Strange Urges
 

I've been having this feeling like I need a bike with 27 or 32c tires and hammered fenders, something pretty dressed in all silver parts yet capable of brisk jaunts. What am I looking for in a frame? Is this what paramounts are all about?

Sincerely,
Odd new feelings

Rivendell?

No, it needs to be French!

Agreed, sounds like a job for a French machine.

Enter the world of cyclocross bikes...be warned though, since I picked up my IF I have started accumulating cross bikes and selling off the roadies.

(My Soma has hammered VO venders and 32mm Pasela TG tires but isn't pretty since it's built with utility and durability in mind as I commute on it in all weather)

I have actually considered selling a few of the high-zoot cross bikes and picking up something like an IF Club Racer.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=295728 Yes, I know !

No no no... you've got it all wrong. Go pure, go VO :thumb:

Slogan anyone?

Sounds to me like you're in need of a seventies chrome P15 Paramount. Plenty of room for 32s and fenders.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...ithFenders.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...3268smvert.jpg

I think we are all in need of that.
Probably a size or two bigger for me.
That's one of the most beautiful bikes I've seen.

There are a LOT of bikes that can do that...it's called the sports tourer. Raleigh Internationals, Paramount touring models, Motobecane grand record would be good choices. Tons of 80s Japanese bikes fit the bill...some Miyata 914s, Panasonic DX-3000, etc. Trek has some great options as well.

Oui oui, French

I would look for a Fuji America or Touring Series, yeah yeah I know oooo touring slow and sluggish, but it all depends on the motor and I used to ride with some guys who could really move along on those "touring" bikes.

I bet you could get a nice Fuji for a decent price and have it repainted and fancied up. then add your hammered fenders, Brooks bags and ride away.

As good as they look, Paramounts are over-built (thicker-than-necessary 531 tubes) and relatively sluggish, IME. What I'd go for is a late 60's - early 70's PX10, Gitane Tour de France, Bertin C37, etc. Or a pre-'84 full-531db Trek sports tourer. Lively, responsive, room for biggish 700C's and fenders. Or REALLY go for it and convert one of the above to 650b. That's what I did with my '84 Trek 610 and I've never looked back.

SP
OC, OR

You could go all in and get an early Italian with eyelets:

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...019CB3B722.jpg

Not nearly as pretty as Scooper's, but it is a size or two bigger.

[IMG]http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps70f0ec4b.jpg[/IMG]

I'm being tempted with a Cannondale ST600, would that be good enough? I think it might be a little small though, so don't talk me into it, if I'm going to regret it later. ;)

Hottest Sports Tourer I've ever seen:

http://forums.thepaceline.net/attach...1&d=1269994077http://forums.thepaceline.net/attach...1&d=1269994082http://forums.thepaceline.net/attach...1&d=1269994087http://forums.thepaceline.net/attach...1&d=1269994093http://forums.thepaceline.net/attach...1&d=1269994099

Pure bike porn right there!

If it were just a little bigger...

I think it's even still for sale.

Oh jeez, so many good ideas. I knew this would come to French but I don't think I want to mess with proprietary bearing sets.

Fujis though BG! I do love a good Japanese frame. Let the search commence.

Well, an English version (but no fenders).

I've got an 80s Nishiki International in excellent shape that I think would work well. It might be a bit big for you though, I think it was more like a 56 or 57 but don't remember exactly. Not sure what you could fit for tires, but looking at the pictures I have of it looks like long stays. Convert from 27" currently on there to 700c and I bet you could fit some fatties...

Let me know if it tickles your fancy and I'll dig it out this weekend when I'm visiting my parents' place and verify the size. This one sort of belongs to a buddy (even though I gave it to him) so unfortunately I wouldn't be able get rid of it too far below market value...but I could work out a deal.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-and-appraisal

Strange urges? Those are perfectly normal urges. Scratch that itch!

I'm kind of lucky this is too big for me:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-MANU...item23276efd95

Nothing but big frames here, but I've a tall Miyata 618gt and an old Trek 520, 64cm, that would be perfect builds for this