tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post5256107223282176571..comments2024-03-28T14:04:01.556-07:00Comments on Midlife Cycling: As The Sun Sets On Newtown Creek, A Ross From The Land Of The Rising SunJustine Valinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-49166946203504850542016-06-30T20:22:22.325-07:002016-06-30T20:22:22.325-07:00Brooks--It's been a while since I read "T...Brooks--It's been a while since I read "The Dancing Chain". Thank you for reminding me of that story from it. That would make the resemblance between Raleighs and Centurions make even more sense.Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-7913378023166370782016-06-30T07:04:17.317-07:002016-06-30T07:04:17.317-07:00Funny thing about the resemblance between early Ce...Funny thing about the resemblance between early Centurions and the Raleigh Grand Prix. There's a really interesting story behind that. I'm simplifying and paraphrasing, but Frank Berto's history, the Dancing Chain, says that the importer behind the Centurion name (I think they eventually became Western States Imports) was originally trying to work out a deal with Raleigh to offer a Japanese-built version of the Grand Prix, with Japanese components. Apparently, the production was already under way when Raleigh backed out of the deal, so he had all these bikes painted in Raleigh color schemes and no buyer. He put some different decals on them, and Centurion was born. Of course, as we know, Raleigh did eventually turn to Japanese production for a lot of their lower-end bikes.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.com