Classic & Vintage - Paramount mileage contest

Calling all Paramount owners, there are too many of these bikes hanging up as wall art. I propose a month long mileage contest to get the bikes out on the road. Anyone in? The prize is spending time with your wonderfully riding Paramount.

Note, I'm at 230ish miles so far this month on the 86 road and 30 on the 72 track so we could wait until next month =P

Sorry, I'll probably be too busy building up my '72 all-chrome ;)

(That is, providing I can sell my Trek 610).

-Kurt

I would but I tend to "spread the wealth" among my bikes. On weekdays I commute on a fuji or bianchi track, or silk hope road. I ride the paramount on weekends. Probably not high enough mileage on it to contend.

Count me in. When do we start-end? Sep 1-30? Any other rules, such as mountain miles verses city miles?

Count me in. When do we start-end? Sep 1-30? Any other rules, such as mountain miles verses city miles?

Sep 1-30 sounds good, we can do KOM (though you will have to use mapmyride to verify elevation unless you have a GPS) and pure mileage winners.

Sep 1-30 sounds good, we can do KOM (though you will have to use mapmyride to verify elevation unless you have a GPS) and pure mileage winners.

I use Bikely.com to map my routes. Of course my KOM challenges are nowhere close to any TdF KOM climbs. :o

Here's one I do. Click on "Show" and the "Elevation" and you can see what I'm up against. :innocent:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/New-London-Springfield-Wilmot-Loop

I won't be able to keep up with you all on mileage, but I will be watching the thread if you update it. I've been riding my 1964 Paramount a couple of times a week when the weather permits.

I ride my new bike more often, which is a Cannondale Criterium I bought new in 1984 ( I think it was '84 ), just because I'm more used to it. My Dad bought the Paramount new in '64 and rode it a lot until just a few years ago. He fell and broke his hip, and never really recovered from that. But, he rode it for 40 years and it's like a family heirloom.

Last September he gave it to me and I just started riding it this July. I've only got a couple of hundred miles on it so far, but it is a blast to ride. It's got higher gears than my Cannondale which makes me work a little harder on the hills, but I just love the way it eats up the miles. :thumb:

why just paramounts? Lets have a vintage bike monthly mileage contest.....we just need to define what vintage is...say before 87 or something.

I'm in if someone's willing to loan me a Paramount. :bike2:

Kurt says they're crap so maybe he'll give you one of his (particularly since it sounds like he's not going to be riding them).

Neal

Kurt says they're crap so maybe he'll give you one of his (particularly since it sounds like he's not going to be riding them).

Might as well fork on over that '51 Clubman that doesn't fit you (and doesn't get ridden because of your back issues).

-Kurt

Tie score.

I'm in if someone's willing to loan me a Paramount. :bike2:

Come down here then. You have a fondness for my '61 - do I recall correctly? You ride that, I ride the Superior, and we'll do some McMiles around the golf course.

-Kurt

Come down here then. You have a fondness for my '61 - do I recall correctly? You ride that, I ride the Superior, and we'll do some McMiles around the golf course.

-Kurt

I'm not sure I know how to ride flat terrain. And I'm certainly not experienced dodging misdirected golf balls.

I'm not sure I know how to ride flat terrain.

Flat terrain? Spin at a moderate cadence and keep telling yourself that Duopar territory is not far off.


And I'm certainly not experienced dodging misdirected golf balls.

Not so far from the truth. Some folks have been hit, and I've had a close call myself.

Granted, that isn't half as bad as when golfers looking for their stray balls (pun not intended), drive off the course and across the street onto the adjacent sidewalk, and prepare to launch his golf ball back onto the course from somebody's lawn with a swift drive.

In other words, across the sidewalk, across the swale, across the road, and onto the course. Potential targets include walkers, joggers, cyclists, motorists, children, pets, and anything other living object within the vicinity that may be minding its own business.

-Kurt

:lol:

Ild love to, but I will be away for the first half of september! guess that means I will have to ride more the second half!

http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/

This is another great website for figuring out mileage.
It takes some time but its fun to guess the mileage and see how far off I got.
Just zoom into your area and start clicking.
TP

Oh yeah,
if I get mine rideable i'm in...

Kurt says they're crap so maybe he'll give you one of his (particularly since it sounds like he's not going to be riding them).

Neal


Might as well fork on over that '51 Clubman that doesn't fit you (and doesn't get ridden because of your back issues).

-Kurt

Neal,

You sound a bit "cranky" lately. :innocent: Was it the lack of summer in June and July (too cool and way too rainy) and now with a nice stretch of fine weather you are up against the start of a new academic year? :(

It has really been a bummer of a summer. Our average temperature here in the mountains was 57F in June and 61F in July. :mad: So now I'm heading to Cape Cod next week for a few days, and what's aiming for the New England coast? Category 4 Hurricane Bill! Dang! :eek:

Neal,

You sound a bit "cranky" lately. :innocent: Was it the lack of summer in June and July (too cool and way too rainy) and now with a nice stretch of fine weather you are up against the start of a new academic year? :(


My apologies for the crankiness, and I'm soon to be away from BF for a couple of weeks while we head up to mid-coast Maine. The last few days my neck has been killing me (fallout from riding the D2R2 most likely), which makes me less patient than usual with Interweb inanity.

Neal

Might as well fork on over that '51 Clubman that doesn't fit you (and doesn't get ridden because of your back issues).

-Kurt

Actually, the '51 Clubman doesn't get ridden because it's waiting for me to build a rear wheel (the original was too square to hold a tire, and I ended up selling off that rim). The '50 Clubman is the one that needs a complete overhaul, and I haven't had the time or gumption to take that one on yet. I did take the '48 Claud Butler on a 60-mile ride earlier this summer. What's the longest you've taken your '61 Paramount?

Neal

My apologies for the crankiness, and I'm soon to be away from BF for a couple of weeks while we head up to mid-coast Maine. The last few days my neck has been killing me (fallout from riding the D2R2 most likely), which makes me less patient than usual with Interweb inanity.

Neal

Neal,

I just looked up what the D2R2 ride is. It does look interesting. Did you ride the 106 or 65 mile route? I'd really like to try one of these, but Sunday's are out, and I'm concerned about recovery from a Saturday ride and my ability to work on Sunday. It does sound as if it was quite a challenge.

Tell us more. :)

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7685

Neal,

I just looked up what the D2R2 ride is. It does look interesting. Did you ride the 106 or 65 mile route? I'd really like to try one of these, but Sunday's are out, and I'm concerned about recovery from a Saturday ride and my ability to work on Sunday. It does sound as if it was quite a challenge.

Tell us more. :)

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7685

Bob, I did the 100K/64 miles option, which was plenty for me. It was very challenging with 7500 feet of climbing and 7500 feet of descents, but I seem to remember the climbs the most. I found the first 12 miles to be the toughest, particularly as my body tried to acclimate to the heat and humidity, but after the first rest stop, I felt pretty good and was able to grind out the rest of the ride without ever feeling like I had nothing left. I did have two flats in the last 5 miles, which was a drag, but my riding buddy, another Bob, used both occasions to take a short nap. Next year, the D2R2 will be on Aug 21.

And to come back to the subject of this thread, I did see at least one vintage Paramount on the ride!

Neal

why just paramounts? Lets have a vintage bike monthly mileage contest.....we just need to define what vintage is...say before 87 or something.

Listeners who are sticklers for the truth should start their own mileage contests.

Our average temperature here in the mountains was 57F in June and 61F in July. :mad:

So what exactly is your complaint? :p Yes, I'll agree June was rainy, but July was incredible riding weather. It's the recent humidity and moderate heat that's unfavorable, in my opinion.

Actually, the '51 Clubman doesn't get ridden because it's waiting for me to build a rear wheel (the original was too square to hold a tire, and I ended up selling off that rim).

Dunlop 27" 40 hole? I might have an SA-marked 27" sitting around, but I forget whether it is a front or a rear - and, then again, it's still not a genuine period rim.


What's the longest you've taken your '61 Paramount?

Longest ride that didn't repeat where I had gone before was about 20/25 miles, if I recall right, out and back to one of the bike shops, but that is a measurement "as the crow flies." Considering all the convoluted directions I took to get there, I think it came out to 32-34 when all was said and done - it isn't easy to do any decent long riding in this town.

I've probably done longer by simply duplicating my ride three times over in the Gables, but I don't bother to count those circular adventures.

-Kurt

I pulled my Paramount out for the commute today. She has the old style clips & straps (triangle shaped pedals) and it's a pain using them. I've been neglecting her so a few miles in September (with Look pedals) are in order.

So what exactly is your complaint? Yes, I'll agree June was rainy, but July was incredible riding weather. It's the recent humidity and moderate heat that's unfavorable, in my opinion.

Here in NH, July was nearly as rainy as June. June had something like 5-6 clear days--- total. July had maybe 10-12. August has been nearly perfect with temps in the 80sF. It better not snow until the end of October or I might have to put in sunlamps around the pulpit!

Here in NH, July was nearly as rainy as June. June had something like 5-6 clear days--- total. July had maybe 10-12. August has been nearly perfect with temps in the 80sF. It better not snow until the end of October or I might have to put in sunlamps around the pulpit!

What are you doing in NH? :lol: My preferred riding temp is high 40s and low 50s, though 60s and 70s are pleasant with low humidity.

70 with no humidity is about perfect.

70 with no humidity is about perfect.

Yeah, but with no humidity, or at least low humidity, any temperature between 30 and 100 is pretty good.

Yeah, but with no humidity, or at least low humidity, any temperature between 30 and 100 is pretty good.

30-50 and my little fingers get cold coming down the hill from my house when im not warmed up yet on my commute. And no I don't want gloves, I want 70 degrees :)

... And no I don't want gloves, I want 70 degrees :)

Don't say that in the commuting forum unless you want to read a whole page of "htfu!" replies.

Don't say that in the commuting forum unless you want to read a whole page of "htfu!" replies.


As a 4,000 mile or so year round commuter/rider in the NorthEast US I couldnt care less what the interweb has to say about me :lol:

Was just stating my ideal conditions, not saying I don't ride in all other conditions ;)

Dunlop 27" 40 hole? I might have an SA-marked 27" sitting around, but I forget whether it is a front or a rear - and, then again, it's still not a genuine period rim.

Yup, Dunlop Special Lightweight 40-hole 27" rim. Unfortunately rare and quite expensive when they do show up. Interestingly, I recently bought a Lenton Grand Prix from a local BF-er, and it has the correct rear rim (and a set of very rusty spokes). I might use that one if I really want to achieve period correctness, which I usually don't, and in that case I have an alloy 27" 40-hole Weinmann rim with high polish that'll work fine.

Neal

30-50 and my little fingers get cold coming down the hill from my house when im not warmed up yet on my commute. And no I don't want gloves, I want 70 degrees :)

You've got it exactly right, friend. :)

I don't have a Paramount, and I don't have plans, so I'm going back to lurker mode.

Now if we had a Hetchins mileage contest... :D

We have had a cooler than normal summer, and I have ridden very little due to work and family demands.

*sigh*

Calling all Paramount owners, there are too many of these bikes hanging up as wall art. I propose a month long mileage contest to get the bikes out on the road. Anyone in? The prize is spending time with your wonderfully riding Paramount.

Note, I'm at 230ish miles so far this month on the 86 road and 30 on the 72 track so we could wait until next month =P

I'm at 1.5 miles this month. For all of my bikes, I'm at 60 miles total. Sad and woeful, but not without good reason.

My Paramount is no wallflower; she just doesn't get to the top of the dance card that often.

I do hope to change the situation and with cooler weather within eyesight, it should not be a problem.

I have notified the owner of my LBS that some Paramount enthusiasts I "know" are trying to put some miles on their Paramounts. We got to talking...

After eying the Paramount that hangs up from the ceiling and asking about it endlessly, I may have a chance to put a few miles on it.

Not official since I am not an owner, but I dream about these bikes.

Not related: there is a Superior on eBay right now.