The new one
 

My 60th birthday present to myself, though I didn't actually present it to myself until Festivus. A 62cm Panasonic built Paramount, from 1992. I've been riding 58cm all my life, and the fit on this one is extraordinary. Better late than never. The frameset came from cudak888, the wheelset from robbie tunes, and the HG freehub body from the good Dr. Cannondale, aka rcardr. My plea bargain with my wife required me to use as many components as possible from my then current roadbike, a '78 Schwinn World. Without further adieu.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/.../pmount006.jpg
posing in front of the Festivus pole
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/.../pmount009.jpg
with 600 tricolor hubs
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/.../pmount008.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/.../pmount012.jpg
This remains the most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden. It came stock on the '78 World
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/.../pmount015.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/.../pmount002.jpg
Yes, it's actually a rich, dark, chocolate color, though most people think it's black.

I didn't realize a bike could ride as nice as this one does. The acceleration!

Congratulations, Seeds. That looks like an excellent upgrade. Going from a 58 to a 62? Man, if the 62 is ideal then you have been deprived before - that's a big change!

Happy holidays - Jim

Nice solid lookling build there:thumb::thumb:. I especially like the period touch of the quilted saddle. Still remember riding my older brother's bike back in the late 70's having one of those....Oh!, very nice quality and height Festivus pole there too! The special rubber end bumper should make it easy to safely incorporate it into your feats of strength!:thumb: What grade Al pole is that? Heat treated 7000 series maybe??:rolleyes:

Enjoy the bike and Happy Festivus!

Chombi

Now it's time for the feats of strength!

Great looking bike, congrats! And Happy Birthday!!

Here's wishing you 12 centuries on it in 2013! :beer:

I can't seem to manage that, somehow. I can get half of them by the end of March, and then the hot weather comes, and it's night riding time. Maybe I should start full moon centuries this summer. I hope to get the last one of 2012, and the first on this bike, on Monday. Visiting some friends at the beach, so there will be multiple hours rest at the halfway point.
I've been feeling the effects of a too short top tube and too low bars for the last few years. Living where i do, I can't just go out and find the right bike, like you folk can. This one popped up just as I was heading to the US anyway.