I picked up an old steel-framed Centurion LeMans a few years ago, finally getting around to setting it up. It's got 700x20 tires on it; I'm guessing the previous owner was much lighter than me and/or planned to ride much faster. I'd like to put the widest tires it'll take. Are 700c rims fairly standard, i.e. should it be a major issue to swap in 700x32's or thereabouts? If an informed answer requires info I'm not passing along I'll apologize up front, I haven't been into non-motorized bikes for the last couple of decades.
700c rims are standard. You'll hafta see what dia tires are gonna fit yer bike. I'm betting it'll be somewhere near 28c tho. Thought about what cassette/freewheel (FW) is goin on there? Typical 80s FWs useta be pretty small. The late 80s trend of 20c tires thankfully died a quick death. M
700c rims are standard, any tire should fit, *IF* it clears the frame, brakes, etc. 700x28 might be a good alternative. I'm curious what sort of derailleurs, etc are on this LeMans... They were a good 'entry level' bike from the 70s, early 80s, probably made-in-japan tange tubing, nice lugwork.
Everything (derailleurs, brakes, downtube shifters, crank) looks to be Shimano Exage, which I honestly hadn't even heard of. It's a 12 speed with a Tange #2 frame. I had (and loved) a LeMans back in the day, and picked it up on eBay about 5 years ago for $100 or so in a fit of Miami Vice era nostalgia (it's got the old Centurion 2-tone frame, white and mauve). I literally just took it out of the box this weekend. I think I'll take it to my LBS and have them tune it up, everything seems to be in excellent shape given its age. Edit: the frame is lugged. Not Rivendell-level or anything, but not bad.
Exage is decent enough stuff. Last a long time if you take care of it. Change out the cables and housing and lube things up and you'll be OK. Tange made some good tubesets. M
Speaking of single speed... Here it is. Ladies and gentlemen, from Curtis Inglis' RetroTec bike works... My SS 29er lives...
A friend caught the bug and went off looking for a roadbike. He found one. So we took a ride to the beach and back. About 56 miles or so. Paul will have to chime in here, about his new bike. My old bike, worked fine for me. I sure could use a few more miles though. This proved to be a tough ride. A little art shot about halfway back for a rest. Then a stop at a store to pick up some electrolyte so I could maybe not cramp all the way back home. That and a Snickers did the trick. Next trip I will bring a bottle of the stuff.
So after doing some adjusting to the fit of my bike and cleats, I have upped my route mileage to a 10 mile every other day with some short JRA with the kids on off days. Now when I get done with a ride I feel like have worked out! If the weather would start to cooperate I could ride more often. 10 miles is taking me 40 minutes with a lot of that time used with the climbs. Sometimes I wish I didn't live in the bottom of a large bowl. Broke 33 mph yesterday! For about a minute anyway.
When I lived along the front range in Colorado, I often lamented living where it was always uphill to anywhere, including back to the house:huh , and into the wind. It made me stronger. Early miles, I'd personally concentrate on spinning and length of time rather than top speeds. I have always had torn up knees so for me that meant staying out of the big ring for my first thousand miles, (back then that took a month), now that takes about five months. Saturday while spinning the 56 or so miles we did. I only used my 39 up front and the 17 through 24. Mostly the 17. That last hill back up to the house was a mile of heck for sure. Tonight if I'm able I need to go spin twenty.
I've always had trouble with spinning. I can maintain 80-90, but much faster and I fade. I'm hoping to work my endurance up so I can ride to work(48 miles round trip). I also want to be able to climb up and over the Nebo loop like I used to be able to. Over and back is about 50 miles with 5000+ feet gain in the middle each way. Someday... I do feel pretty good about things so far considering I haven't exercised seriously since high school, and smoked a pack a day for over 20 years.
Hills never get easier, just faster My personal take on this is they don't get any faster either. You've now ridden yer bicycle more'n I've ridden the ATK. Damn work! M
As long as you are staying in that range you're spinning just fine. I used to be able to spin easily at the 100 to 120 levels, but then I used to weigh about 40 pounds less too. For the next year or so, I have a 11 mile each way commute. As soon as I figure out the logistics I'll be on the pushbike. I don't need to buy anymore Orange County gas than I have to. Besides, maybe I can burn off some of this middle... 50 mile commute would do me in. I mihgt be able to get there, but, I'd never get home. And I'd be no good and smell like a goat once I did get there. Back in the day, (the jacket does not fit as loosely anymore...
