Glennfordx4

I got my 1985 Centurion Elite RS because the owner wanted me to remove the cranks so he could paint it black and get rid of the fruity colors, I told him he was crazy & he should just leave it alone. Thank god the bike was 6 sizes to big for him & I had a Bianchi Europa in his size that he asked me to trade for the Centurion.

Glenn

This is how I received it,


This is how it looked the first time I built it, now it is full Shimano 600EX minus the seat post ,

gaucho777 

Just a thorough cleaning/regreasing, plus new tape, tires, cables, and saddle.

Before
2

After

scopinusa

Hey Fellas, Thought I should post a pic of the Miami. Still using the Araya 27" wheels. I like the "Prima Plus 2" (CST) tires from Nashbar and I use thick Avinir tubes. Bulletproof. Lots of thorns, goatheads etc. in AZ. I don't ride to fix flats. I can usually get 2500+ miles out of this tire/tube set up without flats from debris or the thinning of the tube with friction. Yes, a little more weight, but I can finish a 50 to 100 mile ride with confidence.

WNG

^ Very nice! Paint looks to be in good shape. That bike is worth keeping and upgrading.

When I moved to PHX, I also was suffering from the dreaded goat heads. I had to switch to the thorn-resistant tubes too in order keep my sanity.
I've since discovered, the flat issue is more location oriented. Older neighborhoods don't have much of a flat problem. The newer developments seem to always produce thorn flats. Also, areas with landscaper contracts produce more too, from dropping the cuttings all over the sides of roads.
I've moved to an older area and I no longer run the thick tubes. I haven't gotten a flat from thorns in two years.

scopinusa

Thanks WNG. Maybe we can meet at some point and ride. I normally ride the Cave Creek wash path from Union Hills/7th Ave south and run the Arizona Canal (SRP) east or west depending on the wind or whim. When I found the bike I was elated that it had the potential to be a much better ride than I've had before. I waited a while for some cheap way to out fit it with original wheels, etc. I finally patched it together about 2 1/2 years ago. It is so smooth, agile, and comfortable. Everyone should try one of these bikes.

I also ride an '85-'86 Raleigh Elkhorn; triple butted, Deore, Bio-Pace and an '88 Peugeot MTB with Exage, Bio-Pace. The Raleigh has 1.5" Conti's for around town; the Peugeot has MTB tires for running the trails. Both are very good bikes and ride extremely well. 'Found 'em at the same Goodwill store for $40.00 each about 10 years apart.

I'm still a youngster in my own mind. 'Just staying away from the mirror these days. If you want to ride, I usually run about 12-15 mph on average days without huge wind (which we seem to have had wind for the last few weeks). Let me know!

scopinusa

Hi WNG and All; Here's the Raleigh Mountain Tour (triple butted; Deore; Bio-pace) currently with Conti City tires. Very fun, reasonably light for blasting around town. Lots of miles on it, but still runs perfectly.
And the Peugeot Canyon Express; Exage; Bio-pace; Salmon color. I use this for the AZ deserts. Indestructible. I don't think I'll live long enough to wear either bike out. New chains once in a while. This bike is built for someone bigger/stronger than I am. I'm 5'10" and weigh 150 lbs. and am gettin' older. OK, 64 for all you curious ones. 'Can't make the frame flex while riding...
BTW I only use Boeing T-Shield on all my bikes for lube. Very quiet, NO tattoos, doesn't trap the fine-particle desert sand. Anyone have any views?

WNG

@scopinusa
Sounds like fun, we can try to arrange a ride when the temps allow. We have several C&V forumites that live in the Valley, and I've shared a ride along the AZ Canal from Granada Park out to Sun City and Peoria last year. I think it was the best ride route in PHX. No cars, few people, and in the Winter, so it was perfect out.
You're lucky to have close local access to it. There isn't anything to compare in the East Valley.

Get together rides are always leisure fun rides, so don't worry about the pace. 15mph is OK by me these days. It's hot, and I'm a wimp when it comes to the heat.

I've also been seduced by mountain biking recently, and have spent time on that lately with my last two bike builds. We can also try to do some trails too. I finished a 91 Haro Impulse Comp just for the trails.

You and I are the same build, but I bet you ride a lot more and can embarrass me!

You have a nice trio of bikes! The Raleigh Elkhorn is a nice classic, and just happen to be a model above my latest purchase last week! A 84-85 Raleigh Tamarack Mountain Tour frame, wheels, and crank. It has 650B wheels instead of 26" mtb wheels. So, that should be a fun project. I need the right seat post, and stem.
Since it's long and lazy, I may put touring tires on it and swept back bars.

The Peugeot mtb looks cool, not seen that color before. We have a classic mtb thread and several Peugeot 'Express' models are featured. You should post your bikes there and showcase these classics.

Here's the thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ain-bikes.html

Another great mtb thread here is the conversion thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...nversions.html

Oh, and let's not forget the Centurion Ironman thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...aint-jobs.html

BTW, I hear Boeshield's great, and I may have to try some.

link0

1988 Panasonic Japan built Schwinn Prologue with Tange Prestige tubing and investment cast lugs

Before (bought for $150, full Shimano 600):


After (many many dollars and hours later, with Ultegra 6700):

scopinusa

Many thanks for the dialog WNG! I love the canals. The AZ canal takes me from Metro Center to Youngstown/El Mirage with a two mile diversion to the Grand Canal. The Grand is mostly hardpack granite but is fine for a road bike. It leads past south downtown. The AZ Canal east of Metro Center runs through the Biltmore area then south on the Crosscut Canal (Papago area) to Tempe Town Lake....Great ride anytime! (Well when it's below 125*) My bicycling map from Maricopa Associated Governments show canals out east of Tempe and through some wilderness but I haven't tried them.

Oh man, I know something about embarrassment! Some days my pace is really off. Diet, sleep, rhythms, who the heck knows. I've been embarrassed by kids on tricycles! I always just ride for the fun/recreation. Some segments may be faster or slower just "because". If I ride along with anyone, I let 'em know there's no competition, just fun. I'll try to keep up and enjoy 8 mph as much as 15 mph; maybe enjoy it more at 8!

I'll connect wth the CV links you mentioned. Glad I finally am becoming more active on this forum.

Hey link0 That is a SWEET Schwinn Prologue! You made a nice, nice bike into a show piece............

eschlwc

^ wow, link0. great choices.

before, meh:


after, '83 univega viva sport:

GordoTrek

1974 Raleigh Grand Prix
Before:



After:



its changed a little since this picture was taken, ive shortened the housings and monkeyed with the saddle position, and added a brass bell to the stem

non-fixie 

Before:



After:

gaucho777 

^Looks nice, non-fixie. The saddle is a big improvement. What was the decal on the front fork? Were the hoods not salvagable? They look fairly intact but it's hard to tell from the photo. Is it a Gitane?

@GordoTrek: Fantastic job on the Grand Prix. That bike has been totally transformed!

likebike23

My highly customized 1974 U08.

Before:


After a lot of work and parts:


I am really enjoying riding this bike. The gearing is perfect for my style of riding, the fit is great, and it is a really smooth handling bike.

rootboy 

a'fore


later…

Vonruden

CL pictures



Cleaned up

non-fixie 

Thanks, @gaucho777. Yes, it's a rather well-worn Gitane TdF. A bit of an experimental parts bin special. I wanted to build a bike with a sixties look & feel with European parts I had on hand. I thought the steel cottered Stronglight cranks were a good starting point. But as I've got a week of touring in France and Belgium coming up, I thought I'd dial some hill-climbing ability into the specs as well. So I exchanged the 53/49 Simplex chain rings for a 50/38 Nervar set, mounted a 14-28 FW, and - after a lot of trial and error with Campagnolo and Huret - found out that only Simplex would both look the part and handle the 28T cog and the chainwrap I needed without too much hassle.
The Weimann brake hoods were indeed salvagable, but I'd decided to upgrade to MAFAC "RACER" brakes, and had already mounted the levers and taped the bar before finding out that "RACER" brakes don't fit. As a matter of fact no centerpull I had was short enough, neither were a pair of Universal 51's I had so it was back to Weinmann. But I couldn't mount the original levers on the MAFAC studs, so I opted for these Universal/Balilla lookalikes, with the remnants of the bar tape around them:

non-fixie 

That is a beautiful bike, Vonruden! The straight lines and the dark blue make it look really classy.

Vonruden

Thanks! It's very responsive and light for a larger Steel ride.

GordoTrek

thanks Gaucho77, lots of love, still need to condition that saddle, what a hard peice of leather, my proofide comes today so hopefully it will soften soon.

baileyatx

bobilina

IthaDan 

Glad to see you've moved on to bikes your size.

GordoTrek

thanks dan, the trek definitely fits me too! i will never sell that one, i just put a set of Mavic cxp21's on it this weekend, replaced the mismatched set i had on there,

i saw your collection a while back its definitely grown since last time ive looked...

WNG

Hey that's a nice red Triathon! Good work!
Can you post more detailed pictures of your Benotto? I started a thread of restoring one that would be great to have your red one added.

Here's mine that I saved....

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/898793-returning-benotto-triathlon-back-road-worthiness-pic-heavy.html?highlight=