For those KC list members who discussed this with me (read: I pestered them unmercifully), I picked up the Schwinn Paramount Wednesday. An 8 hour drive on my day off to Grand Island Nebraska seemed preferrable to me than to trust the bike to the mercies of shippers. (My wife is now convinced that I'm a lunatic.) Wayne Cyclery in Grand Island is a great shop, and well worth a stop if you're in the area. He as an Alan style 57cm mostly Super Record bike currently for sale for $650 ish. He also has a stars & stripes Benotto on the wall, an old Colnago, black Raleigh Pro(I think), and other goodies. (3080 382-4223
The bike is really in great shape. My initial investigation indicates it's a '74 P10 model, the standard road touring/racing. It's all original Campy NR except for SL pedals and Weinmann brakes with the extension levers. Thanks to Jeremy Haynes for birdogging this for me, and passing on it himself. The bike is quite large. The seattube is 26 inches, and the top tube is 25 inches. But I have a fist and two fingers worth of seat post protruding from the frame after adjustment, so it's a reasonable fit.
I've had bikes this big before, but they were rather whippy. This one seems very solid, after two trips around the block. Pulling the seat post (it came out easily, indicating good maintenance) shows the seat tube has been reamed. Was this to permit the use of a 27.2 post in a heavier gauge tubing frame? Was this common practice for Schwinn?
The bike is soo nice, it's interfering with my intention to convert it to a triple crank day riding bike. Anyone with philosophical insights on whether I should monkey with such a pristine original, or leave the way it is? The problems are the 42x26 low gear isn't low enough, the cranks are 170 instead of 175mm, the Cinelli old logo bar and stem are too narrow and too far forward, and the 27 inch clinchers are schrader instead of presta. The condition of the parts and paint are really excellent (Black with the old classic decal scheme.)
Finally, does anyone have info about the Weinmann rims Schwinn used back in "74? How much did they weigh, and are they durable enough for a big (235lb) guy like me? Converting to 700c wheels would be dodgy because of the cavernous brake reach in the rear.
Updates to follow. Would anyone care for pics to be posted?
Tom Adams, Kansas City
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