11, 07:17 PM
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Oh Wow! Very nice. I very jealous!
08-08-11, 07:17 PM
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That's sick. Do you ever feel lucky after you score something like that? And for 25clams??? What a gorgeous bike 
08-08-11, 07:34 PM
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Did it come to you that clean???
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08-08-11, 07:39 PM
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I wasn't... on the outside. He made a comment about how he had mentioned to his wife how the bike might be worth quite a bit more. My reply was that to the right person, I am sure he could have gotten more. My reaction, in part, was that I was not fully aware of just how good a find it was until later.
08-08-11, 07:39 PM
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08-08-11, 07:42 PM
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Not even remotely, it was filthy. The front hub would hardly even turn, the chain, freewheel, rings, and transmission were frightful. It took me over a week to get it remotely clean. I have been detailing and putting it back together for the last week. I really should have taken pictures before, but it was really sad and I was excited to get it clean.
08-08-11, 07:52 PM
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nice work. lovely bike.
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08-08-11, 08:02 PM
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Well done Sir!!!
I love seeing $25.00 bikes turned into beautiful things
Cheers,
Chris
I love seeing $25.00 bikes turned into beautiful things
Cheers,
Chris
08-08-11, 08:19 PM
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08-08-11, 08:26 PM
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When the guilt builds up so bad that you can't stand it, I'll pay shipping to alleviate that burden.
Outstandng.
Lucky bastid.
Sounds like it's in the right place, though. Ride it like you stole it.
Outstandng.
Lucky bastid.
Sounds like it's in the right place, though. Ride it like you stole it.
08-08-11, 08:37 PM
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This is fun stuff. Now my life is boring as far as vintage goes....nothing on the horizon for the time being.
08-08-11, 08:37 PM
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Not even remotely, it was filthy. The front hub would hardly even turn, the chain, freewheel, rings, and transmission were frightful. It took me over a week to get it remotely clean. I have been detailing and putting it back together for the last week. I really should have taken pictures before, but it was really sad and I was excited to get it clean.
08-08-11, 09:13 PM
#25
Dropped
Not even remotely, it was filthy. The front hub would hardly even turn, the chain, freewheel, rings, and transmission were frightful. It took me over a week to get it remotely clean. I have been detailing and putting it back together for the last week. I really should have taken pictures before, but it was really sad and I was excited to get it clean.
