I think I found my Ross Paragon that I sold in 1988. Please advise.
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Thank you for the thoughtful offer. I never go back to Wisconsin anymore however and have no plans to at this time.
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The definitive way would be to match the serial number with the serial number on the receipt from the bike store. My understanding is that bike shops keep records of every bike sold. I looked up the name of the store I bought it from which is Bike and Ski in Sheboygan Wisconsin on Indiana avenue but they apparently have gone out of business. The records may still exist on a computer somewhere. I dont know what happened to that receipt. Its probably with the catalog. it was in with my books that probablly got taken to the library when my dad moved. Long lost. I found a receipt from a drill press my dad bought in 1993 or so but no Ross Paragon receipt. So unless I can get a hold of the owner of Bike and Ski and see if he has records of all Ross Paragons from 1983 through 1985, I will have to go by intuition and clues.
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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.
-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.
$300 is an awfully high amount for a Ross Paragon in this (or any market). Those are CoVid prices completely restored methinks.
i could see the seller having you over a barrel of sentimentality at around $100. I don’t remember the model well, but I got a near mint Ross Centaur from roughly the same era during Covid for $50.
Nonethless, a really cool story, especially you selling your baby to help another person.
Edit: after doing some scouting around, I think initial estimate is too low. Ishiwata 024, bar ends, supposedly Cyclone? I could see $125 being pretty decent as a price.
Last edited by jdawginsc; 02-01-24 at 04:09 PM.
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The definitive way would be to match the serial number with the serial number on the receipt from the bike store. My understanding is that bike shops keep records of every bike sold. I looked up the name of the store I bought it from which is Bike and Ski in Sheboygan Wisconsin on Indiana avenue but they apparently have gone out of business. The records may still exist on a computer somewhere. I dont know what happened to that receipt. Its probably with the catalog. it was in with my books that probablly got taken to the library when my dad moved. Long lost. I found a receipt from a drill press my dad bought in 1993 or so but no Ross Paragon receipt. So unless I can get a hold of the owner of Bike and Ski and see if he has records of all Ross Paragons from 1983 through 1985, I will have to go by intuition and clues.
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The definitive way would be to match the serial number with the serial number on the receipt from the bike store. My understanding is that bike shops keep records of every bike sold. I looked up the name of the store I bought it from which is Bike and Ski in Sheboygan Wisconsin on Indiana avenue but they apparently have gone out of business. The records may still exist on a computer somewhere. I dont know what happened to that receipt. Its probably with the catalog. it was in with my books that probablly got taken to the library when my dad moved. Long lost. I found a receipt from a drill press my dad bought in 1993 or so but no Ross Paragon receipt. So unless I can get a hold of the owner of Bike and Ski and see if he has records of all Ross Paragons from 1983 through 1985, I will have to go by intuition and clues.
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a few years ago i picked up a hammered, but pretty original Paragon at the local bike thrift store, in comparable condition to the one the OP is asking about, with the stock Superbe components, for $25 out the door. this was after it had sat there for several weeks with no takers.
also below is an 'as purchased' pic of a Paragon i picked up at the height of pandemic pricing, 2 hour drive each way, pretty much bone stock and mostly original, fully ride ready when i bought it.
i don't remember the exact price, but i know it was under, or maybe right at $200. pretty sure it wasn't more than that. i do not own it anymore.
i'll stand by my 'any old bike' 'valuation' of $25-$50, sentimental value to the OP could (should?) be higher if it's indeed their old bike.
again, best of luck to the OP to firstly determine if it is indeed their old bike, and secondly, acquiring it if it is.
Last edited by hazetguy; 02-02-24 at 08:45 AM.
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gotta disagree. below are pics of factory specs. no bar ends, Superbe derailleurs/shifters were the 'high end' parts on it, but everything else was middle-ish of the road. frame had some sizing quirks and the funky fork dropouts.
a few years ago i picked up a hammered, but pretty original Paragon at the local bike thrift store, in comparable condition to the one the OP is asking about, with the stock Superbe components, for $25 out the door. this was after it had sat there for several weeks with no takers.
also below is an 'as purchased' pic of a Paragon i picked up at the height of pandemic pricing, 2 hour drive each way, pretty much bone stock and mostly original, fully ride ready when i bought it.
i don't remember the exact price, but i know it was under, or maybe right at $200. pretty sure it wasn't more than that. i do not own it anymore.
i'll stand by my 'any old bike' 'valuation' of $25-$50, sentimental value to the OP could (should?) be higher if it's indeed their old bike.
again, best of luck to the OP to firstly determine if it is indeed their old bike, and secondly, acquiring it if it is.
a few years ago i picked up a hammered, but pretty original Paragon at the local bike thrift store, in comparable condition to the one the OP is asking about, with the stock Superbe components, for $25 out the door. this was after it had sat there for several weeks with no takers.
also below is an 'as purchased' pic of a Paragon i picked up at the height of pandemic pricing, 2 hour drive each way, pretty much bone stock and mostly original, fully ride ready when i bought it.
i don't remember the exact price, but i know it was under, or maybe right at $200. pretty sure it wasn't more than that. i do not own it anymore.
i'll stand by my 'any old bike' 'valuation' of $25-$50, sentimental value to the OP could (should?) be higher if it's indeed their old bike.
again, best of luck to the OP to firstly determine if it is indeed their old bike, and secondly, acquiring it if it is.
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saddles are easily changed, and i sure as heck would not use that as any kind of determining factor.
no Paragon in the '82 or '85 catalog (i don't have an '84 catalog)
no Paragon in the '82 or '85 catalog (i don't have an '84 catalog)
Last edited by hazetguy; 02-02-24 at 09:10 AM.
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If I were a betting person, it is yours. Just too many close coincidences.
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As an aside, I too wish I could get my hands on my high school bike. But a few months ago I paid twice what I wanted to for a Takara like I had back in the day so nostalgia does have a dollar value. I hope this is indeed your old bike and that the seller realizes the asking price is too far out there to be reasonable. Good luck.
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Since the seller is somewhat willing to provide photos at your request, ask for a photo of the markings on the handlebar. If they are the SP alloy custom bars in the spec sheet it stands to reason these are the original bars as I doubt someone would have gone to the trouble to source original equipment bars if they did swap back to drop bars. If they have some other markings, then it may lean more towards being your bike.
As an aside, I too wish I could get my hands on my high school bike. But a few months ago I paid twice what I wanted to for a Takara like I had back in the day so nostalgia does have a dollar value. I hope this is indeed your old bike and that the seller realizes the asking price is too far out there to be reasonable. Good luck.
As an aside, I too wish I could get my hands on my high school bike. But a few months ago I paid twice what I wanted to for a Takara like I had back in the day so nostalgia does have a dollar value. I hope this is indeed your old bike and that the seller realizes the asking price is too far out there to be reasonable. Good luck.
But SR aluminum bars are fairly common on low to mid range bikes. So just because they didnt replace them with nitto or kmart steel bars doesnt mean they arent replacements. If they ARE steel bars or non SR alloy bars it is strong weight in our favor.
That stem is suspect to me. It looks awfully short compared to pics of stock Paragons. It looks to be an SR but about a 60mm?? The spec sheet doesnt say what size the stock stem was.
If the 1984 catalog says a Velo seat was the spec then its pretty safe to say its not my bike especially if the bars are SR alloy. That would lower my chaces to 90% not mine. I do not have access to an 1984 spec sheet. Do any of you?
Last edited by BikePower; 02-02-24 at 07:04 PM.
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According to this old post it looks like user McDave may have access to the 1984 catalog. though the last time he posted here was 2008. Could shoot a PM anyways, maybe it goes to his email.
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According to this old post it looks like user McDave may have access to the 1984 catalog. though the last time he posted here was 2008. Could shoot a PM anyways, maybe it goes to his email.
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The Nitto bars on two of my Takaras are also stamped Takara. Perhaps someone will know if Ross had their brand stamped on the bars they used. If so and these bars are stamped Ross, then the chances of this being your bike grow a bit slimmer. But on the other hand if they should be branded Ross and are not, then IMHO that increases the odds of this being your bike.
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Can you elaborate what you mean by sizing quirks on the Ross Paragons? Thanks.
Last edited by BikePower; 02-02-24 at 09:16 PM.
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The first two digits of the serial number are for the month of the year and the next two digits are for the year.
Last edited by Hummer; 02-02-24 at 10:24 PM. Reason: spelling
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I have seen one serial number for the Pargon model. The format was for frames made in Allentown, PA.
Ross bicycles from Allentown factory were usually on the non-driveside dropout or the bottom bracket. According to the catalogue the Paragon and Aristocrat models had forged dropouts, so it is unlikely that the serial number will be there. I have seen an Aristocrat model with the serial number on the bottom bracket.
The first two digits of the serial number are for the month of the year and the next two digits are for the year.
Ross bicycles from Allentown factory were usually on the non-driveside dropout or the bottom bracket. According to the catalogue the Paragon and Aristocrat models had forged dropouts, so it is unlikely that the serial number will be there. I have seen an Aristocrat model with the serial number on the bottom bracket.
The first two digits of the serial number are for the month of the year and the next two digits are for the year.
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I have had 2 Flickstands in a drawer that came on bikes that I acquired- I took them off to put fenders on. But they were both 1980s bikes in SE WI with Flickstands, ostensibly on there for 35+ years. I've never gotten the impression that Flickstands were an uncommon accessory.