The (Paramount) Waterford project
 

In college 20 years ago I had wanted a Paramount but even second hand bikes were well out of what I could afford. When I got back into biking last summer I was fortunate to find a Paramount PDG3. Good bike but I would love to find a US built Paramount and I happened to find a frame that was in my price range a week ago. It arrived Friday and I'm in process of moving components from mt PDG 3 to the new frame. The PDG has 8 speed Dura Ace, white/red Selle Italia X1 seat, fter market Vuelta rims/hubs with Michelin Pro 4 Endurance tires that are being moved over. That bike also has an Easton carbon fiber fork but I'm going to leave it off for now.

the new: The frame I'm building on is red w/ metal flake and dated to August '84. Made from Columbus tubing. Has Campy drop outs & a Cineli BB shell. Though it has Campy Record decals, I'm going with the Shimano DA set from the other frame. Might put Campy on it later but using what I have to keep costs down and to get it on the road sooner.

the old: As mentioned its a '92 Japanese made Paramount PDG Series 3, Tange chromoly frame.

Before I started building up the red frame I weighed both and was impressed to find the newer PDG3 made from oversized tubing weighed in at 3.8 lb where the older US made red frame was 5.8 lb. I knew there were advantages of the OS in weight but didn't think it would be that much different. The PDG3 fully built was 22.3 lb, weighing in less than my Trek Domane at 23.4 lb. Based on that, I'm guessing this will be in the 25 lb range when complete, maybe slightly less if I end up using the Easton carbon fork.

I'm also looking for opinions if I would gain anything by going Campy Record over the Dura Ace I currently have. Also, as of now I'm planning on using white bar tape & cable housing (that will match the white/red seat & white rims from the blue frame). The blue petals on the red bike aren't staying, I just haven't removed them yet. If anyone thinks black bar tape & housing might look better, please chime in.

current build on the PDG3 frame:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=365605http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=365609

new red frame build in progress:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=365606http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=365607http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=365608

I'm surprised at the weight of the Waterford frame. My 1987 62cm Waterford frame (SL/SP mix) with standard diameter tubing is 5.1 lbs. Your frame appears to be somewhat smaller.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...0smcropped.jpg

The bike is nearly complete. I need to go back to the LBS and get more brake cable housing (which is why only one side of the handle bars are wrapped.) I must have misweighed one of the frames originally. As it sits now, the red Paramount is 23.3 lb. The blue one with the same parts was 22.4.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=365711

Nice looking result. The tires really work with the red frame. The DA looks good with it also. Wouldn't change that out unless you notice a need to.