Bicycling, January 1976 Schwinn Paramount
03-02-23, 04:24 PM
#1
Retro on steroids
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Bicycling, January 1976 Schwinn Paramount
I see that people here post ancient issues of bicycle magazines. Here is the Schwinn Paramount review and back cover ad.
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03-02-23, 05:42 PM
#2
feros ferio
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I always hated that 14-16-18-23-26 gearing, with the big gap right where many of us need a gear.
Schwinn should have stayed with Keith Kingbay's original Varsinental gearing, 15-17-19-22-25, with the same 52-49 ringset up front.
Of course, a 2x6 setup solves the problem nicely -- I ran 14-16-18-20-23-26 on the Bianchi for many years, with 50-42 up front for general use and 50-47 for flat road rides. (I used this half-step / 1.5-step quick change trick at various times during the 1970s and 1980s.
Schwinn should have stayed with Keith Kingbay's original Varsinental gearing, 15-17-19-22-25, with the same 52-49 ringset up front.
Of course, a 2x6 setup solves the problem nicely -- I ran 14-16-18-20-23-26 on the Bianchi for many years, with 50-42 up front for general use and 50-47 for flat road rides. (I used this half-step / 1.5-step quick change trick at various times during the 1970s and 1980s.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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03-02-23, 08:13 PM
#3
Newbie
Thanks for posting!
Thanks for taking the time to post this, fun to read.
03-03-23, 04:53 AM
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Excellent read.
03-03-23, 05:06 AM
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Nice article @Repack Rider - thanks for posting!
Fun fact: those plastic chainstay protective sleeves were even found low in the pecking order. My '78 Traveler III had one, too.
DD
Fun fact: those plastic chainstay protective sleeves were even found low in the pecking order. My '78 Traveler III had one, too.
DD
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03-03-23, 07:18 AM
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Enjoyed the article and trip down memory lane: Somewhere around 1958 or 59, got my 1st derailleur bike, an old 5 speed. Seller pointed out the limit screws, said "if it starts dropping the chain, fiddle with these until it works better"! A cyclist acquaintance rode a Paramount and the hook was set. Don
03-03-23, 10:12 AM
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Oh the good old days!
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
03-03-23, 11:33 AM
#8
Rancho66
Thanks for the post! This article motivated me to clean, buff and wax up the plastic chainstay protective sleeves I had in a box and install them on my Paramounts. I didn't know Schwinn would dare put them on the Paramounts.
03-03-23, 12:25 PM
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My father's first good road bike was this in fire engine red with Weinmann center pulls. It had hung in a hot, sunny window of a bike shop for years until he offered the owner $500. After a tear down, cleaning and repacking, a new Brooks saddle and new Weinmann gum hoods and cotton tape, my father rode that bike for years. I was twelve at the time and kept thinking to myself, "a Schwinn? He bought a Schwinn?" Little did I know.
03-03-23, 12:52 PM
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That's pretty interesting about the gearing... I have a hard time imagining who thought that a half-step gearing arrangement was a good idea in that day and age. The weird jump in the freewheel sprockets is a surprise too.
For some reason, I kept my 1976 Schwinn catalog for all of these years, so I had to go back and check on the gearing specs. The text says that the chainrings are 42-52, and the freewheel is 14-16-18-21-24, which seems like a very reasonable progression of cogs.
However, when I look at the photo, it looks a lot like the 49-52 rings and the 14-26 freewheel...
high resolution version
Of course, the most important text is near the bottom: "Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice"!
Steve in Peoria
For some reason, I kept my 1976 Schwinn catalog for all of these years, so I had to go back and check on the gearing specs. The text says that the chainrings are 42-52, and the freewheel is 14-16-18-21-24, which seems like a very reasonable progression of cogs.
However, when I look at the photo, it looks a lot like the 49-52 rings and the 14-26 freewheel...
high resolution version
Of course, the most important text is near the bottom: "Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice"!
Steve in Peoria
03-04-23, 12:01 PM
#11
Senior Member
That's pretty interesting about the gearing... I have a hard time imagining who thought that a half-step gearing arrangement was a good idea in that day and age. The weird jump in the freewheel sprockets is a surprise too.
For some reason, I kept my 1976 Schwinn catalog for all of these years, so I had to go back and check on the gearing specs. The text says that the chainrings are 42-52, and the freewheel is 14-16-18-21-24, which seems like a very reasonable progression of cogs.
However, when I look at the photo, it looks a lot like the 49-52 rings and the 14-26 freewheel...
high resolution version
Of course, the most important text is near the bottom: "Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice"!
Steve in Peoria
For some reason, I kept my 1976 Schwinn catalog for all of these years, so I had to go back and check on the gearing specs. The text says that the chainrings are 42-52, and the freewheel is 14-16-18-21-24, which seems like a very reasonable progression of cogs.
However, when I look at the photo, it looks a lot like the 49-52 rings and the 14-26 freewheel...
high resolution version
Of course, the most important text is near the bottom: "Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice"!
Steve in Peoria
In '74 I bought a Motobecane LeChampion. Being a Junior racer 52/15 was the top gear allowed. I decided to go with a 49/52 and 15-24 freewheel. Turin in Chicago set me up with that gearing at no xtra charge.
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