I think I found my Ross Paragon that I sold in 1988. Please advise.
02-23-24, 11:15 PM
#101
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I stripped the bike today to prepare for shipping and figured I would clean most of the parts while I was at it.
Good news is everything cleaned up great and the bottom bracket shell was incredibly clean, absolutely no rust. BB and headset races and bearings are all in fine shape and can be reused.
Bad news is the seatpost is a little stuck. Couple weeks soaking in penetrating oil and twisting in a vise should get it loose. BikePower will also have to clean up, repack, and true the wheels as I didn't have time for that.
Besides the odd safety dropouts on the fork, I actually like the frame quite a bit. It's well made for its model level with relatively neat brazing.
Good news is everything cleaned up great and the bottom bracket shell was incredibly clean, absolutely no rust. BB and headset races and bearings are all in fine shape and can be reused.
Bad news is the seatpost is a little stuck. Couple weeks soaking in penetrating oil and twisting in a vise should get it loose. BikePower will also have to clean up, repack, and true the wheels as I didn't have time for that.
Besides the odd safety dropouts on the fork, I actually like the frame quite a bit. It's well made for its model level with relatively neat brazing.
A gentleman and a scholar
How did I miss all the cool updates to this one?
BikePower I'm so glad to hear you are going to be getting your old ride back! How cool!
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04-03-24, 08:49 AM
#102
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Heres a few photos. I cleaned her up, regreased everything, new cables. New Sedis chain. Chop.and flop.like i had it when i was 15 , (not sure if i had the levers reversed or not), nos hoods, new tires and tubes.
Had a dickens of a time getting the seatpost unstuck, no damage to the frame. A few interesting facts, the seatpost was dated 1985 so was not original although it was period correct, the stem lock nut "Ross Professional" had been drilled out to be larger inside diameter so that shows the bars and stem were tampered with even thhough the bars were dated correctly and of the right type. It is smaller than i remember and i looked on my medical records from 1983 and i was not 5'11 yet so.that supports why they sold me the smaller bike.
There was a sticker stuck on the seatpost that had been violently removed, taking the paint with it and leaving the gray primer. I dont remember the sticker but would not be visible in the chess photo even if it was there.
I.still.dont know if the 50mm SR stem.is original. Anyway it feels too short so I replaced it with an 80mm SR stem. These stems are odd .833" diameter.
Everything else appears original except the seatpost clamp bolt and oddly the Suntour Superbe front derailleur is dated 1978 and the bike is a 1983. Seems out of place esp since the rear derailleur dates to 1982 i believe.
It rides beautifully, silent and smooth and fast like i remember. Even though at 185lbs im quite a bit heavier but stronger also.
Oddly it must have been exposed to a lot of UV light because it is now a purple bike not Bordeaux (burgundy). Everything that was covered is still Bordeaux. the paint is chipped up especially the fork but the paint did polish up nicely.
I found a very beat up Viscount Aero Sea Gull seat and i am looking for a better one in excellent condition if anybody knows anybody.
Overall I am 99 % sure its my bike. Ive ridden it over a hundred miles so far. Looking for an original cat eye computer for it like i had in the 80s
Thanks to Etan for sending it to me.
Any questions please ask.
Last edited by BikePower; 04-03-24 at 12:46 PM.
04-03-24, 08:54 AM
#103
04-03-24, 09:47 AM
#104
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Awesome update!
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“Ride like the wind boy! Ride like the wind…”
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04-03-24, 10:11 AM
#105
I don't know.
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dig it!
