BikePower

Ok. This is kind of far fetched I know. Some of you know that back in the early 80s I bought a Ross Paragon brand new from Bike and Ski in Sheboygan Wisconsin, and then about 5 years later I had to sell it. I've been grieving ever since and going on about it on here ever since I joined.

I paid over $400 (closer to 5) for it of hard earned money. I was about 15 years old. I kept it in my room at my parents house where I lived at the time. I rode it everywhere. It was my trusted and beloved friend, sometimes my only friend. It was light, it was fast, it was good looking and it was mine.

I added a "Flickstand" on the downtube and a chrome chain protector on the tube that is under the chain. I also cut the handlebars and made them into what we now call "bullhorns". I loved that mod and it rode like a dream for me. That bike fit me perfectly. I weighed about 135lbs soaking wet iirc.

One day, about 1988 I needed funds to help a friend in dire need and so I sold it to another friend for much less than I paid. I was desperate. Anyway, they went off to college in Janesville, Wisconsin and I never saw the bike again (until now?). I remember asking about it in the early 90s (hoping to get it back) and the friend I sold it to said that he had finished school and sold it to a guy at school, in or near Janesville. I think he said it was his room mate. That was the last I heard of my precious 1983 Ross Paragon.

Fast forward to 2024. I am looking at some online classifieds in Wisconsin and I see a "Ross Touring Bike". (I live in Florida now). I see a little script on the top tube but I cant tell if it says Paragon or Signature. So as I'm looking at it, I noticed that it has regular drop bars on it not the cut off bullhorns that I modded on my old bike. I also noticed that the seat is different. The bike came with a Viscount Aero and in the ad it has a Velo. People change bars and seats for their preferences though, so I'm still hopeful.

I look a little more and I notice it has a flickstand on it on the downtube. I have never ever seen another bike with a flickstand on it in all the looking at bikes I have done over the years and.. the flickstand looks like it is in the exact EXACT same place as I installed the one on my Ross Paragon in the early 80s.

So now I'm intrigued. I look at the photo a little closer and I see what I think is a chain protector on the tube under the chain but its not chrome , its hard to see and may be rusty.

I look at the location of this bike and it is located 35 miles from Janesville WI, the last known location of my bike! I'm getting excited.

I shoot off a text to the seller and she says its a Paragon and her husband (about the same age as me I think) bought it from a student in Madison which is 40 miles from Janesville. She said he's had it for a "several years". Honestly it looks like its been stored in a barn and not ridden for at lease a couple decades.

What are the chances that this is the same bike that I bought new in the early 80s? How can I be sure, and if so, how can I get it back ? They are asking $300 which is way more than the bike is worth but to me I might be willing to pay that if I knew for sure it was my old bike.

What do you think? Please advise.

Thanks

This is me in about 1983 or 84 with my Ross Paragon in the background. See the S in Ross is covered by the flickstand.

This is the bike that is for sale. Its 35 miles from the last known location of my old Ross Paragon. Notice the flickstand covering the S in Ross just like on my old bike. Is there a rusted chain guard on the tube below the chain?


Heres a pic of the flickstand that the seller just sent me. If i knew the serial number could any of you tell when the bike was made?

gugie 

What you’ve got is a Rosebud. Get it back by any means necessary.

shoota 

Looks like the rear brake housing is still the exact same too. I'd have someone local get it for you. Way too many coincidences to not be yours. Even if it's not, how would you prove it's NOT, just go with it and don't look back. That chess pic is simply incredible.

Mr. 66

lol, could be.

Today I was contacted by someone looking for their Paramount that was stolen in 1978. They thought one of my adds had the missing grail. I couldn’t help. It must have rode well for him to be still on the road to recovery.

IdahoBrett 

"Subscribed" I'm following this one!

Good Luck! And I hope it is.....

pastorbobnlnh 

As far as the chrome guard on the drive-side chain stay, I've seen several old bikes where the chrome part has come off or been removed and it left behind black adhesive. To my eye it looks as if that might have occurred.

In any case, this is a cool story. Waiting to see how it unfolds. Best of luck.

jetboy 

I once bought a bike that some PO had etched his name all over the frame and on just about on every part. I thought - how crazy is that?

But now...

jet sanchEz

The one in the chess picture looks to be a larger frame

BikePower

Where would the serial number be and how can i decipher the year? If its newer than 83 maybe 84 its not mine

BikePower

hmmm. I believe mine was a 23. How much bigger does it look? Interesting observation.

BikePower

i should have engraved my name on the frame.

Polaris OBark

Just buy it.

BikePower

do you think its my old bike?

nlerner

Based on the headtube, the current one you’re looking at is likely a 21” frame.

Btw, that front wheel holder is a Flickstand by Rhode Gear: Yo Eddy !!: Ode to the Flickstand

Polaris OBark

Yes.

BikePower

i need a plan to get it to florida. My budget is limited.

BikePower

so would you say that it is not the same bike? what percent sure are you that it is not the same bike? Thank you.

polymorphself 

So the gray/white decal looking thing on the seat tube isn’t actually a decal but something added after the fact? Bike in your photo doesn’t appear to have that.

I agree about the frame size…but can’t be sure without a full photo I suppose. Otherwise it’s pretty uncanny…

P!N20

Not super accurate, but using the cable guide spacing given and the distance from centre of seat tube to rear cable guide and using that to determine the distance from front cable guide to centre of head tube gives us something like this:



Close enough that it could be the right size, IMO.

Also, your Queen is in real trouble.

BikePower

wow thats really great extrapolation!! Thank you! I dont remember the size of the frame. I do remember wanting a bigger one and the sales guy said it was the right size and didnt think I would grow anymore. I was 5'11 and still am. I thought it was 83 when I bought it, but it might have been 84. I know the bike was made in USA. I would have been 15 or 16.

Look how high the seat post is. My seatpost on my 23" nashbar is set much lower to fit me. So maybe it is a 21"?

Oh my Queen was always in trouble back then lol. Deep in thought.

Update: the chess pic is a color slide my dad kept in with his slides. The processed date for the slide was stamped June 1985. So I had the bike for a while before that picture was taken. Sometimes rolls of film would be left unprocessed for months if not years so the date on the slide only tells us the picture could not have been taken later than June of 85.

polymorphself 

The more I think about the flip stand I’m convinced it’s the same bike. We all look at thousands of photos of bikes and know damn well that this just doesn’t happen. It’s too niche of a bike with a niche accessory attached to it in the exact same position and just miles from where you were living. The above mock-up helps.

My question about the dedal on the seat tube still stands though.

BikePower

I dont recall having a decal on my bike. It does resemble what the city bike license looked like though. I may have put that on there after the photo was taken. Or it might be a school decal or school bike registration decal , I have no idea. If it was legible and said my city name then I would know it was mine also. Also, I just remembered that I had a minor crash and there was a specific mark left on the bike. I will ask for some photos tomorrow and hopefull the marks will be identifiable and confirm its my old bike.

Thats my feeling too Poly. A friend reminded me that , that location is the only location the flickstand can go for it to work. It must be exactly at that spot for the length of the wire to hold the tire in place. But still, like you said, a niche bike with a niche accessory in close proximity to the last known location and circumstances of the bike is mathematically highly improbable. Then again, when you are looking for something you see it much more and in much more detail than when you arent.

RustyJames 

^^^^ x 1000

See facilitators section of the forum.

If my “first-love” bike became available I probably couldn’t afford it. Early Mongoose BMX bikes are selling for $$$$!!!

Millstone

Just go for it.

Even if it isnt, this is way too cool not to follow up. It makes for a great conversation piece.
Espescially if fellow forum members are willing to help you out. Epic story in the making! :-)

BikePower

Maybe the seller would take it to a nearby bike shop and the bike shop could pack it and ship it for a nominal fee?