If you think the air at NAHBS is rarefied, you really should attend Cirque. You'll suffocate as you enter the front doors of the hotel! It's a great show nonetheless, even it it's a little out of my league.

I think this points to the dislike of Grant Peterson. While there is much that I don't care for in what he says.
There is the fact that people like Grant and lance Armstrong have brought many people to cycling, and that is a good thing.

Yes the NAHBS is over the top, but that's what a show is about. It's not about showing everyday bikes. It's a showcase for your dreams.
Or at least some/most of it is. I do agree that it does get a bit "rarefied" at times. Yet so does interbike, or any other major show!

This,
this,
and this.

This doesn't make any sense. Any time you change stems, stem height, set back, seatpost height, etc you are changing the rider position, weight balance, fit, and handling characteristics. So, changing parts that don't mess with any of these things is ok, but when you mess with fit, it's not?

Just because the dude rode 25 miles on it doesn't tell us anything. S*** happens. If you want to talk about bike trend changes, then talk about it openly. Don't try to hide it behind speculations about some random guy's bike and pretend that you are genuinely interested in his motives.

Again, you can just send the seller an e-mail.

..........Paramount




............Pseudorivendell Beach Cruiser (Deluxe Model 3200)

Why would I want to e-mail someone who appears to be as clueless as you are ?

Who's hiding ?

The only difference I see is that each bike is for someone who wants to get something different out of their ride.

Seeing as you can't even make a cohesive argument here, I'm out of this troll den.

*microphone drop*

Oh, come on.

You don't like the bike. Then don't buy it. You'd prefer it had the original components on it? Fine. You are entitled to your opinion.

But to continue to whine and yammer and expect everyone to fall into line with your opinion, and insult we benighted souls who won't? Not cool.

Not everyone shares your idea of what a perfect (or even acceptable) bike is. Deal with it - preferably with less bile and less noise.

It must be rough going through life minding so much of other people's business.

So why are you here, exactly ?

I respond in the manner in which I am approached.

I have no interest that is served in doing otherwise.

If you have an opinion, and express it in a manner that is appropriate
and deals with the topic as presented, i am more than open to it.

Yours was, I believe, "I've done the same and I like it fine ?"

I saw your photos as posted.......IMO you've not done the same.
Which would speak well for your sense of what your bike is and is not.

A lot of what's gone on here is the repeated references to some kind
of, "It's got to be authentic and original," on my part. This is untrue.

Again, if you are uncomfortable with anything I've posted here, there
is a mechanism for reporting it to the forum moderators.

Bile and noise.......................................

If all you can do is insult folks who disagree with you, the usefulness of this discussion has come to an end.

Discuss your ideas and make your arguments in a civil manner, please.

It's interesting to see that Paramounts have attained the status they now have. Back in '74 when I bought my '73 P13-9 frame, they were considered a bit below European and English bikes. I guess because of the Schwinn name being associated with Varsities and Continentals. I got a good deal on my frame because none of the local Velominati were interested in a custom Paramount, they wanted French or English and the color was 'robins egg' blue (opaque blue). I just wanted a Reynolds 531 double-butted frame in my size for a good deal. Now we're arguing about the propriety of customizing a Paramount. I re-spaced the rear on mine to 126mm and put a 7-speed freewheel in there. Strangely, I feel no guilt.

The usefulness of this discussion came to an end some time ago. I'm surprised you did not notice.

I believe it occurred right around the time someone first sounded the rallying cry of,
"Ownership is what it's all about. This is the C+V, and you really ought not to
ask questions of this sort here. We are more refined than to question others
motives and judgements."

What has then followed is a long stream of postings questioning mine..........

If you have seen some evidence of incivility on my part, I urge you, too, to report it.
Certainly, I lack the refinement that seems to be requisite here.

Bottom line, if I could retitle this thread, it would be the, "See what you can project
on the OP," thread. Because that's pretty much what I see...a great deal of projection.

It's been fun, it's been real.............too bad it's not been real fun.

I, too, am a little surprised by the status and price of Paramounts.
I have much nicer bicycles that cost me much less.

The discussion, at least on my part, has not been about propriety,
although many people here insist on framing it that way.

The original posting was pretty simple and straightforward.

Why would you make the modifications pictured, at the phenomenal
costs involved, to this particular icon of the higher quality American
production bicycle ?

A few of the answers have been on the mark, I think. Particularly that
of uncle uncle. an interesting one that might have come up, but did not
might be that the guy who owns this is old enough and has lost enough
flexibility that this is simply the only way he can ride it any more..even
for 25 miles.

Instead, I have received endless variations on "It's his to do with as he
wants..he's got the money," and "these are functional improvements due
to the more modern high dollar components." #1 misses the point entirely.
#2 is demonstrably false.

For my trouble in stating that in this instance, Grant Petersen has no clothes,
I am told to "make my arguments in a civil manner". I have.

I'm done now......feel free to now either continue to toss this around or not.
Or to admonish the rude guy, who's not all about


If you feel any guilt, it ought to be about yet again arguing that this
has somehow been about propriety, rather than function and practicality.

No need to. You had no point to begin with, other than to troll and be as argumentative as possible for no discernible reason.

Thread closed