Why do so many people act as though it's blasphemy when I mention turning my 92 Paramount into a single speed? I just don't understand it!!

Its meant for gears?

Because...

Just don't Drew the frame.

...,maybe its a sign you shouldn't do it ;-)

Largely it's because it's a Paramount. Though some think every bike that had more than one gear should stay that way, no matter the quality.
I don't care what you do, honestly. It's your bike, and it's not stupidly rare. As long as you don't repaint it, grind any braze-on's or hangers off most people will get over it. Keeping to original parts is also a good thing just so if you sell it you may be able to get more from it.
Bottom line, as long as you can turn it back, most will get over themselves. If not, well, it's your bike and they can piss off.
-Gene-

Thanks for a decent answer Amani. I really don't care in the long run what people think but I just thought it was strange that everyone had a negative opinion on going SS with it.

I don't really care what you do, but it seems extravagent to make a singlespeed from that frame (says the guy who made a fixed gear out of a Raleigh Team Professional).

it's because you're in the wrong forum: this is "Classic and Vintage", you need to go to the Blasphemer's Forum

Or maybe the right forum for you would be the Singlespeed and Fixed Gear forum.

It's sort of trolly to go to C&V and ask why to make a Paramount a SS... But it's only a '92, so it's not sacreliege, just shocking. If it was a '72... Ohh gosh.

Don't Drew it and you're okay.

But it'd just be cooler to go find an old track/SS frame and ride that than convert a frame designed for gears.

Honestly... I just can't comprehend why it's such a problem. All he'll really be doing is just changing the rear wheel, either removing a chainring or switching cranks (and maybe the BB), and taking the derailleurs/shifters off. What's the big deal? He'll still have the original parts, and total time to change it back for any of us doing it would be like 3-4 hours. He's not repainting it, he's not grinding anything off, and no one else has to ride it. But it's being ridden.
Maybe I'm just tired of hearing people whine about these little things being travesties and sacrilege. Who knows.
-Gene-

A "geared" bike IS a "single speed" , its just single in 5,6 7 or more gears ! lol

It's not blasphemy, it's your bike, do what you want. It's not a problem, and it's not my Paramount, so have at it.

The thing that makes me wonder, though, is what kind of bike person would go to a C&V forum and ask about converting a Paramount? That seems either stupid or intentionally antagonistic, sort of like going to PETA's forum and discussing the head shot on Bambi's mom.

I've built single speeds, fixed gears, and will probably do so again, but not if I'm lucky enough to get a Paramount frame that fits.
And if I did, I sure wouldn't be discussing it here.

In my opinion, you can build one out of a 1983 Shogun Cro-Mo 400 or a Paramount, and if you ride it blindfolded, you'd never know difference.

Touche !

There isn't anything particularly special about the 1992 Paramount frame. The only things of real value on it are the parts you plan on removing. If you want to be different by copying all the hipsters, wear yourself out. I would be curious why you think this is a good idea, however.

Why go to the classic/vintage forum? Well it would seem to me you would ask the people who seem to be the most annoyed by me doing it. Im not trying to antagonize anyone, I just wanted honest feedback as to why it is so terrible to do this. Obviously in the singlespeed/fixed gear forum there going to be all for it. So why ask them? Actually I thought since people here valued the Paramount name so much they would give honest feedback and perhaps help me to understand there point of view. Forgive me for proposing a question that would cause so much friction and cause people to accuse me of being antagonistic.

Best suggestion yet!

Why?
I guess everyone's seen enough hacked up Skittles bikes to imagine you're gonna do that to whatever you get your hands on.

Some folks think that things just look better in their original condition. My friend cries when he sees Chip Foose get his hands on a classic car. Hell, he cries when he sees a 57 Chevy rollin' on Chrome 24s or something ridiculous like that.

Its ok mate,we are not down on you, its just that its like putting "MAG" wheels on a R+lls/R*yce" !

You see what you gotta do is this: hacksaw off the deraileur tang first and formost. If your bike has fancy lug work, use a dremel tool and cut out all the lug points so it looks like any other bike. Then, throw away all the Campagnolo components, don't sell 'em or give them away, just toss 'em. Or better yet smash them with a big hammer, like a maul. You see this way something truelly special, and hard to come by can be totally marginalized, and ruined. And, best of all, you'll have something that you won't be able to sell, or pass down to future generations. It's the american way, right? Take something really special, and well made (like the Earth) and ruin it.

I was on vacation in London once on one of those big red double decker buses and this very well dressed British banker looking guy cruises by in a Rolls, just something very British looking and I remarked to my girlfreind at the time, "Check out that Rolls!" and this old British chap behind us mumbles in his thick London accent, "Well, it's got four wheels dudn't it?" So I guess he wouldn't have cared if they were mag wheels or not.

+1, I am curious too. Is it for fashion or for function (either answer is a-ok by the way)? What is the terrain like in your area, what do you plan on using your bike for?

The place I live is not extremely hilly or flat but I do appreciate having a range of gears to make my trips easier. I had my bike with me at the lbs and one of the younger employees told me that he converted to single speed because he didn't like reaching down to the shift levers, now that is sort of lame.

I agree that it's not blasphemy at all, but it is good sense to keep your old parts. Later on trends or your preference may change and you will be glad that you have them. Most of the stones get thrown when permanent changes are made to a high end frame and I tend to agree on that point.

And remember to YouTube it, so we can all deeply despise the individual wielding the mallet for years to come.

-Kurt

It always bothers me when somebody says, "It's your bike, do what you want with it". I supposed I understand the sentiment but I remember watching this show on the History Channel or something like that where they pointed out that the greatest damage done to some of the treasures of antiquity in Rome were not caused by the invading barbarians or the ravages of time and weather but by regular Romans in the middle ages who didn't view any of that stuff as a "treasure" but simply as old buildings and stuff to be stripped and pilfered for building materials. It's sort of the same with bikes: you might not care if it's original, you might not care what other people think, you might not worry about any of that - but one day YOU will be gone and so will all of the beautiful old vintage bikes if nobody cares for them.

That said, it's a '92 Paramount so go ahead and make it a fixie. I don't think anybody will care in this case.

I saw Wendy O'Williams and the Plasmatics (somebody very forgettable like that) in a TV concert once and in the middle of the song they drag out this beautiful, really clean SS 396 Nova and bust out sledge hammers and start wailing on it. I thought I was going to cry