big chainring 

Early '70's Libertas- Mann. Frame is a recent purchase from ebay. Built it up with mostly Campy NR and sew-ups!

Just recently found out that the Mann race team of the 60's-70's was sposored by a drug company...Dr. Mann's Powders. Cured all your ills physical and mental.

EddyR

Here is a old person and his bike on a colder day recently . I am 83 but my bike is only 33. Had the frame repaired and started riding this again. 91 Paramount PDG.
EddyR

badger1

Haven't updated pic in a while, so Project Sirrus as it currently sits, with XT brakes/GRX crank. All that remains are wheels and shifter/derailleur/cassette (probably XT) this year. That should do it; I'm hoping this one sees me out (I'll turn 73 in September): fits me perfectly, and does everything I want a bike to do.

big john

What size are those tires? Are you happy with the 1x on the road?

badger1

Tires are 32s (Spec. Roubaix Pro, the 'tubeless ready' ones). I've been using them for years now: light, quick, supple but with pretty good durability. They work well for me on paved surfaces and hard-packed non-technical trails. If these went out of production I'd probably go with the Conti 5000 32s. I've a set of 38s (something Specialized) hanging around, but never feel the need to use them.

The 1x: I like it perfectly well for the riding I do/where I ride. Always ride solo, and around here (SW Ontario) we don't have mountains; hell, we don't really have much in the way of hills as such, though lots of long stretches of rollers. Mine is a 40 x 11-42; gearing is more than high enough/low enough for me. If I rode in the mountains, though, or in groups, I'd probably have stayed with a 2x. I can tell that I might miss the more closely-spaced ratios (right word?) under those conditions.

big john

Thought they might be 32. I imagine they are comfortable on bad pavement. The last time I ran 32s was on a touring bike in 1990.

I ask about the 1x because it seems most of the gravel bikes these days have them. I think I would prefer a 2x for mixed surface rides. I have a 1x on my mountain bike and it's fine in the dirt, pretty wide range, but I really notice the gaps when I ride it on the road.

t2p

have one gravel bike with 2x - 48/31 w 11-34 and another gravel bike with 1x - 40 w 10-42

was initially not too keen on 1x - but after riding it prefer the 1x over the 2x … the jump from the small to big ring on the 2x is significant

the wide gaps on the 1x don’t bother me - with the exception of the gap from the 12 to 10 tooth … would prefer a 11t instead of the 10t

t2p

another similar option in a 32 is a Conti GP4S or the newer GP5K AS - more durable / puncture resistant than the GP5K … but still not as durable / puncture resistant as the Roubaix Pro which is one of the more durable / puncture resistant tires of it’s type

t2p

curious - what frame repair was required ?

EddyR

t2P
let me start by saying I know bikes well as I sold over 700 road bikes as a flipper. I stopped 7 years ago when selling my home. I had never come across any paramount in my size. I saw this one in my size but it was going to be a long drive to get it but it looked very clean. I met this guy who was a flipper who sold bikes as he found them. I checked the frame for crash damage and it was ok and it looked like a typical bike that had sat for 20+ years. I changed the tires ,chain and the corncob cassette. I was polishing the frame when I found this hair line crack. Someone had painted it and smeared crime over it. This is very typical when bike is put in bike stand and held by top tube. Did the original owner or the flipper do it. I rode it for a few hundred miles and liked the bike so I tore it down and looked for someone to repair it. Took a long time but I found this guy who said yes and I can do it now if you want. He was quick and did a good job. I have ridden it about 250 miles since the repair . Can’t do very fancy paint repair in bed room ! It is not in a spot that show up or noticed.

badger1

That last issue is the one that the Campagnolo Ekar kit tries to address, I think? Way beyond my needs, but I can see how the group would appeal; I don't know the exact numbers, but I think I read that the first five or six cogs are very close-spaced like a traditional road cassette.

t2p

I would like the gearing on my 2x gravel bike if Shimano offered the RX810 2x crankset with a smaller chainring than the 48t … I have a 46t ring from a RX600 crank - but the rings are slightly different so shelved that the idea … and for me a 44 would probably be better

the front shifting on the 48/31 is a tad clunky / slow - not real bad and never drops chain etc - but compared to the rest of my 2x and 3x bikes it is the worst

I have a 6800 / 105 bike with 46/34 chainrings (replaced the 50t ring with a 46) - and the front shifting is quick and snappy … outstanding

t2p

700 bikes … wow - I sold 7 in one year and I thought I was doing well …

what size is your bike ?

I keep an eye open for the PDG road bikes in the smaller (est) sizes - and I have not run across one (but not a dedicated search) … but do have some small PDG MTBs though

yeah top tube should never be clamped - cringe when I see that

DorkDisk

This old guy now rides mostly 700c wheels with 38mm tires


2012 Marin Muirwoods

1995 Trek 750

2019 Ritchey Swiss Cross

non-fixie 

After a short spell of experimenting with wider tires and even 650B wheels I'm back to normal with my latest build: 700C and skinny tires.

badger1

Had 48/34 x 12-32 on old Project Sirrus. Sadly, stolen out of garage, hence new Project Sirrus. Loved that (old) bike; would still be riding it today, I imagine. All that remained of the stock bike was the frame/fork; everything else I chose/replaced, even the headset.

EddyR

my bike is a 54 cm. Over the years i sold a few older Paramounts ,most were 58-62 cm and were 531 tubing. I road the 58 for a while but it was to big. I see a lot of PDG mountain bikes on Facebook marketplace and most are very cheap. Many less than $100. There is a 1990 series 2 pdg 54 cm on Asheville nc for $30. It has been on there for months. It looks like a beater. I see guys on youtube rebuilding bikes held by the top tube . I have never seen a Paramount PDG on Charlotte Craiglist.
EddyR

irwin7638

My latest creation, a Rivendell Yves Gomez. Surprisingly fast and just as comfortable as it looks.

RobbieK2022

oh wow! I do like that. How's that feel compared to a modern FS bike? 26s?

curbtender

You wouldn't happen to ride a Centurion Ironman would you?

RobbieK2022

My bad, I meant to be replying to the MTB post.

And no I don't ride a Centurion Ironman, but a guy I road with in HS had one. He was the cool kid.

mackgoo

Latest addition. Maybe 500 miles a year.

DirePenguin

After having my ‘18 Trek Domane ALR5 destroyed when I was hit by a car in ‘21, I was lucky enough to find this beauty in Jan. ‘22. I was just checking on Trek’s website and feeling pretty bummed that Domane’s in my size weren’t available for order online when one popped up on a local bike shop (Holmes Cycling and Fitness in Camp Hill, PA; a great shop)!

I called them immediately to verify they still had it in stock and put the down payment on it without even seeing it! Two years later and I absolutely love this bike!

locolobo13 

My Trek Marlin 5 along the Grand Canal in Phx.

pepperbelly

2013 Roubaix Comp