So, THE Best Schwinn Road Bike; BAR NONE?
11-01-19, 12:15 AM
#51
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It's probably the same reasoning behind why nicer cars and nicer things are styled the way they are. Gotta pay for pretty. We all wish we could have Masi, Guerciotti, or Team Miyata fork blade profiles. 
11-01-19, 05:49 AM
#52
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The very rare Campagnolo equipped Continental.
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11-01-19, 06:40 AM
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Digging the diversity of all the schwinn models - lots of interesting choices. Would like to try a Prologue or 60's Paramount sometime.
11-01-19, 06:50 AM
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This thread about Schwinns has me nostalgic about my time in the Navy. Anchors aweigh, baby. 
I'd argue that, for its intended use, the Cimarron was their best model.
I'd argue that, for its intended use, the Cimarron was their best model.
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11-01-19, 07:55 AM
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11-01-19, 08:15 AM
#57
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^ Wowser!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
11-01-19, 02:16 PM
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Mine was also modified briefly as 7-speed indexed with Sunrace downtube shifters. I put the one piece crank and friction setup back on and gave it to my brother in law. Here it is with the indexed setup. Not the best pic, and certainly not a stunner like yours.
11-01-19, 03:24 PM
#60
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Homegrowns!!! Tomatoes forever!!!
Oh wait you said road bikes. Waterford Paramounts and PDG Paramounts, both are pretty sweet.
But the real answer is the one that fits.
Oh wait you said road bikes. Waterford Paramounts and PDG Paramounts, both are pretty sweet.
But the real answer is the one that fits.
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11-02-19, 12:40 AM
#61
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Okay, since mechanicmatt posted the mtn. bike, I can continue the digression.....
Best bike I ever rode, bar none, was a ‘68 Schwinn Paramount track bike. Responsive, but not twitchy. Stiff but didn’t beat me up it the turns. It went exactly it was aimed. Wish I was mine, but It was borrowed when I rode it and it’s owner knew how good it was. Every bike I have ridden since has been just a little lacking.
Best bike I ever rode, bar none, was a ‘68 Schwinn Paramount track bike. Responsive, but not twitchy. Stiff but didn’t beat me up it the turns. It went exactly it was aimed. Wish I was mine, but It was borrowed when I rode it and it’s owner knew how good it was. Every bike I have ridden since has been just a little lacking.
Last edited by Mr. Spadoni; 11-02-19 at 12:49 AM. Reason: forgot words
11-04-19, 01:07 PM
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Scooper
Stan,
it would be wonderful if you could contribute here.
it would be wonderful if you could contribute here.
11-04-19, 01:20 PM
#64
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Having owned a 1973 P13 (bought new) and a 1987 PDG Waterford I would have to say the '73 Reynolds frame was very compliant. In fact so compliant that my young legs were capable of getting the bottom bracket hub to flex a great deal. That being said the bike was a dream to ride and a masterpiece to admire with it's Campy Super Record components. The Waterford frame was actually a more responsive frame with several years of tech advances in frame costruction and the components were less fussy. Having owned many bikes the Paramount I owned might not have been the best, but for shear beauty and legacy it's really hard to beat my P13 tall white Paramount. Oh by the way I have owned several other Schwinn road bikes Prelude, Tempo, two Super Sports '72 & '87 plus multple other brand road bikes.
11-04-19, 01:24 PM
#65
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My younger self says it was my 1964 Schwinn Stingray. My older self has been riding a 1991 Schwinn 354 aluminum every week since 1991. The best one is the one that you actually ride.
11-04-19, 02:18 PM
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Schwinn
My first decent road bike in 1979 would have been a Volare if the shop would have had a 23" frame. Sweet bike, metallic orange and chrome with Dura-Ace.
11-04-19, 02:33 PM
#67
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Of course this thread begs for VERY subjective answers. I can only address what I have ridden, and really give a good opinion about what I have owned.
Varsity (might be a late 60s...definitely pre-1974...stolen too long ago to know): my BEST FRIEND during my teen years, but that is more of an emotional attachment.
1978 Continental: gets me around town and I don't worry too much about her being stolen, so most worry-free friend.
1973 Sports Tourer: cleaned and rebuilt from the ground up, so shiniest. Also has that massive 34 tooth low gear, so climbs are never and issue (despite her weight) even when carrying fully loaded panniers for a long weekend away.
1970 Paramount P-13-9: Pretty shiny with that chrome, but after 50 years is a little peppered. Fast and fun to ride. Handles super-well and I still outride people on their modern carbon fiber. Turns heads. I always assume this is what it feels like to drive a '65 Mustang convertible. I ALWAYS have a huge grin when I'm on her.
1977 Superior: flamingo pink so BEST COLOR EVER!!! To answer the original question, she is the best overall. Same frame as the Sports Tourer with lighter and better components (even without a 34 tooth gear). My favorite for multiday tours. I can load her up and ride back to back centuries. I do the Boston to NYC AIDS ride every year on her, and each time I finish the 275 miles I think "I could keep going. I'd LIKE to keep going." She's fun to ride without a load, can go fast when she needs to, climb when she needs to. She won't let me down. The Paramount might be lighter and faster, but the Superior can do more. If I could only own one bike, I'd pick her...or more likely kill myself, because I don't want to live in a world where you can only own one Schwinn.
Her name is Lorelei:
Miriam (the Paramount) sure is pretty, though.
Varsity (might be a late 60s...definitely pre-1974...stolen too long ago to know): my BEST FRIEND during my teen years, but that is more of an emotional attachment.
1978 Continental: gets me around town and I don't worry too much about her being stolen, so most worry-free friend.
1973 Sports Tourer: cleaned and rebuilt from the ground up, so shiniest. Also has that massive 34 tooth low gear, so climbs are never and issue (despite her weight) even when carrying fully loaded panniers for a long weekend away.
1970 Paramount P-13-9: Pretty shiny with that chrome, but after 50 years is a little peppered. Fast and fun to ride. Handles super-well and I still outride people on their modern carbon fiber. Turns heads. I always assume this is what it feels like to drive a '65 Mustang convertible. I ALWAYS have a huge grin when I'm on her.
1977 Superior: flamingo pink so BEST COLOR EVER!!! To answer the original question, she is the best overall. Same frame as the Sports Tourer with lighter and better components (even without a 34 tooth gear). My favorite for multiday tours. I can load her up and ride back to back centuries. I do the Boston to NYC AIDS ride every year on her, and each time I finish the 275 miles I think "I could keep going. I'd LIKE to keep going." She's fun to ride without a load, can go fast when she needs to, climb when she needs to. She won't let me down. The Paramount might be lighter and faster, but the Superior can do more. If I could only own one bike, I'd pick her...or more likely kill myself, because I don't want to live in a world where you can only own one Schwinn.
Her name is Lorelei:
Miriam (the Paramount) sure is pretty, though.
Last edited by punkinevil; 11-04-19 at 02:49 PM.
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11-04-19, 02:59 PM
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Best Schwinn is a Waterford, this one's ready to Rando
11-04-19, 06:54 PM
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The Best?
Okay. As a 10-16 year old, my Corvette was so solid and reliable it was excellent for my needs. BUT the best "road" bike is a Schwinn Sports
Tourer. Filet and brazed along side the Paramont, it had everything needed for Touring. Campy long cage allowed a huge chain wrap. Brooks saddle, water bottle holders and the bottles. Pedal cages. Heavy duty bearings and races in all areas. I do not believe these were a commercial success, but Tour bikes never are. I still see them once in a while. Quality throughout. I might be a tad biased.
Tourer. Filet and brazed along side the Paramont, it had everything needed for Touring. Campy long cage allowed a huge chain wrap. Brooks saddle, water bottle holders and the bottles. Pedal cages. Heavy duty bearings and races in all areas. I do not believe these were a commercial success, but Tour bikes never are. I still see them once in a while. Quality throughout. I might be a tad biased.
11-04-19, 07:27 PM
#72
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Give me a 1912+ Schwinn owned Chicago built Excelsior Big 1000cc Super-X motorbike. First to 100 mph.
And then to befriend a roach fixified Schwinn Racer, based on a very early TdF racer, something that really has caught me the bug for more from the original company. Its a super fun bike that's indestructible.
I loaned it to someone whom crashed and scuffed himself, but we hadn't noticed any new rashes on the bike. What's not to like?!
And then to befriend a roach fixified Schwinn Racer, based on a very early TdF racer, something that really has caught me the bug for more from the original company. Its a super fun bike that's indestructible.
I loaned it to someone whom crashed and scuffed himself, but we hadn't noticed any new rashes on the bike. What's not to like?!
Last edited by crank_addict; 11-04-19 at 11:11 PM.
11-04-19, 07:32 PM
#73
Member
Good point. Arguably, the Schwinn Varsity was the most important bicycle they made, because it kept American adults interested in cycling from the postwar years for a few decades until interest in quality bicycles increased in the 1970s and 1980s. The Varsity's method of manufacture was also highly innovative.
11-04-19, 08:45 PM
#74
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11-04-19, 09:01 PM
#75
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[QUOTE=pastorbobnlnh;21189862]Or the again very rare and limited edition, Campagnolo equipped 1971 Super Sport.
/QUOTE]
Stunning!
I have ridden some true racing early '70s road (and track) Paramounts and even tackled a Paramount tandem (with the owner's (and his stoker g/f's permission)
) and found them to be above my pay grade, as it were. I'm a blue-collar guy. Exotics are lost on me. The same mid-late '70s- era Super LeTour 12.2 or 11.8 is more my style. Yeah, Japanese made. My old '75 Fuji was roughly equivalent to the '77 12.2, but a few years earlier.
/QUOTE]Stunning!
I have ridden some true racing early '70s road (and track) Paramounts and even tackled a Paramount tandem (with the owner's (and his stoker g/f's permission)
) and found them to be above my pay grade, as it were. I'm a blue-collar guy. Exotics are lost on me. The same mid-late '70s- era Super LeTour 12.2 or 11.8 is more my style. Yeah, Japanese made. My old '75 Fuji was roughly equivalent to the '77 12.2, but a few years earlier.