Fifty Plus (50+) - Built Two Bikes in Two Weeks

Many of you have heard me bemoan this past year, "...if I ever get my '66 Paramount on the road." It's a long and complicated story that is posted over in Classic and Vintage. If you care to read it click here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=238103

Well it is finally finished! :D I rebuilt it this past Wednesday, Thursday and today after picking it up from the pinstripper on Wednesday morning. Unfortunately I couldn't ride it because of the howling wind and rain we've had here in the NH mountains.

The Paramount was the second bike I built in the past two weeks. Last week I finished my Snow Cycle for winter riding. If someone had told me a year ago that I would build two bikes in two weeks I would have laughed and laughed. Enjoy the pictures.

Saweeeeet lookin' Paramount! Can I borrow it? :D

PastorBob, that is one beautiful bike! I'm having impure thoughts just looking at the pictures. Do your church members know you are posting bike porn on the internet? ;)

I do believe I see a pair of "Schwinn Approved" Suntour barcons. Nice touch.

Isn't amazing what fine pieces of art bicycles are? Everyone I see, I say, "I want that." My LBACS (Local Bike-Archery-Camping Shop) owner found a '80-something Tesch Frame and has built it up, with parts he had laying around. I lust over it everytime I go in, even tho it's heavy and the components are far less than my Ultegra Giant -- it's still beautiful (I will post pictures soon). Nice job on the bikes P-Bob.

ENVY! Very nicely done. Is the Paramount a Waterford? It looks like one. And that Dura Ace crank brings back memories.

PB.....gorgeous lugs and the pinstriping really highlights their cuts!! Also, the rootbeer color is so refreshing after all the black/blue/clashing/boring stuff today. Old style r derailleur and crank give this bike the kick-it look of an MG clam shell fendered roadster. Well worth the wait.

ENVY! Very nicely done. Is the Paramount a Waterford? It looks like one. And that Dura Ace crank brings back memories.
Thank you for the compliments. It was made in the "Paramount Cage" at the Schwinn plant in Chicago in June of 1966. Less than a 1000 Paramounts were built that year. They didn't move Paramount production to Waterford, WI until after '78. Sorry, but there's no Shimano on the bike. The crankset is a Campagnola Nuovo Record that I've triplized. Here's a few closeups of the drive train and the front brake caliper.

Lusting and envy are not allowed. But if any of you want to try it out, just stop by the house!

Very nice Paramount. The lug work and the pinstriping with the coppertone paint is superb.

Wowsers Bob! Great restoration.

What wheels and tires are on that baby?

How much "overshifting" do you find yourself doing?

Wowsers Bob! Great restoration.

What wheels and tires are on that baby?
Thanks Louis. For now the wheels are a set I found at the dump this summer. Araya alloy rims and Sansai hubs, nothing special at all. The tires are Panaracer Pasela with kevlar, 27 X 1 & 1/4. These are not what I plan to run but they are what I have ready and on hand. I have two sets of Campagnola high flange Record hubs (see Pic) with straight skewers. They will be built to a set of vintage Mavic "Red Label" tubular rims (700c), and a set of Araya alloy clincher racing rims (27 X 1). I'm undecided on the using the tubulars and what tires to purchase. I tried to get the LBS to build the clinchers for me this summer, but he sat on the project and didn't lift a finger for 8 weeks. I've decided to teach myself wheel building this winter. I have a really nice set of IRC kevlar racing tires for the clinchers.


How much "overshifting" do you find yourself doing?
Unfortunately, I couldn't go for a ride when I finished the build on Friday. It was raining buckets and the wind was gusting over 20 mph. Real nasty stuff. Are you refering to the barend shifters? If you remember you helped me decide on barends last December, shortly after I forced my way into 50+ (a couple of years early:D ). I had hoped to have had the Paramount ready by May to ride this past summer. So I still have never used barend shifters. Maybe today. I do overshift some with the down tube shifters on my Traveler. But isn't that what makes friction shifting fun? :)

Thank you for the compliments. It was made in the "Paramount Cage" at the Schwinn plant in Chicago in June of 1966. Less than a 1000 Paramounts were built that year. They didn't move Paramount production to Waterford, WI until after '78. Sorry, but there's no Shimano on the bike. The crankset is a Campagnola Nuovo Record that I've triplized. Here's a few closeups of the drive train and the front brake caliper.

I've got to see if I can dig out the old DA crank and get a picture of it. I can't believe how much it looks like your crank. It came off my beloved yellow 1972 Paramount... since departed.

Whoah... that is one pretty piece of work. Nicely done!

I've got to see if I can dig out the old DA crank and get a picture of it. I can't believe how much it looks like your crank. It came off my beloved yellow 1972 Paramount... since departed.
Have you ever seen Scooper's Kool Lemon Paramount? One beautiful ride! I couldn't find a link to his Lemon one, but here's a picture of his '72 chrome P-15. http://velospace.org/node/820

The Paramount shows what grace looks like. It really is a beauty. I'll bet you're so tickled you got feathers. Don't forget the Snow Bike. It looks like a nicely conformed workhorse, ready to get you there and back. It deserves admiration too!

All I can say is WOW! Gorgeous. Great job.

Let me thank all of you for the great compliments. Unfortunately I still haven't riden it. Rained all day Friday and Ms. PB got home from a 10 day business trip to San Francisco at 10:00 a.m. this morning. I didn't feel as if I could say "See you later. I've got to try that new bike." Besides we had a high of 40F today. A little on the chilly side for test riding.

As long as you've already had to wait on this bike, I guess you'll have to wait just a little longer.
I don't know if you have picked a name for the bike yet, but she is clearly female. (Dawg ducks)

A little on the chilly side for test riding.

And, had you went on that test ride, a little chilly indoors as well. :D

Lusting and envy are not allowed. But if any of you want to try it out, just stop by the house!
How about jealousy? :D That really is a beauty. Congrats!

By the way.... what size is it. It looks a bit to big for me which will temper my jealousy a bit...... just a bit.:D

And, had you went on that test ride, a little chilly indoors as well. :D
You speak with great wisdom, and no doubt, from experience. ;)

I don't know if you have picked a name for the bike yet, but she is clearly female.
As a former resident of Georgia, there's no need to duck (Beat dem Bull Dawgs). Actually I usually don't name my bikes and just refer to them by their given names, i.e. Traveler, Collegiate, Paramount, etc. I did name the white bike "Snow Cycle" for several reasons. First, it was custom made in '88 in the Philippines for a retired Naval officer I know from my church. Thus it did not have a name. Second, I plan to ride it mainly on snow mobile trails, which are abundant in my area. So I had to refer to it in some manner.

Interesting, I've never thought of my bikes as having a gender. Does the Dawg just ride "shes?" :D ;) :D


By the way.... what size is it. It looks a bit to big for me which will temper my jealousy a bit...... just a bit.
In Schwinn speak, it's a 25 inch frame, BB to top of seatpost lug, or 63cm. It's the same size as my '79 Traveler, which by today's standards is too big for me. But back in the '60s & '70s, this was the perfect size. I can just stand over the top tube.

The Paramount shows what grace looks like. It really is a beauty. I'll bet you're so tickled you got feathers. Don't forget the Snow Bike. It looks like a nicely conformed workhorse, ready to get you there and back. It deserves admiration too!
Thanks for the thoughts. It will be an interesting adventure to ride the Snow Cycle this winter. I'll post reports on the rides, with pictures and pie reports.

...I usually don't name my bikes and just refer to them by their given names, i.e. Traveler, Collegiate, Paramount, etc. ...
Interesting, I've never thought of my bikes as having a gender. Does the Dawg just ride "shes?" :D ;) :D


We are still talking about bikes, right?
Some bikes are male, some are female, some don't really have a gender. It all depends on the bike's personality. I can't imagine not naming a bike, especially one I built up or significantly modified.

PB, that is one really nice bike! Beautiful job. You could send it down here to the Carolinas where the weather is still acceptably warm and I could test ride it for you.

PB, that is one really nice bike! Beautiful job. You could send it down here to the Carolinas where the weather is still acceptably warm and I could test ride it for you.
Possibly, as the Wright Brother's did, I should go and relocate for a few months!

Some bikes are male, some are female, some don't really have a gender. It all depends on the bike's personality. I can't imagine not naming a bike, especially one I built up or significantly modified.
After the sermon and the funeral today, I'll give this some thought and get back to you. Possibly "RC" for Radiant Coppertone?

Outstanding!!! I can just imagine the sermons finishing these dudes and first rides will trigger. Bar end shifters. That's a neat idea!!

Beautiful job, PB! I'm sure I will see you on the road this coming season...

Possibly "RC" for Radiant Coppertone?

I like it.

"RC" and I took a very brief test ride yesterday morning before heading to the church. The brakes need adjustments, the FD rubs a little on the chain when in the big ring-little gear combination. I'll need to adjust the FD and possibly move the Phil Wood BB inward on the drive side 1-2 mm. Shifting is great, the barend shifters are super. Below is the first outdoor picture:
http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/?action=view&current=66ParamountOct242006.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1

I'm glad you finally got a test ride, brief though it may have been. Love the picture. Perfect colors to complement that Radient Coppertone.

Nice picture. I knew you would like the bar end shifters. "Schwinn Approved", right? I have a set in that color and that's what they say on them. Really they are Suntour.

Crosschain's gonna get you when he sees that picture. Big-big, shame on you. :)

Nice picture. I knew you would like the bar end shifters. "Schwinn Approved", right? I have a set in that color and that's what they say on them. Really they are Suntour.

Crosschain's gonna get you when he sees that picture. Big-big, shame on you. :)
Yes, Schwinn Approved made by Suntour. I have the Suntour ones to install on my other Schwinn this winter. Calm down about the chain. I just did it for the picture. Remember the thread about OCPs? Someone went on and on about where the chain should be for a picture. I just thought I'd oblige. Actually I was worried the long arm on the RD might break off :eek: ! The chain is currently parked in an acceptable location.;)

Yes, you've done yourself proud on this project: detailing and carefully choosing/selecting parts.

Yes, you've done yourself proud and by extension, all of us on BF50+ (and the Antique & Vintage Forum, too).

Well done, well done, indeed!

BTW, I'm tall enough to ride that bike comfortably so I'll drop by next year for a trial run if the offer still holds...

BTW, I'm tall enough to ride that bike comfortably so I'll drop by next year for a trial run if the offer still holds...
Any of my BF buddies that are tall enough--- are more than welcome to take it for a test ride!

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N i i i i ce Pastor Bob !