Marlin; that is a very fine bike, and it appears to be in pristine shape. Your a lucky man-don't ever sell it!

Marlin, sweet looking Paramount! I know that mine originally had a campy groupo, and someday she will again. Right now, it has a rather bizarre mix of Campy, Shimano, Suntour, and even Scott brakes! We broke a spoke the other day, so for now, Liberty is sitting and ol' Blue is back at work hauling me around untill I get the new spoke.

Pucci, that is a nice looking Nishiki, too. As you may have noticed, I restored one of them for my daughter, and I think it built back up to a pretty darned nice bike. She is liking it, and out riding it, so it is a good thing!

See, it's those beautiful lugs and that wonderful engraving found on components (see shifters), it's the artistry that I really miss on todays "industrial" looking bikes.

How very true. Ever see the inside of an old safe? Beautiful scenes and pinstriping, and the finish of the mechanism is gorgeous. Inside of old pianos? Wonderful gilt pinstiping. The pinstiping around the Nervex lugset on the old Paramounts. Did any of these things add to the functionality? No, but they did show the pride of the unknown craftsmen that assembled these pieces of art, and the companies who made them. Glad they are still around for us to enjoy.

OK, someone asked for vintage comfort bike.

Here is my 1973 Schwinn Speedster.

I recently upgraded it, and put water bottle mounst and cable guides on it. The equipment is Sora. I have been using this for the three mile trip to the train station. Notice the bent seatpost. This is a small frame, as indicated by the camelback top tube, and the seat is still not tall enough. I will likely lower the seat and make this a garage sale hopper only.

Some other pics of this are at

www.geocities.com/thespeakerguy/speedster.html

ok guys I just got a hold of an old Cierra. anyone heard of it. I know nothing about it other than it's been kind of a pain. I just found out about cottered cranks. I've never dealt with em before. Not too bad overall. only cost me 15 bux. It has 27x1 1/4 size tires. are those intrechangeable with anything like 650c or 700c?

1984 Raleigh Gran Prix
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ded68...b9NA_AUgGj68Wk

19?? Motiv??? Singlespeed
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ded68...58NA_AuDoypqM4

197? Masi (probably early 70's)
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ded68...L7NA_AR3R2YxQQ

Aloha,
matt

700c's will fit fine if your brakes will adjust that far down. I think you'll need to move the pads down about 4mm-5mm or so. The dropout is what you have to worry about, however. It needs to be about 130mm wide to use most of todays rear wheels. At least that's what I found out recently.

There are sure some beautiful bikes in this thread. Especially love to see those old Paramounts. Here's my '71 P-13 fixed gear - a big grin with every ride -

Work In Progress:

A 1985(?) Schwinn LeTour. My first road bike in about 20 years. Not exactly a classic or vintage, but still a fun project for a newbie like me. Still need to add/upgrade the cassette.

I am thoroughly enjoying this thread! I hope to have pictures of my Capo, with its fresh CyclArt paint job, very soon.

Here is a link to a picture of a 1961 Capo with [what's left of] its original paint job (the Reynolds 531 decal on the seat tube, the silver Austrian eagle decal on the seat tube, and the silver Modell Campagnolo decal on the top tube are missing):

http://www.tc-homes.com/bike/forum/fg-bikes/cowgill.htm

I have copied this paint scheme, including the white dropshadowed CAPO decals on the downtube.

So, I'm riding along on RAGBRAI, and this gent said howdy to me, and commented on ol' Blue, my '89 Paramount, and I look over, and he is riding an absolutely perfect '76 chrome Paramount!! Boy, did we have a nice chat!! Also rode with two riders on Waterfords, the modern day incarnation of the Paramount, as well as with a lady from St. Louis on another Waterford-built Paramount! Really great to see the old classics out being ridden! What a blast!

This is my first attempt at working on an old bike. It is (was?) a seventy-something Pegasus (made in Holland). Altenburger centre pull brakes, Mafac levers, Ideale saddle, Shimano 333.

I haven't finished setting it up yet, I just got everything put back together this weekend. So far I have well under $100 US tied up in it, but admittedly I am going to have to spend some cash eventually (levers are shot for example).

Here I am with my '74 Voyageur. I bought it brand new and it still rides great.

Does that have chrome lugs? I had a Voyageur, (called it a V'ger after the Star Trek movie scene-Kerk!) from ~ the same time. I used it as a training bike for years. It was a very strong frame. It was chrome plated throughout under the paint. I believe it was built for Schwinn by Panasonic(rumor). I'd like to have that bike back now. It was a nice ride.

Don, you are correct on all counts! Unfortunately, I have a couple of places where the chrome plating is showing through. Touching up the paint is going to be one of my winter projects.

Sorry for all the questions, Kerk, but is that mostly Shimano Dura ace equipped with weinmann brakes?

Yes, most of the components are Shimano and the crankset is Dura Ace. The brakes, however, are Diacompe center pull brakes. Luckily, I never swapped any of the parts out and the bike is still all original! Well, not the tires or seat. lol.

IMHO, you have a real gem there. This is one of those bikes that flew in under the radar because it had those brakes and funky safety levers and that chainguard on the crank. The Shimano Dura ace componentry you have on this bike, and what you have is 1st generation Dura ace, is every bit as good as Campagnolo Nouvo Record componentry of that time. I think it has a Crane rear deraileur(which was the top-of-the line) and Dura ace hubs. The bearing races, manufacturing techniques, and tolerances were all state-of-the-art. If kept properly adjusted, those parts will last forever(well almost). The Barnett's Manuals in the Bicycle Mechanics section teach all the tricks and skills needed to keep that bike right. Do it yourself.

http://corporate.shimano.com/about/c....asp?locale=en

Also, check out a book called "Serious Cycling" by Ed Burke which will show you how to work on your position on the bike, saddle height, etal.

Don, you know your bikes! It does have the Crane deraileur and Shimano hubs. I have always done all my own bike maintenance. I enjoy it very much. I will look up the manuals you suggest. Thanks for the kind words. You DO wish you had your Voyageur back, don't you!

See my comments on this bike in the thread, "Who has more than 1 road bike and How do you justify it?". Miss my Schwine v'ger . :cry:

Here is a Nishiki International 10-speed (I'm guessing early 80's) that I picked up at a yard sale two weeks ago. I've worked on it a little but I would really like to move the shifters from the stem to the downtube or end of handlebars. And before anyone asks, yes the reflectors have been removed from the wheels!

Here's a better pic of the Voyageur...

Capo "Modell Campagnolo," made in 1959 in Vienna Austria for export to U.S. New paint and historically accurate downtube decals by CyclArt.

Come on John, we need more pics than that. Nice fork.