Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

So my first 531/531 bike was a 1978/79 Trek 736. It was Trek's "racing" geometry.

I guess I always assumed "racing" meant "uncomfortable, but fast." The Trek 730 was really comfortable. AND I learned a lot about how lighter bikes ride- and just being able to compare how that really feels between different styled bikes and similar (or different) tube sets and geometry.

I think I had that bike for a good 3-4 years before I realized that my Trek 400 Sport/Tourer had more aggressive front end geometry, but with longer chainstays.

On top of all that- Because of the perception of the use of top notch materials and the expert workforce producing "the best" bikes, I look at Paramounts as being as much about the status for the "gentleman of leisure" as it was about the actual performance.

I guess short story long- don't rule out a "race" bike.