PhilFo 

This is an intriguing story. I'd love to find my old Diamond Back. Or my Specialized S-Works. Or my Leica M2...

TenGrainBread 

If it's in or near Madison I can buy it and ship it to you. Can even negotiate on your behalf.
Send me a link to the listing.

RB1-luvr

seatpost appears to be the same too. It does look like a small bike for someone 5'-11". I would fit that bike, and I'm 5-9", 30" inseam. But if you're bike was too small, then perhaps it's the one.

this is a great story. I can't wait to find out how it plays out.

BikePower

can you stand over a 23" bike with feet flat on the floor and the bar centered under your pelvis? For me its touching. I wear 32 length jeans. I wish i could remember the frame size. I asked for another photo of part of the bike that i remember something unique about. If she sends it, i will know for sure.

BikePower

thats very kind TenGrain. Thank you. Its 37 miles from Madison.

polymorphself 

If you end up deciding it is your bike, you could always just pay for it and figure out how to get it later if they are willing to hold onto it. If they are concerned about scams in any way with that proposal you could link them to this thread which should clear up your seriousness. But it sounds like you've got someone willing to facilitate the sale for you.

smd4

This could be a great adventure. I hope it's yours!

john m flores 

Wait, it looks like white pulled off the classic three move checkmate - or am I seeing it wrong?

What a fascinating story. BikePower if you get the bike, you must recreate this chess photo for us!

BikePower

i will recreate the photo. That will be fun. You guys are great, thank you all for your support?

AdventureManCO 

If you haven’t already reached out to the seller and made plans to pick it up (somehow) - stop posting in this thread and immediately do that!

We had a saying in another nerdy hobby of mine (collecting vintage stationary woodworking tools)…

’In the time it takes you to decide whether you want it or not, someone else will have already arrived at the proper conclusion.’

RB1-luvr

If this is actually your young version's bike, I'm in for $20. I can PayPal it to you. Put it towards gas, shipping, purchase price, whatever. I'm serious.

hazetguy 

a few thoughts:
-i found the listing, says 'in stock', which is code for "my price is absolutely crazy and it has not sold after being listed forever".
-price is o.b.o.
so you have those things in your favor.

IF, and that is a HUGE 'IF" you can verify that it is indeed your old bike, it is difficult to put a price on sentimentality, but try not to seem overly enthusiastic to the seller (might be too late for that), otherwise they might not want to negotiate too much on price. maybe at this point that doesn't matter.
also i'm sure you know by now that there would be after purchase expenses, like shipping.
again, IF this is your old bike, you need to figure out how much it is worth for you to get it back.

if it is NOT your original bike, $300 for a clapped out, needing everything Paragon is about $250-$275 too high.

would be cool to see you get it IF it was your original bike.

WaveyGravey

Definitely buy it. The odds are 80-90% it's your bike.

smd4

Re the flick-stand, where those can be positioned for optimal function is pretty narrow. Someone with the same bike, and the same flick-stand, would probably have to position it very closely to where you positioned yours.

john m flores 

It boils down to this - how many Ross Paragon's in this part of the country had a flick-stand? I'd guess that the odds are pretty low.

smd4

Oh, definitely agree. Very, very low. But not 100%

BikePower

that occurred to me as well which takes some weight off the flick stand evidence rationally, but emotionally when I look at the pictures side by side its compelling proof that its the same bike. and so the head and the heart at odds as per usual in life. But still, how many ross paragons were made, how many in that frame size, how many 35 miles from its last known location bought from a college student (the last known owner), how many with a flickstand from the 1980s (no longer available), how many with flipstand still on the bike from the 1980s?

On the other hand, what are the odds that my exact bike, would be for sale at the exact moment I decided to search wisconsin fro ross paragons. I only searched wisconsin on a couple of occasions? By this criteria the chances of it being my bike are slim to none.

BikePower

I agree its not worth much , especially in its unexamined condition. I am frankly perplexed why they are even asking that much for the bike?? Objectively it's a mid grade bike at best, doesnt have a cult following or anything, its not sought after and it needs a lot of work. Im sure there are much better, even minty examples of it available for half the price.

If I could get a look at that derailleur, i wiped the bike out at 15 on railroad tracks and the rear derailleur has a certain scuff rash on it. If I could see that I might know for sure. If the rash is not there, the heart may argue that they replaced it.

The shape of the chain guard on the tube under the chain was unique also. If there is a glue residue there or a rust outline of the shape that would confirm also. I dont want to ask for any more pictures. Some people become impatient with that and then stop communicating.

There may be a artifact from where I mounted my cateye computer sensors on the crank and front fork as well. I still remember the day I installed that. I was so excited! It was high tech computer stuff.

Other than that how can I know for sure? I dont know. Maybe if I can talk to the owner on the phone instead of through messenger i could glean some info/clues about the previous owner that would cinch the mystery.

Overall my gut says about 80 to 90% my old bike being as rational and objective as I can be.

BikePower

Thats very kind of you RB1. Thank you for investing in this adventure! I will keep you posted as the story unfolds. 10grainbread has volunteered to go above and beyond and travel 35miles to where the bike is to negotiate, secure, pack and hand off to the shipper. Im so appreciative for all of you helping me to get my bike back. I never expected this level of interest and support!

BikePower

I did reach out with text and asked to meet Saturday. They replied they will have to find out if that time works. I offered my phone number to call if they want to otherwise I would just wait for them to confirm via text.

BikePower

Ive never even seen another flickstand on a bike... EVER. All the bikes I look at in photos online and for sale ads , I have never seen one. I find that encouraging.

smd4

I guess there's only one way to find out...

TmMc

Small point - the flipstand does not appear to be in the same location. Not that it matters since it could have been moved over the past four decades (and believe you’ve made up your mind already).

Keep in mind that the “ROSS” logo is flipped on opposite sides of the down tube. On the right side the “R” is on the lower end of the logo, on the left side the “S” is on the lower end.

As shown in the seller’s photo, the strap covers the “S” on the left side, and would cover the “O” on the right side

As shown in your original photo, the flipstand strap does not cover the “O” on the right side. The flipstand is lower in the seller's photo.

dedhed

Do you come back to WI on occasion? I'd be able to store it in Milwaukee if you had plans to visit anytime in the next year or so. I could meet 10 grain somewhere for a handoff

BikePower

wow! I didnt think that through. You are right!! but still. that it has a flipstand (flickstand) is pretty rare imo.