Classic & Vintage - Match Paramount: Why was I the only bidder?

I was expecting a war at the end for this, what happened?Is there something I've missed?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110180964798&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=001

I was expecting a war at the end for this, what happened?Is there something I've missed?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110180964798&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=001
I don't think you missed anything; I think you got a really nice Paramount for a very fair price. Congratulations!

Maybe people were offended by the sexist "female owned" remark!

Now ditch the plastic fork and get a real waterford fork crown on that thing or it is not a Paramount but a Paraplastique.

Now ditch the plastic fork and get a real waterford fork crown on that thing or it is not a Paramount but a Paraplastique.

I emailed the seller within 30 seconds after the auction closed, looking for that fork. Carbon forks sure are comfy, but I refuse to ride one as I'm really fond of my face and teeth. On a side note, would you object if I mounted an Italian fork to this frame? A Goodrich fork might be a tad expensive.

Danny

I emailed the seller within 30 seconds after the auction closed, looking for that fork. Carbon forks sure are comfy, but I refuse to ride one as I'm really fond of my face and teeth. On a side note, would you object if I mounted an Italian fork to this frame? A Goodrich fork might be a tad expensive.

Danny
Any nice steel fork with the same steerer tube length, fork cone to dropout length, and rake (or offset, if you prefer) as the original will be fine. Bonus points for being a quality Italian fork. :)

Congratulations on your score!

I think you were the only bidder because of the high starting price. Maybe less people put it on their watch list, or maybe the planets just lined up in your favor. Psychologically, a high starting price seems to deter other bidders. Better to start really cheap and get more interest that way.

Maybe people were offended by the sexist "female owned" remark!


Even I was a bit nonplussed at that...the implication being that men trash everything, and that women are just too fragile to have ever actually ridden this bike really hard :rolleyes: .

I too think you got a good deal.

East Hill

Just so you know what the original fork looked like, it was straight bladed. The fork offset was 45mm for frame sizes 48cm, 50cm, and 52cm, and 40mm for frame sizes 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 60cm, and 62cm.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/1999SteelParamount.jpg

You got a swell deal! I think that most people looking for a recent vintage bike are ONLY concerned about the overall weight. They'd rather spend $1i00 on a new, full Ultegra, generic, disposable, Taiwan made, aluminum frame bike weighing only 16.5 lbs. -- These days, 19 pounds is almost like saying 25 pounds.

Other people prefer to spend far too much for a plastic or aluminum brand name bike just so they can ride whatever Marque is in vogue this week. More the better for those of us who appreciate quality construction and a frameset which will still be desirable in 20 years. ~ Congratulations!

I emailed the seller within 30 seconds after the auction closed, looking for that fork. Carbon forks sure are comfy, but I refuse to ride one as I'm really fond of my face and teeth. On a side note, would you object if I mounted an Italian fork to this frame? A Goodrich fork might be a tad expensive.

Danny


Any word on the original fork?

Heck, I didn't even know they were making lugged steel Paramounts in the year 2000. I think that's a very nice bike, congratulations-

Look carbon forks have a reputation for being of stout quality. I don't think your teeth have much to worry about.

Just to be a contrarian and perhaps a tad heretical; the CF fork is not really out of place on a STI bike with Bontrager wheels. I confess I ride a CF fork quite a bit and also fall into the Clydesdale weight range but am not fearful of catastrophic failure.

Now bars and stems are another matter.......Even the pros seem to be switching back to alum bars.

Beautiful bike.


:beer:


Edited to add info.

Well the the old fork doesn't go with it any better.

Well the the old fork doesn't go with it any better.
Yep; I agree. I like gracefully curved steel forks with semisloping crowns.

Carbon forks sure are comfy, but I refuse to ride one as I'm really fond of my face and teeth.

CF forks don't catastrophically fail, they spontaneously combust without warning. Please get your baseless facts straight before you go preaching The Word. :D

often the best ebay buys are ones where the starting price is high.

I really didn't find the starting price high at all. In my mind, a Goodrich frame starts at $3700 and even a contract Goodrich - used, read Rivendell, is minimum $1500 Frame alone. AFAICT, this is one of the most under-valued bikes available.

The carbon fork is history, without question. If anyone wants it, I'll gladly sell it.

Danny

Yep; I agree. I like gracefully curved steel forks with semisloping crowns.

I fought a battle for a flat crown, nicely curved DeRosa fork, but alas did not win it....I'll get something...

Well the the old fork doesn't go with it any better.

Funny thing is I agree with you. To me, the perfect fork is a double plate crown with a lovely curve.

Any word on the original fork?

The word is "no", sorry to say. I'm working on pleasant alternatives though.

You got a swell deal! I think that most people looking for a recent vintage bike are ONLY concerned about the overall weight. They'd rather spend $1i00 on a new, full Ultegra, generic, disposable, Taiwan made, aluminum frame bike weighing only 16.5 lbs. -- These days, 19 pounds is almost like saying 25 pounds.

Other people prefer to spend far too much for a plastic or aluminum brand name bike just so they can ride whatever Marque is in vogue this week. More the better for those of us who appreciate quality construction and a frameset which will still be desirable in 20 years. ~ Congratulations!


Thank kid! I'm aluminum averse ever since I cracked my Aluminum frame in half after only two years riding it. I go steel or titanium. There are no other materials I'll ride.

Danny

The carbon fork is history, without question. If anyone wants it, I'll gladly sell it.

Danny

I don't think selling is worth the liability. There is testing for carbon composite structures, infrared, and sonar stuff, worth the cost, no buy a new one.

Remember, Trek will sell you a new frame at a discount should you crash one of theirs, even with no visible damage...

NOS carbon, the future collectable.

I only weigh 137 and think carbon flat bars and cranksets are fine. Frames and stems I won't even consider, seeing what I've seen. Not to make light of it, but I witnessed the accident scene of a guy that had been riding a carbon Orbea, an older guy mind you and not a hammer sprinter, who'd been riding on a flat at around 10mph when the entire front end of the frame failed. He hit his helmented head on the curb and died; broke his neck.

My frames are for life, not dying.

Danny

n

Just to be a contrarian and perhaps a tad heretical; the CF fork is not really out of place on a STI bike with Bontrager wheels. I confess I ride a CF fork quite a bit and also fall into the Clydesdale weight range but am not fearful of catastrophic failure.

Now bars and stems are another matter.......Even the pros seem to be switching back to alum bars.

Beautiful bike.


:beer:


Edited to add info.

Funny thing is I agree with you. To me, the perfect fork is a double plate crown with a lovely curve.

mmhmmm.

I used to be biased against integral fork crowns, but getting a Rossin changed my mind. I'd say don't sweat the carbon fork - ride it until you find a nice steel replacement, or get a custom fork. Then sell it to offset your cost

The carbon fork is history, without question. If anyone wants it, I'll gladly sell it.

I'm interested in it - PM me and let me know wht you need for it.

Thanks for that photo Stan. What would it do to the ride if I mounted a fork that had a bit more offset? 45mm or so, on a 56 frame.

Thanks,
D

Let me assure you I am definitely NOT a fan of CF forks. ... However, as far as safety goes, the only incidents I have ever heard of is where the steering tubes were also made of CF and there were undiagnosed fractures (likely due to previous minor incinents) which had caused the steering tube to fail. These were on ultra-ultra light and absurdly expensive components [can't remember the manufacturer now] and really not what is usually encountered with even the more high-end carbon forks. Nobody likes law suits, so I'm sure there were immediate recalls even on those quite rare models. I would not fear using any number of CF forks from reputable manufacturers.

However, personally, I really just don't like them, and don't use them if there is any appropriate alternative fork available... in good old steel.

I think there is also a myth about the jittery resonance of steel versus the mystical dampening powers of Carbon. When there is chatter or vibration on a steel fork it is from a bad design (or perhaps I should say a bad match-up with the frame). But, I may be mistaken since the resonances allegedly occur at "High Speed"... and I never fly down mountain passes a 65 mph like the pros do. In my experience, I don't think you would find a better, more solid, and yet responsive racing fork than a Richard Sachs steel fork in any other material.

When looking for a steel fork for the Paramount, I would not veer too far from the original. I'm sure there was a lot more put into the design of those forks than simply current trends or aesthetics. The differences which someone mentioned earlier about the various rakes for each of the different frame sizes is a good lead to follow. I'd accept that this was how the bike was originally intended to handle and not experiment too much unless you really understand what you're doing.

If you'd prefer a steel fork over the CF, perhaps you might sell the existing fork, and then contact Waterford (or even Kurt Goodrich) explaining your specific needs and spend a few bucks more for basically "restoring" the bike to it's original condition with an essentially "correct" fork. ~ Should help to ensure the future sales value of the frame-SET, as well. And, I would think that with a bike that recent they could also rather easily duplicate the correct original color - for a perfect match with your frame.

Good Luck, and again... a great buy!

Not my size...or I would've been on that like a hobo on a hotdog... :)

Thanks for that photo Stan. What would it do to the ride if I mounted a fork that had a bit more offset? 45mm or so, on a 56 frame.

Thanks,
D
More offset would reduce trail, which would make steering slightly quicker. In other words, steering wouldn't be quite as stable as it would be with the stock 40mm offset.

Dave Moulton on trail and fork rake (offset) (http://davesbikeblog.blogspot.com/2007/05/trail-fork-rake-and-little-bit-of.html)