Originally Posted by
bikemig
My 1968 Schwinn paramount tourist was set up with flat bars when it was purchased. I haven't rebuilt it yet. I prefer a drop bar build but I don't know if I want to do that to this bike. It just has so much integrity as it is that I may leave it as a townie. This is what the bike looked like when I bought it. I know that the original owner rode this bike set up this way for decades:
I'm wondering if the geo of your Paramount with upright bars is the same as their drop bar road models. It is possible that it is different. Looking at your picture of your blue bike, the seat angle looks more relaxed than normal. The angles on lessor Chicago made Schwinns (like a Suburban) with upright handlebars are in the 70 degree range.
It is not uncommon that cyclists want to switch their handlebars from drop to upright or reverse not realizing that that changes their body position on the bike with the result that their saddle either needs to go back more (with upright bars) or forward more if they are switching to drop bars.
I'm just now painting a new frame I'm making for my wife using upright handlebars. After setting her up on my stationary fit bike, I relaxed her seat angle back to 71º to place her saddle in a more appropriate position when using upright handlebars. I don't know if you have a way of measuring your seat angle but I'm super curious if they adjusted the geometry of their Paramounts for upright handlebars.