daverup 

Down on a 110/74 mountain crank,

genejockey 

In terms of my preference, it runs like this:
Shimano Biopace ring in 40t > Current Shimano Biopace rings (42t) > Shimano round rings in 40 or 39t > other brand oval rings.

So far, at my current age/weight/fitness, I can handle the 42t small ring without distress, as long as I run a 13-26 rear cluster. Ask me again in a couple years, I might say different.

texaspandj

It's a 32.
You're lucky to get a 28 to fit.
It's not a 650b conversion however I think my Comp TA may have been made to run 27 inch wheels.

markwesti

Not mine and I don't know the owner . Friendly price . Ready for gravel conversion ?
https://santabarbara.craigslist.org/...410301808.html

markwesti

Nice looking (untouched ?) 85' , first production year for the Ironman . As usual not mine , blah blah .
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...413470595.html

DMC707

Im going to post a one of my separate stand alone "build threads" for this one - but wanted to post a pic here before i got started as this is almost a historical catalog of all things Ironman -- LOL

The tiniest of Iroman's (Ironwoman?) -- in coral color scheme

CooperJames

markwesti
For sure, go the gravel conversion, that's what I did to mine:
56cm Equalizer Tange 1 - rear stays cold set to 130mm dropout spacing, frame weighs 2250g, not particularly light, but a nice riding frame
6401 groupset, 6400 single pivot rear brakes, 165mm cranks (easier on the hip joints), 52/42 biopace,
11-32 HG50 8 speed cassette
R500 shifters
Cheapest chain I could find (TAYA)
Rockshox road seat post
Saddle from an old carbon road bike,
Modern bar conversion, 3T 90mm stem, Giant Contact SL 38mm bars,
Original bar tape reused, just added some gel pads under the tape,
Current wheels are some old 10s Ksyrium SL, (I'd got an old SRAM S60 wheelset hanging on the wall which I'm eager to try out on the road some time)
Tyres Vittoria Randonneur, 32mm rear, 28mm front (the biggest that would fit)

Climbs, monsters cattle tracks, fast on the flat, comfortable, does it all. I was lucky enough to have all the parts on hand in the shed collected over the last 10 years, so just used what I had and I'm tremendously happy with the result.. wouldn't want to cost up the components used though (it'd be more than my car is worth).
I've not ridden a new bike for example a Surley or similar, but I reckon the Centurion would keep its own.

Photo added.

markwesti

This is a good read . Centurion Ironman Expert (1987-1989)https://www.vintage-centurion.com/models/competition/ironman/87-womens_expert.shtml
Where is @fleslider anyway ?

seypat

The various "Terry bikes" look like funny bikes without the forward tilt.

CooperJames

Borrowed a pair of dura ace carbon tubulars to try on the Centurion today, I don’t know if such wheels provide any noticeable benefit in the real world, but they sure turn a lot of heads and make great swooshing noises.

Classtime 

I am currently without an IM!!
Do you think this is a 58 or a 60? And if it is a 60, What would the Top Tube be CTC? (I once had an '86 62 that had a 57.5 Top Tube.)
[/QUOTE]

genejockey 

Here's my 58 for comparison:

markwesti

[/QUOTE]
Where is @fleslider anyway . On flesliders site , Vintage Centurion , you will find the specs for a 85' IM here . https://vintage-centurion.com/literat...on_Catalog.pdf
The catalog that I could find lists the 85' IM with a ST of 58cm has a TT of 56.9cm . (I couldn't find the 60cm) Get ahold of homeland and explain to him how to use a tape measure , and let's find out if it's a 58cm or a 60cm because we all know it's not a 59cm .

fleslider 

Where is @fleslider anyway . On flesliders site , Vintage Centurion , you will find the specs for a 85' IM here . https://vintage-centurion.com/literat...on_Catalog.pdf
The catalog that I could find lists the 85' IM with a ST of 58cm has a TT of 56.9cm . (I couldn't find the 60cm) Get ahold of homeland and explain to him how to use a tape measure , and let's find out if it's a 58cm or a 60cm because we all know it's not a 59cm . [/QUOTE]

Looks like a 58cm to me. If the seller is claiming its a 59cm then they probably measured to the top of the seat tube which is not how Centurion measured them.

here is my 58cm 85 IM that got me that catalog, all i wanted was the catalog but got the bike with it!
58cm to small for me.. but couldnt pass it up!

markwesti

Searching the WWW for 85' IM TT dimensions I came across a BF post from RT back in 16' as this was being discussed , anyway 85' IM ST 58cm X TT 57cm - ST 60cm X TT 58cm . I saw it on the internet so it must be true . @fleslider , how is the Zunow coming along ? Pictures ?

fleslider 

That is probably close enough. seems like usually the top tube was about 1cm shorter than the seat tube, unless your talking 1989 then all bets are off, my 89 Prestige is a 62cm and the top tube is 58 cm or so.

The Zunow hasnt had much progress on it, Life and repairing other peoples bikes have taken my time. Need to get the frame touched up , i just know that i cant do the touch up that the frame deserves.. got mostly all the parts i need for it, just need to find some brakes. i have dual pivot DuraAce i got from RT, but given the year i need to find a single pivot DuraAce 7400's

Cankles

She’s alive. Graveyard build from the local co-op. Downtube shifters from the Bay NOS 105 Golden Arrow. I have 6207 spare parts if anyone is in need!

Went around the block. The 42t 14-28 may indeed make a nice coffee rig. Could go 46t or 11-28 or 11-34 megarange. I like the 1x vibe this far.

Classtime 

It is a 60 measured to the top of the lug with a 57 CTC top tube. Lowered the price for a stuck seatpost. The deal was that I get another bike but won’t work on it til morning of December 25 so the seat post and other fasteners will soak til then.


Looks good.

No pump peg?

Low mileage and a very stretched chain?

markwesti

^^^ C&V sailboat !
No pump peg , that got me too the other day . Found out on fleliders site https://vintage-centurion.com/models/...an/85-86.shtml they wern't doing pump pegs in 85' .

genejockey 

I hate to argue, but based on what I've seen, Cankles is the first '85 I've seen WITHOUT a pump peg. Mine certainly has one, painted 'titanium' just like the head tube. Maybe the peg was introduced later in the model year?


Painted "Titanium", just like the head tube. Plus I've seen pump pegs on other '85s.

seypat

I know of an 87 that doesn't have a pump peg. It also has only 1 set of bottle cage bosses and another difference as well. You can't see it in that picture, though. It's in a shadow. I'll have to take a new picture.

seypat

Here we go.

seypat

Since we're talking about the 85 red/silver color combo, I have one of those. Not an IM, but a cousin/relative. This picture was taking while I was switching different wheelsets around on bikes to see what they looked like. No rear freewheel/cassette on the rear hub. That crank might go on the Prestige. I'll decide tomorrow. The original crank that came off this bike was a 600 Arabesque that now resides with genejockey. I have a Takagi AD 130/86 triple that looks very similar to the 600 Arab crank. Kind of a cross between the 600 arab and the FC6207. It will go on here if the FC6206 moves elsewhere.
Quick Shimano history lesson. Takagi was a quality crank/chainring maker BITD. Shimano bought them out and they became Shimano's crank division. The Shimano FC6100 crank was made by Takagi. That must be about the time Takagi was acquired by Shimano.

https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...df3b8&Enum=115

texaspandj

Looks like a run on '85s. Those are some great examples. '85s have the best forks too.

texaspandj

My '85 has a pump peg.