I find it typical of a particular mindset in the current world of
the bicycle that seems.........what's a good phrase ?..............
naively driven by consumerism.

I can see where it is good for Rivendell, obviously it relieves
the owner of some money that he apparently has in excess,
certainly judging from a lot of the responses on this thread,
it makes for a very tempting CL package for the right buyer.

Nonetheless, I confess it makes me uneasy.

Also, I stand by my statements about the rider position as
configured in the photos will simply not take advantage of
the design and handling of the bicycle frame. And I have some
genuine questions about the motives of the Rivendell "mechanic"
who put this together for him.

I think there are two differing directions that the original wordy yet (maybe purposely) vague question conjures... namely (a) why would someone put new parts on a great old frame like a Paramount, and (b) why would someone put new parts on a great old frame like a Paramount, spending great amounts of time (2 years) selecting just the right parts, then only ride it 25 miles. On (a).. because this guy is compelled to trick out everything he owns to an absurd level of geek (just check out his SUV that he is also selling). It's a mental defect, which a lot of us have (everyone consumes and overspends more than we need; for gods sake, I have fifteen bikes myself), but this guy pushes it to an OCD level. On (b)... see the answer for (a), plus, now that the fun part (the tricking out) is done, he's done. He's not been truthful to himself throughout the whole process. It was always the building, never the riding. "Too busy" is a cop out; everyone is "too busy" for the things not important enough to make the time for them.

Remarkably, I'm comfortable with this explanation..........:thumb:

Why don't you just ask him then if you are truly interested. Don't play the victim now that people are up in arms about your borderline trolling.

What if this rivendell is better than this bike? Then how does that make sense?

If you are genuinely interested, why don't you ask ANYONE why they do ANYTHING to their bike? Then ask them if it was financially worth it. I don't see how this is a rational way to think.

If he's talking about a Rivendell Custom I'm not surprised that the Paramount doesn't ride as well, even when similarly equipped. It's not even a fair comparison.

I wonder if you could buy this bike for a couple thousand, sell off all the parts on CL -including all the original Paramount parts. Make a killing, Turn the frame into a fixie and sell that on CL too.

Make a quick buck or two -even if you lose money with the drewed-fixie...

How's that for trolling? :popcorn

You mean you built a bike to ride and not just photograph?

Love it btw...well done.

Ok, so I just bought it and it's in the back of my van. I'm gonna part the whole thing out on Ebay, the new stuff and the vintage. Let me know if there's anything you want off of it.

Just kidding. I've got 2 Raleigh Competitions now. The first one I got from the original owner for a great deal. Everything is original except the front derailler and the tires and the saddle (she kept the saddle). It's too nice and original to monkey with, a great sunny day bike.
The second one I got from a DKO flipper, it's been ridden to death and rebuilt several times and several different ways. The only original part on it is the front derailler and I took that off for the other bike. I'm having a lot of fun building it my way, doing things that I wouldn't do to the original one. I can't wait to see how it rides.
I wonder which one I'll sell in the end.

:thumb::thumb::thumb:

Nice ride. Not really my cuppa tea--I hate Technomic stems and I think Brooks saddles are going the way of Martin guitars--but to each his own.

Makes more sense to me than a new Rivendell.

Ain't that the truth.

in regards to OP,

"ILIKEBIKE"

In the fall of 2008, I stumbled upon a chrome 72 P15 frame at a bike swap. A few minutes later it was mine. When I was buying it I thought about how to build it, and I was thinking as original as possible. I decided to modify it in terms of components, instead of Nuovo Record/LeTour I substituted a Campy Racing Triple group, while keeping the Nuovo Record hubs and a 5 speed freewheel. I used 70's vintage Shimano barcons, and it rode and shifted like no other Paramount that I had ever ridden.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...a/IMG_8030.jpg

Since this photo was taken, I have put tourist bars on it with thumb shifters. I plan soon to change the bars back to Schwinn Randonneur bars with a Technomic stem. The Brooks seat is stored, a more butt friendly seat is presently on it, same as with most of my other bikes.

I have also acquired the parts to completely refit it to factory specifications, minus the Weinmann rims. Since late 2008, I have ridden it more miles than my other bikes and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I think I made a good decision.

And nothing is permanent!

+1 x 10³.

The Paramount owner had his reasons for making the changes. He has his reasons for selling the bike now.

Who are we to question his motives? Frankly, it's none of our business. He's got the right (and the pocketbook)
to do why, when, where, who and whatever he wants to.

C & V is a place where one can appreciate the spirit of a classic or vintage bike, regardless of what upgrades have been
made to make it more functional, comfortable, etc.

C & V should not be a place where a 'bike snob/ bike clique' frame of mind can take root; a place where an "if it's not 100%
original, it's s*&^" attitude prevails. There are other places for that kind of thinking.

:speedy:

The roadie forum :)

Thank you .........who exactly do you think is advocating that kind of thinking ?

Is everyone here this uncomfortable with an honest exchange of ideas ?

Is the C+V really only about, "Hey, look at this way cool deal I got offa Craigslist"?

Again, if it is not obvious from reading the entire thread (which I seriously doubt
you have done before issuing your pronouncement), my question started out as,
"Why ?". Like many of the others responding, you appear to be so threatened by
this simple and honest question that it can only be answered by

Good luck with that and the mutual admiration society mentality it engenders.:thumb:

I'm a little more curious about life and the things I encounter in it.:p

Actually, I did read the entire thread. Your title and the original post as worded gives the impression that the changes that were made
were not a good idea and that selling it was the result of a failed effort to replicate the ride of the Rivendell.

If you want speculation as to "why"... honestly, I can't offer an explanation; you would have to ask the owner of the bike.

Since he described the extent he went in buying components, ride quality was more important to him than cost.

Oh, and by the by; I'm not threatened by your perceptions. The free exchange of ideas is what makes this Forum so great!

I owned and rode a MINT 1973 Paramount never taken apart. I know why the guy swapped parts. Because the newer stuff works better in my humble rookie opinion. I sold it because it was to small and bought a 198? Faggin with suntour superbe.

BTW My old Paramount has been totally disassembled and might be turned into a single speed fixed gear with wide tires

I have a friend who took all the campy stuff off his 70's eisentraut model A and put Shimano on it. he rides it and does not worry about it

Then why do you think it was ridden a total of 25 miles ? Oops, sorry, that would involve speculation. My bad......

Then why would you write

???

Because, frankly, this implies that I am somehow an advocate of 100% original,
which is ludicrous to anyone who knows me or has seen what I ride personally,
and more importantly implies that somehow I ought to take my question to
"other places." I find that offensive, friend.

So if you want to speculate in a thread that was based from the gitgo on
speculation, feel free. If you are, OTOH, here to tell me what I should and
should not think or write here...............that's not about free exchange.

Capisce ?

Do you understand the difference between swapping out components and changing
the rider position, weight balance, and handling characteristics of a bicycle ?

I think this nails it...

just glad they guy didn't chop it up and kept the original parts.

3alarmer obviously loves that Paramount and the changes aren't to his taste. I understand where he's coming from, though I disagree. Sometimes when we see a bike we wish was ours, and the owner has made decisions we don't like, it stings. I remember seeing a Grandis (a builder I have a particular love for) built as a city bike with flat bars and it made me want to throw up. The owner was obviously enjoying it. and that was a reversible change, but it made me nauseous. 3alarmer is probably having that reaction here. I'd wager a large part of my reaction was actually based in envy.

Personally I really like the modified Paramount and think the revisions were smart, well thought out and aesthetically pleasing, but I understand why others would disagree and might even get annoyed/jealous.

Maybe because it had "Schwinn" on the headtube? :D

Seriously, it isnt a Colnago. But then, he could return to stock condition if he needed to.

Again, I have one similar (newer by three years)http://www.kurtkaminer.com/TH_paramountregistry.html ..............
several posters here have mentioned that they've seen worse done on BF to bicycles..... as have I.:(

So envy ? Don't think so............read my posting #101, top of the page.

I am distressed by the general directional trends I witness in Bicycle Universe.
This seems typical of a trend that is driven by money, marketing, and mindset.

The modifications are, IMO, driven not by function (as has been suggested by
many here), but by something else..............thanks uncle uncle. And yes indeedy
it makes me very uncomfortable..........luckily not to the point of nausea.:o

I do recall several moments at the recent North American Hand Made Bicycle
show here (where I worked as a volunteer), where I really did have to step out
for a bit of air. The atmosphere was a bit rarefied, at times...........:lol:

Sterotypically snooty, Bubba.