Help Me Dress Up My Paramount- UPDATED
 

Now that I've given the backstory for the new bike in the family, I'd like some help with color schemes, tire and saddle selection, etc.

The parameters:


Comfort and price are primary.


Tires: the bike has 700c x 26 right now; we'd like to go up to 28 if we can. Anyone have any experience with tires on this model bike?

Bar Tape: we're thinking red, but are open to ideas.

Cables: leaning white, but not committed

Saddle: this is where we need the most advice. This is my husband's first road bike and my saddle experience doesn't translate. He's planning on using it for recreation, not competition. I'm going to take him to get properly fitted, but after he finds the right saddle width are there any recommendations? Would a Brooks be worth it?

Pedals: He wants dual-sided pedals for the option of riding without clips in traffic and sketchy situations. Recommendations?

All right- here come the pics. Hit me with your best shot.

http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5893c042.jpg
http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/...ps526e5b22.jpg

[IMG]http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/...psb48f5ad7.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/...psa537e4de.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/...ps93e584ed.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/...ps881b4d6a.jpg[/IMG]

Red looks old when it fades. I'd go white on cables, tape and even tires. Vittoria Zaffiros come in white and black and are affordable, mid $20's each. 28's will be fine. Pedals: Shimano pd-a530's are about $57 at amazon. You can probably find Selle Italia saddles in white too, but not a Brooks. If you want to spend less than $30 on a saddle, Origin8 Aero.

This was a flip, before I rewrapped the handlebars.https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z...0/DSC04708.JPG

Cool frame! I'm kind of a fan of neon bar tape with 80's paint-jobs like that. I have two examples of my own, but I'm thinking neon green would work well on that frame as well. I'd go black saddle, anyway.

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...an/Gitane5.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...ps322d3e05.jpg

I highly recommend these MKS Sylvan Touring pedals (about $29) if you are competing with impatient drivers in traffic.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41QI73WY2dL.jpg

He may need to break in his butt a bit, so I think you should wait before deciding on a saddle. The more you ride, the more you want a hard saddle.

I think Brooks are great, because they break in for most people. The other saddles are either right or wrong, and they don't get better with age.

I'll be showing him this post specifically. Some of the most concise advice on saddles I've heard.

I really like those tires. Great price, too.

So if I went with neon bar tape, I'd need to go black with everything else, right?

Those look nice, but I think he wants the option of clipping in on straightaways. He likes the Campus Well-Gos I have on my SLT 12.2, but I think they'd look really clunky on his bike.

I've always liked Brooks, but a seat is really personal preference. I'd start with what's on there, learn how to adjust and fit it well, then move on when he has a better idea of what he might like.

Black tires, black saddle, black bar tape.

White cables.

Red anodized ferrules and cable caps.

I'd vote for a Brooks Team Professional saddle, black or honey, white bar tape and cable housings, black wall or a gum look tyres and some quill pedals with either a regular toe clip and strap or the abbreviated open clips . I am a traditionalist even for newer bikes like the 90's era his Paramount is. Most importantly, what has he said about saddle and any colour choices?

Bill

We talked about it last night and I told him I would ask everyone here. He's looking forward to seeing some examples as he's pretty new to the scene. He has good color sense, so he'll pick up the details pretty quickly.

Yellow, a la Gitane?

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2764/4...ff9a39a3_z.jpg

Or this looks sort of cool...

http://www.skullbikeclub.com/news/wp..._2107299_n.jpg

I'm running 700 x 28 Gatorskins on my '89 Paramount with plenty of room. FWIW, my saddle is a Regal.

+1 I love these pedals. I use them with half toe clips and find them very comfy.

OR, and people here will hate this, but what about a black brooks and red and blue Cinelli splash tape? I'm not normally a fan of splash tape, but with that paint job...

These are just my opinion: The frame already has some wild colors going on, I would go subtle with the rest.

White Flite(perforated or not)

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k4...u/P1000819.jpg

White Fizik stuff

http://images1.excelcycle.com/images...d-tape-det.jpg

grey cable housing and some tan wall tires. Everyone has different taste, so do whatever feels right to you. Nice bike and color.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8...1443a7f7_b.jpg
Here's a bad photoshop with red.
I really want there to be a light blue part of the splash on that bike to accent with the saddle or tape. Doesn't look like that's there though.

Lots of good ideas in this thread- thank you for the ideas. I'll report back to let you know what he prefers. I love the photoshop 20grit, hurried or not.:thumb:

Shimano PD-M324 Clipless/Clip Pedals
 

Shimano PD-M324 Clipless/Clip Pedals


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=297612
Product Features

Combination clip/clipless pedals ideal for multipurpose use
Fully featured SPD-specific clip interface on 1 side of pedals
Other side features standard platform for use with street shoes
Aluminum body with barrel finish; cleat retention adjuster
Includes pair of 2-bolt cleats; pedals weigh 1.17 pounds total

I use these and love them.

OTS