oldbikenewbike

I know it's not an early coveted Paramount, but hey, it's the first one I've ever had.

Yes, this is a China or Taiwan made one from what I can see (owner got almost all of that sticker off probably years ago). And I believe it's from 1992.

Story is, I called about a Peugeot bike the guy was selling, but someone already called to come see it this morning. Turned out he had other bikes and wanted to clean out his garage for a car project he was working on. I saw a photo that had four bikes in it, two newer Schwinn's, a Schwinn Suburban with FF and a red road bike I couldn't make out. I asked him what it was, and he said "a Power Mount". I said do you mean "Paramount"? He said yes, and I couldn't get there fast enough last night.

He was glad to get rid of the bikes (he was selling the Peugeot for $50 in beautiful condition), but now I told him I only wanted the red one. The Hell with the Peugeot!
He was the second owner and didn't ride it much, so it sat in his garage. He thought he had to talk me into buying it.

And now for the best part...drum roll, please..."Would you give me $30 for it"? I couldn't get the money out of my pocket fast enough, load it up and get home.

oldbikenewbike

oldbikenewbike

jamesdak 

Total score and at a great price! Congrats!

That's going to clean up quite nicely. Let us know what you think of it after you get a few rides in on it. I personnaly prefer mine over my Waterford Paramount so much that I've got the Waterford listed locally for sale. These bikes are stiff, fast, and even climb well.

rhenning

As far as where your PDG 2 was made this is what the front of mine says. By the way it rides similar to my 1974 Paramount. Roger

The Golden Boy 

That should clean up beautifully!

Congratulations!

Lemond1985

Great find! On my PDG 5, when I was painting it, I noticed an interesting detail. The seat tube flares out, just slightly for an inch or so, right above the bottom bracket. Probably 1/8" or so, not much. But I bet that feature adds a lot of stiffness to these frame, I read they were designed to be used as criterium bikes. Mine always feels like a race bike, love it.

oldbikenewbike

I spent today cleaning and detailing it. Man, the paint almost looks wet! Maybe tomorrow I'll be ready for a run with it, but I still need to redo the handlebar tape.

Oh, and it's crazy all the items that were left on the bike when I got it. Saddle bag...two bottle holders...water bottle (which I'll toss)...and a red blinking light that still works.

The bicycle shop sticker I peeled off, and ironically it was sold at the shop about 2 miles from my house. It's still there.

What's also crazy are the amount of PARAMOUNT decals that adorn the bike. They wanted to make sure everyone knew what you were riding!

oldbikenewbike

Maybe @T-Mar or @Robbie Tunes can answer this... What was the list price on this bike back in 1992? Any idea?

Lemond1985

You're lucky to have escaped the "splatter" paint fad of that model year, found on other models. I think the red on yours looks a lot better.

mstateglfr 

Lemond1985- How dare you disparage splatter paint! Splatter shall go down as the greatest trend in bike paint ever. Ever!


On an actually serious note- the OP's bike is super neat and a heck of a deal. Both parties are happy and a nice old bike gets a new life. Winning all around.

Surprised a '92 PGD was made in China though.

jamesdak 

Here's this info:

https://waterfordbikes.com/pdg-series-bikes-1989-94/

A little searching on these here will find the actual reference that say the Series 2 and Series 3 were done in China while the rest were Taiwanese bikes. If my memory is correct.

jamesdak 

Then on top of the production bikes there appears to be two series of preproduction ones. They lacked the series number of any kind.

One version is the lugged Red/White/Blue ones which I few of us on here have. Then there was also an all white tig welded version. These were supposedly made by Panasonic for Schwinn to prove they could produce a bike good enough to have the Paramount name.

Here's mine:



These bikes fly.

RiddleOfSteel

Very cool Paramount. That should clean up really well, and it looks like it has. It also looks like the seller liked to hang that rear axle a little too far forward in the dropouts! I'd probably slide it back a few mm just to be safe--don't want you to eat a pavement sandwich on a newly overhauled bike!

rccardr 

I had one of the all white TIG welded ones pass through The Lab six or seven years ago. It was OK, but the finish on the 'real' lugged PDG's is much nicer.

mhespenheide 

I have one in candy apple red, or some shade more like a late 60's hotrod. Bought the frame new on closeout when Schwinn was going out of business in the early 90's. It doesn't have any number on the frame; just "series PDG". It lives at my parent's house, for training and rides when I'm back home in the Hudson Valley.

While a little heavier than modern bikes, I've always enjoyed the ride of it.

Slightspeed

Nice find. I had the same Exage groupset on a 90s Bianchi Forza, except that mine had Biopace chain rings. Looks like a fun ride. The Bianchi got killed by a car, but the Exage front derailleur lives on, on my '78 Peugeot PR10, as a replacement for a broken Simplex.

seedsbelize 

I have a 92 Panasonic built Paramount. I found the ride to be quite stiff/harsh until I put cushy tires on it. They made a world of difference.

nomadmax 

Anybody know what the largest tire that will fit on one of the PDG bikes? 28s?

Lemond1985

I have '91 PDG 5. 28 mm Continental GP4000II's, no. Panaracer Gravel King or Pasela in 28 mm, yes, unless you are running an extremely wide rim.

nomadmax 

Thank you

oldbikenewbike

I still need to do the bar tape and some more detailing, but I had to take it for a quick spin. Shifts perfectly and runs straight as an arrow. I'm happy!!

oldbikenewbike

A few more...

nomadmax 

Great job, you'll love that bike.

jamesdak 

Beautiful bike and nice work with the pictures.

Your gonna love it.