I'm going to be moving in the near future to a new city (and my first home purchase) and I've been watching a lot of shows on HGTV. Lately they've had moving shows where the renovators from the shows do a renovation for $x and then show the before and after value of the home and it's always like a $2X change in value. It always makes me so mad and I call bs because almost never in any sale (bike or home) do you get as much back in value as you put in (if you're honest about labor). And new unnecessary upgrades like this, the amount of value you get back is much less. In my opinion, these upgrades are always to make it comfortable for you. They're not going to do anything for resale.

Way OT.... but when my brother worked at a local garage... one Little old lady would bring her car in in the spring and fall to, "get rid of the summer or Winter air" in the tires. He had completely deflate and re inflate the tires while she watched.

Depends on the width of one's rims and the thickness of the brake pads. The longer the reach, the worse they work too.

-Kurt

I don't know about you guys, but that build is pretty legit.

If you don't like this, don't go into the retrofit thread... your eyes might explode.

It's been suggested before that my taste is suspect, but I like it as well - both aesthetically and functionally. Yes - I'd consider this a functional improvement over what was on it. In fact, I think he did an especially nice job.

Seems fine to me. I've seen far worse done to classic bikes. It could of just been cut up and welded into one of those tall bikes and all of the original parts trashed. This build at least still gives future owners the ability to reverse time somewhat and put the gear back on.

Who cares, as long as someone is getting (or at least trying to get) some use out of a bike. It won't always work out, but I'm sure it brought a lot of enjoyment during the buildup phase.

He had so much fun actually driving it that there wasn't much left.
While he was only left with a $60 tow charge in the end, the experiences were priceless. I'll tell you about getting it stuck down a 30 ft deep arroyo and having to walk it out of a 3 mile canyon, sometime over beers.

This thread is like a thread in the Road Cycling section debating the best way to shift when coming to a stop so that you can start off "correctly".
Much ado about nothing.

Who's going to buy the $2000 NCal chromed Paramount that's had a special mechanic work on it? Vintage parts included!

Is it more that the guy mentioned "Rivendell" that makes the "befuddling" worthy of starting a thread and posting 6 times in it?



I didn't mean that to sound snotty-

I guess, would it bother you as much if the guy would have "upgraded" the bike with "classically" themed parts- or an assortment of older parts that weren't Rivendell inspired?

I do as well.

It just really is calling out for....an IGH!:roflmao2: :crash:

Your mom is calling for an IGH! That's right, I went there.

I forgot, I have to be nice to you because I'm hoping you'll sell me your spectrum some day ;)

Aaron is making me laugh very hard!

Back on point, it's a nice bike, just go ride the thing.

+1 Those shows are a real laugher. Unless they actually sell the house at the end, the value increase is meaningless.

Anyone starting a thread on anything has some interest in
the topic. Posting six times, over the top, huh ?..........:lol:

I just got back from the first ride on a CL 30 years in the
garage captive overhaul and update bicycle.

It goes very fast..............................................:D

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=258474http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=258475http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=258476http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=258477

Note the 21st century bar tape and modern HP tires.
The rims are pretty new tech stuff, too, so it's not
like I'm one of "those guys"..

Good thing I stuck with that flexy POS Campy crank,
or I might have gone so fast I'd hurt myself....................

Honestly, some of you guys really crack me up.:roflmao2:

I dunno, looks fine to me, but then I'm the same genus of pervert, under only a slightly different species.
And now that you mention it, my Pelotwins do make me feel special. http://forums.youthrights.org/images/smilies/rockon.gif

http://www.calamarichris.com/junk/11...nproject09.jpg

The bike was rebuilt at the Rivendell shop. Of course they used parts that Rivendell sells.

The only thing that bothers me is the kickstand. I like kickstands but they have no place on a paramount.

As a matter of fact, I would . . . .

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...52007005-1.jpg

It's a 1967. On the one hand, mine came as a frame-and-fork (and for a lot less than $2,000). On the other hand, I actively chose to make it 1990s Rivendellesque. And on the other other hand, I had it repainted into a non-Schwinn color that I happen to like.

BTW, Weinmanns (or, in my case, the Dia-Compe twins of Weinmanns) work much better with Kool-Stops or similar brake pads - the original pads suuuuuuck. I have Tektros to do exactly what the OP did (not to mention some aero levers) that I have not gotten around to installing yet. Dollars to doughnuts they will stop me even better.

Uh... does anyone owe you that explanation? Until he has Rivendell forward the bill to your address, he doesn't need to satisfy you with an answer. Sometimes "because I can" IS the answer.... what's so bad about that?

How about this?

Synergy rims are better than the rims that came with the paramount... to the owner.
Silver shifters work better... for the owner.
Modern cranks with ramped rings work better than vintage flat rings... for the owner.
Modern derailleurs are smoother than vintage derailleurs... to the owner.
Phil Wood hubs are the beez kneez. Well that one is pretty universal.

What's the big deal? Why would anyone want to ride an older bike that is not as capable as a newer bike? Who cares.

You seem to have just skimmed the thread. If the bike is more enjoyable to ride that way, then why would they deprive themselves from that pleasure?

Only two reasons to post in this thread that I can see.

1. Speculate on why this was done (the original topic)....and possibly to share personal philosophy
on this sort of thing in general.

2. Chastise the OP as some sort of C+V Nazi, (we're 4 pages in, so let's let Godwin out of the bag).

I'm guessing this goes with #2 ?? Nobody owes me anything. I'm genuinely curious, because
it makes little or no sense at all to me.....seems to be driven by reading too much advertising
and marketing literature. Like the kid who thinks Campy cranks are "too flexible."

"Because I can," gets you in a lot of trouble, sometimes. More than just a kinda strange bicycle,
it leads to wars, and economic meltdowns, and huge dam projects , and stuff that is better
fodder for the P+R.

Not what I would do with a chrome paramount but the changes can be reworked back to original, for a price.

I did see today, and I should have stopped and taken a picture, maybe another day.
A Carbon Vitus with a side saddle surf board rack!
Most often seen around here fitted to old funky, non Schwinn beach cruisers.

Just ride she said.

Ah yes.... it's a slippery, slippery slope. One day you are changing the components on an old bike, the next you are punching babies.

I like the modern XT derailleurs because they can take up a whole lot of chain and I can run ridiculously low gears. It's not always so easy to find that in vintage. That paramount would have come with Campy NR, which is attractive to me but seldom with gears that I want to pedal.

I like it ok. He definitely wasted his money after getting 25 miles out of it. Either way, why should it matter? Why can't that be enough for you?

Maybe you skimmed the original posting ?
 

So why not sell the Rivendell and keep this incredibly perfect ride ?
Has anybody calculated the dollars per mile on this one ?

He had the 'Mount, so let's knock about 900 bucks off the 3200 total.
Leaves us 2300 bucks divided by 25 miles = 92 bucks per mile.

I'm guessing this also puts you in the #2 group for posting here ?:p

I would buy it if the price is right and if he includes ALL, and I mean ALL, the original components and wheels and seat etc. Then you would have the option at anytime to convert it 100% back to it's former glory.

I own a 85 Schwinn LeTour Luxe that is all original in mint condition, but it ain't nothing like that Paramount. I hope you keep it because old chrome Paramounts with their chrome intact and in mint condition are difficult to find if not impossible. There has been some wise asses out there taking chrome Le Tour's and polish them up then stick on period correct Paramount decals...yup.

I'm a acrimonious befuddled buffoon pondering my navel.