Dear CR listees, Tim Fricker asks what to do with his 1973 Chrome Schwinn Paramount,with questions about bar tape color,wether to leave the safety levers on or to remove. And Schwinn Paramount decal advice.
Hi Tim, I'd do what anybody back in 1973 would've done to the PARAMOUNT,remove the factory "safety levers", and get a good quality lever for whatever brakeset you're using on the bicycle.Or locate any period correct brake lever from the early to mid 1970's and save the safety levers in a box for the next guy. I think the tape color is a personal choice.Black always works for me, especially on a touring bicycle. Getting the proper decals installed and probably having one of the good painters on the list doing a clear coat. I think a big question is what do you or anyone who has an ALL CHROME bicycle do to keep the chrome looking good,especially if the bicycle has pitting issues. Good luck on the project. Sounds like a few small details and you'll have this bicycle on the road soon. Yours truly, Marty Walsh in Vienna,Virginia,USA