I. Am. Iron. Man!

I desperately need a project to help me get through another Massachusetts winter alone. And what better way than to challenge myself with something I've never done before...

I've fixed up bicycles, but never built one from scratch. So I decided it's time to do it. I chose a used frame and fork, and now I'm in the process of buying all the components I need to complete the build.

Last fall (2025), I bought a heavily used 1987 Centurion Ironman Master (Dave Scott edition) for only $125. I always wanted one, and when I saw one for short money on FB Marketplace, I couldn't resist. Truth be told, it's a 56cm, actually one size larger than what I should be riding, but it's doable. The standover height is a little tall, so I have to lean the bike to one side when I stop, or I might separate the twins against their will. (OUCH!)

Some bicycle manufacturers size in even numbers, some in odd numbers, and some Italian frame builders still size in one-centimeter increments. That's a lot of bicycles to build and keep in inventory. Many modern bicycle manufacturers build frames with sloping top tubes and size them small/medium/large. By adjusting the stem's length and rise, as well as choosing the right seat post, people of different heights can ride the same frame, and simple sizing reduces unsold inventory.

When I began my search for an affordable used frame and fork, I came across another 1987 Centurion Ironman (Dave Scott edition) on eBay, but this one is in much better condition, paint-wise, and it's a 54cm, perfect size for me. These bikes were only built for three years, 1987-1989. They were never high-end by any stretch, but they do punch above their weight, and over the years they've become a highly desirable cult classic. Perfect for what I'm doing.

I paid $218 for this frame and fork, including $75 to have it shipped from Houston, Texas, knowing the condition it would arrive in was a crapshoot. So many items look great in photos, but not so great in person. AI-generated descriptions can further misrepresent many items.

These Centurion frames were built with Tange Champion #1 tubing, the Japanese manufacturer's thinnest and lightest double-butted chromoly steel. There was a weight limit no one paid much attention to, but heavier riders could theoretically twist up the #1 frames and potentially get hurt riding them. Tange offered thicker tubing for heavier riders and for touring. It went by number, #2 through #5, with #5 being the thickest, heaviest, and the best suited for loaded touring.

This frame and fork came with a Shimano 600 headset installed, which indicates the original bike was likely a Master, built with Shimano 600 components. The Ironman below the Master, the Expert, came built up with the next component group down, Shimano 105. To keep the price down, the Ironman wasn't offered with top-tier Shimano Dura-Ace components, which I intend to use on this bike build, if it's available and affordable.

I needed to secure an advisor, someone to help with the build, and who better than my friends at Union Cycle in Attleboro. Bike shop owner Rick Desmarais and his top mechanic, Ron Carlson, agreed to sign on despite knowing I'm gonna be a real pain in the ass. I'm like the little kid who asks way too many questions.

When I spoke to Rick, I hadn't even unboxed the frame and fork, because I was afraid of what I might find. He laughed and told me to just open it. I unboxed it, and to my surprise, it looked every bit as good as it did in the pics. Phew!

When I first started my search for components, I was dead set on buying vintage new old stock, like I'd always done. But the economy is different now, and most vintage components collecting dust on someone's shelf in Italy, England, and Belgium are fetching big money from collectors trying to produce time-accurate restorations. I could've gone with modern components and had Ron spread the rear triangle to accommodate more gears, but I decided to keep it a 12-speed like the original. 

I called Rick, and he said he had heard about the price gouging of new and used vintage bike parts on eBay, mostly because they're getting scarce. Add in overseas shipping and tariffs, and even budget bike builds can get pretty fucking pricey. 

I quickly changed direction and started looking for more affordable parts, some new, some used. Shopping and locating vintage bicycle parts is a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun too. I'm hoping to buy everything on eBay, making this a total eBay Bike Build.

I'll be posting blog entries as things get done. I'll include where I found the parts, the prices, the shipping, and how hard they were to install. In some cases, I may yield to the pros at Union Cycle. I'll provide the hubs and rims, but I'm gonna have Master Wheel Builder Ron Carlson hand-build a set of his legendary bullet-proof wheels.

Rick joked that by the time I build up this 40-year-old frame and fork, I could've bought a brand new high-end bicycle from him. True dat!  

But I need to struggle a bit and have something to complain about, so this is the perfect winter project for me...

Iron Man lives again!

To be continued...