Hey Rabid, point me to some pics of your bikes the list looks impressive...

Here you go:

His and Hers Opaque Blue Paramounts:


Gitane Tour de France 1973:


1971 P 13-9 Paramount Chrome:


1973 Nishiki Competition:


Waterford Paramount:


Raleigh Professional 1974:


I have never really organized an album with the bikes in it. Gotta get on that someday.

Nice! That chrome Paramount made me break out the ol' drool bucket!

Thanks!

The Paramount was an ebay find. It was very low mileage and came with the original Weinmann wood filled tubular rims. It had been purchased by an older gentleman in 72, and barely ridden. It came with all the paperwork for the original purchase. In one of the biggest travesties of all times, someone changed out the Brooks saddle for a big padded one (but kept the original) , and put a Pletscher rack on the bike. Here is how it looked when I first got it:



I have changed the brakes to Campy, but reinstalled the original bar tape. This one is definitely my special occasion ride.

I could picture it glistening on a moon lit night as the sound of crickets sing the soundtrack to the perfect night ride. Awesome!

Actually, there is a scientific reason for this. And it is all in your head.

The visual parts of your brain process input from bright sources faster than they do from darkness. The difference is only milliseconds, but it is a difference nonetheless. Thus, your brain is slightly slower in comprehending the dark environment as you move through it and it feels like you're going faster. Add to this the road ahead of you is being perceived in the same way---except where your headlight shines on it. Then your brain perceives the illuminated area to be going by slower than the darkness around it. This contrast in perception can create a slight "blur" at the edge of the lighted area which subconsciously makes it seem like you are "bending" light, (similar to the visual Lucas used when the Millennium Falcon jumped to hyperspace ).

We used to have a basketball hoop behind our house. We had a mercury vapor lamp, (street light) in the yard but the lighting was still less than optimal. Sometimes I played during the day, other times at night.
Eventually I realized that the occurrences of me not quite catching the ball were higher at night than during the day, (i.e. - the ball would come down and bash me in the nose). The ball didn't come off the rim any faster at night, but my brain was slightly slower in telling my hands where to be. When I learned about how the brain processes light and dark input, it all made sense. I still played at night, but I let the ball bounce before grabbing my rebounds.

(My wife just called me a dork for writing this )

Illuminating, so to speak.

cdr

There's less wind at night too.

You maybe a dork but it's a great explanation! hahah

I'm too afraid of crashing it to ride it at night. It took years of unsuccessful bidding on ebay to get that one, and that came after I was outbid for another well known to every one around here chrome Paramount, belonging to Scooper.

Night rides are always on the Nishiki. It has wider 27x1 1/4 tires, and my whole investment is considerably less than a Paramount. Despite being a less expensive and heavier bike, it has a pleasant comfortable ride, just perfect for my night time pace.

Now that the tourists have gone back home, making the beaches and bay less crowded and dangerous, and that sunset is earlier, I need to get out for some of those night rides.

I'm glad the "Summer People" have left as well. Masternaught and us other northern New Englanders will experience a couple of busy weekends when "Foliage" season hits in a few weeks. But boy is it nice to have all of Neal Learner's neighbors staying in Boston during the week!

But I do miss our late sunsets. Already we are nearly dark by 7:30. I do have a great light. But descending a dirt road at 30 mph after dark, even with lights can be nerve wracking!

C'mon Bob, that's half the thrill, heck no lights is even better!
Now that the tourists are gone the traffic will be traveling faster than me (on my bike) again.

As I age, riding with no lights after dark is on a par with skiing--- I spend too much time contemplating how a wipe out might lead to major surgery--- and I'm doing my best to hold off on such an event as long as possible.

Why flying down a hill on Sporty at 40+ mph in daylight doesn't phase me--- I'm not certain.

Frost heaves be damned!