georges1

Is it handmade in Italy as were the older reparto corse frames? Or is the frame made in Taiwan for cost cutting reasons?

smd4

"Its time" wasn't that long ago. It was built in 2013 on a custom frame with mint parts. I suspect a lot of people here are riding "modern" bikes that are older.

Wildwood 

60 years of difference, not that much of a change = IMHO…..


……for 60 years of ‘progress’.

Eric F 

Got any info that backs this up? Based on my experience with CF frames, unless I wreck one of them in a crash, I fully expect all of my current bikes to outlast me.

panzerwagon 

That's the most concise and accurate review of the book (and it's adherents) referenced by this fellow's username.
Bravo! 5 stars! A+++++++! Would read @BFisher 's reviews again!

panzerwagon 

Stunning! Makes me feel all kinds of nice feelings.

Eric F 

I'm not familiar with the brand, other than it's Italian. I apologize for my assumption that it is an older bike. Knowing that, it appears to be a high-quality steel race frame built with the style and methods perfected decades ago.

Wildwood 

I thought RC were made in Italy, but cannot find a corroborating statement on the website, tho' a cursory look.


hahaha - given the extensive 'history' of making frames in Taiwan, I submit = there may be a Little Italy somewhere on the island.


Allroad | Ioklin

smd4

No need to apologize. It is exactly as you describe. Just like many other steel racing bikes that continue to be built to this day.

georges1

Nice bike

Wildwood 

Domane? Or chrome '66 Paramount? Commonplace versus pretty rare? .... just sayin

an internet image

Eric F 

I have no idea, and I'm not going to spend time creating that list. The number doesn't really matter. CF frames can be repaired, and there are companies that exist who specialize in that work.

Kilroy1988 

Almost any cracks or splits or fractures or whatever can be repaired on carbon fiber frames. The problem I find is that most of the safest repairs include building up extra layers of CF around the problem area, creating something of a "bandage" on the frame that will always stand out compared to how it looked originally. I've seen many repaired carbon frames both on the road and being sold online, and I'm sure in many cases the area that broke is probably safer than it ever was when first out of the mold, but it's still often noticeable despite skilled repair efforts.

On the flip side, I know guys who've had $4-5k CF framesets develop little fractures around areas like the bottom bracket that were covered under warranty. It was easier for the manufacturer to send an entirely new frame rather than bother with repairing the old one. I feel like it would be much more economical and easier to completely hide the fact that such a repair had to take place on a steel frame.

-Gregory

iab

I got that from the first post. You are correct. But it amuses me to watch simpletons like that continually own themselves. Not the best trait in me, I'll freely admit it.

Eric F 

Would it be accurate to characterize them as "bikes made in the style of vintage racing bikes"?

merziac

Pretty sure it takes a pig to wrestle with one.

merziac

Wildwood is right, more pics.

smd4

I think your first description is more apt. Because of its geometry and parts spec, to me it still qualifies as a racing bike. You could easily race it today. You might not win, though!

The description above could apply to some pretty inexpensive bikes that just look like racing bikes.

merziac

BFisher

I understand.

Russ Roth

I had a steel frame/fork build in 1999 that was 16.5lbs and was scratching my head over the weight of a new carbon bike that weighed several lbs more at twice the price. But then I realized 10sp with ti cogs didn't weight as much as a light 12sp cassette. Looking at weights, the older 10sp carbon record bits are every bit as light as their new stuff, and those record levers are still lighter than shimano sti levers. The stopping power, or lack of, of the cane creek brs200 single pivot brakes with ti bits was a scary sight to behold but they weighted nothing. Modern carbon rims can be light but the mavic reflex was really might. Newer parts are built bigger for stiffness but includes weight penalties.

In affirmation of that statement, I'll be building this up later this summer with some record. Nothing like Italian beauty.

georges1

very nice Carrera frame

Eric F 

There are vintage steel bikes that excite me. This specific example is not one of them. Admittedly, a large part of it is how the bike is set up. I understand that some folks might feel differently.

merziac

This bike is mostly original so not sure what part of the setup is askew aside from the saddle being out of place on this, bartape is obviously not what many of us would use on this but it was already there too.

This is one of 7 Paramount's I own and it is as it came to me albeit cleaned up and adjusted a bit, way too small and has now been stripped down to bare metal to be painted and built up for a good friend, so.....

I only posted this pic as more pics had been asked for since few had been posted here.

I would encourage you to practice a bit more decorum, we typically say "not my cup of tea" or some such, I don't really care one way or another but this thread has already been a little contentious in spots and we can do better.

microcord

When I see this handsome machine, I suddenly feel very, very short.

Recovering (slightly) from that, I contemplate its pump. Now that really is extraordinary. Was it custom made?

Tomorrow I'll go for a ride, with a friend who'll be on one or other of two bikes that have, I think, CF frames. One has Di2 and 22 gears, the other has disc brakes and a mere 20. I'll be on a bike with friction-shifted 3×5. The contrast between his bike and mine hasn't yet brought about any problem that I've noticed.