I just finished assembling my chrome 1974 Paramount with a vitrually new early 80's SR groupset, except for the seatpost and BB cups. Photos are here:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/
Now it will come back apart so everything can get cleaned and repacked/lubed. It's my only gearie roadbike now and it will be my first substantial experience with a non-Cannondale roadbike, which is long gone, so I'm looking forward to it.
It was given to me when I was looking for bent, lugged frames with which to practice frame tube replacement. No headbadge, no stickers, no provinance. No one knew what it was and it nearly went under the hacksaw; by that I mean the frame was in the vice and the saw was in my hands. I paused - curiosity about the Campy headseat, chrome and fancy lugs finally gained enough traction. It must have been something. I was new to the list and posted it. Brian and a couple of others identified it and it was spared, but I didn't really take a shine to it. It's been hanging from my shop since then, except for being thrown together as a single speed for a little while. I noticed that it handled nicely but didn't think much of it, and it was chrome. You see, I'm not really a chrome frame kind of guy so it didn't really turn me on. It hung from the ceiling because I was too busy building to figure out how to sell it on Ebay. I had a full SR groupset that I was saving for an SL frameset that I wanted build for myself too. All the extra ingredients at hand, but I didn't want to put them on the chrome bike. Red and it would have happened long ago but it was not red; it was chrome. Still, as I continued to build frames, read about and consider frame design and fit I kept bumping into the fact that, during the short time I rode it, it fit me well and handled well. It was very nice that way, but, it was chrome. Back up on the ceiling thinking about the SL frame for the SR groupset. It had been in the bikeshop attic for ages, unknown, hanging from my shop ceiling for a couple of years; this frame has been swimming upstream, trying to survive and trying to see daylight for a long time. 10, 20 years I'd guess. Finally, finally it's personality and perserverence overcame my predjudice and I decided to build it up the other week. Last night I finished this initial assembly. It even fits, barely, some 700x32's I had on hand and like very much. Coleen came out to the shop last night as I was wrapping up and whistled at it; said it was georgeous - especially the chrome. I took a few steps back and looked it over. She was right. Chrome and all. I think there's a lesson for me in there.
John Clay Tallahassee, FL
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