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Would you ride it?

Old 09-15-17, 05:41 PM
  #1  
chewybrian 
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Would you ride it?

On Ebay now is a '72 Paramount, mint, that it is claimed was never ridden.

Assuming you buy that, and assuming you bought the bike, what would you do with it?

(It would be nice if someone could post the link or maybe a pic for me; still no internet since the hurricane.
But I do have cell service now! )
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Old 09-15-17, 05:43 PM
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Stuff it and mount it on the wall at a hipster coffee shop or microbrewery tap room.
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Old 09-15-17, 05:44 PM
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Is it a tall frame for around $4000? someone else posted about an unridden Paramount recently too
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Old 09-15-17, 05:55 PM
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Yes, sorry I did not see that other thread (or maybe it was in the Ebay finds thread?). I'm just now making contact with the outside world after a week with no internet. (This is where I would punch in a picture of Robin Williams from Jumanji "What year is it?!", If I wasn't on my phone.)

Yeah, it's my size, like 25+1/2. It looks unridden, from the pics. I don't think I have the cash or the room for it right now, but I'm sure another like it will come along in 20 or 30 years...
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Old 09-15-17, 05:58 PM
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I would ride it into the ground. Otherwise it's a waste of money.
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Old 09-15-17, 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Lazyass
I would ride it into the ground. Otherwise it's a waste of money.
Yep. That is my thinking, too.
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Old 09-15-17, 06:15 PM
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I'd ride it for sure. I'm not a collector, so I'd never pay that much for an old bike. If it is pristine, it'd be a shame if someone that does collect doesn't have one like this.

Price wise I think it's 3000 too much for anyone just wanting a vintage Paramount to ride. Any body followed this bike and seen how many times it's been re-listed? I had been watching Paramount's earlier this year and I don't recall seeing it then.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwinn-Para...AAAOSwytlZru95
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Old 09-15-17, 06:21 PM
  #8  
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There was much discussion re: unridden or not. There is a lot of grease on the small chainring for being "unridden".
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Old 09-15-17, 06:24 PM
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At my age, nothing's too good to 'not ride'. Might not get another chance.
If it suits my riding styles then it'll go in the rotation.
If it's not a pleasure to ride, it could go on the wall permanently.
Wouldn't take long to figure which category.
Maybe needs new saddle/stem/bars to be an outstanding ride.
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Old 09-15-17, 06:51 PM
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This kind of thing comes up in the classic motorcycle world too. Some cool old bike, with 15 miles on it and a high asking price aimed at a collector. The problem is, if you buy something like that, or this Paramount, and then ride it, you immediately kill it's value. And if your gonna ride it, why pay so much for it in the first place?

So to me, since I'm a rider and not a collector, this isn't something I'd want. I'd hold out for a cheaper one with some honest wear and go ride the wheels off it.
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Old 09-15-17, 07:07 PM
  #11  
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No, I wouldn't ride it... it has stem shifters. Jeez Louise, have some standards. (just kidding)
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Old 09-15-17, 07:15 PM
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What kind or RD is that?
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Old 09-15-17, 07:22 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by Wulf
What kind or RD is that?
Campagnolo Grand Turdismo





EDIT: I've never used one, so some may say I've not earned the right to refer to it as such. But it is funny.
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Old 09-15-17, 07:25 PM
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Buy a bicycle; don't ride it.
...Just sounds wrong.
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Old 09-16-17, 05:23 AM
  #15  
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Yes I'd ride it. I'd look at it like I'm buying a brand new bike. I'd be excited, happy and content.

Since I'm not a collector, the reason I'd buy a new bike is no one else has ridden it, and therefore all road scars would be done by me. And for some reason that's a cool thing to know about your bike.

Btw, Chewy, wishing you a quick recovery from the hurricane and a return to normalcy.

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Old 09-16-17, 06:56 AM
  #16  
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I was given a tour of a Schwinn bike shop outside of Milwaukee a couple years ago. They had a Chrome Paramount, "in the box", along with a few Krates "in the box". It will be interesting to see the money those bring when they come to auction. Also gotta wonder if other old Schwinn shops hoarded the good stuff. And will there be a new batch of unridden Paramounts when their owners give up the business.
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Old 09-16-17, 07:38 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by Lazyass
I would ride it into the ground. Otherwise it's a waste of money.
Yup

The thought that some seller says a bike is unridden would raise value is ludicrous and unverifiable. This is not a car and does not have an odometer.
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Old 09-16-17, 08:40 AM
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Heck yeah I'd ride it, unridden or not! I don't buy garage queens. Bikes are meant to be ridden, not just displayed.
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Old 09-16-17, 10:23 AM
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I'd take it to the car compactor, crush it into a cube, sell it as art.
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Old 09-16-17, 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by texaspandj
Btw, Chewy, wishing you a quick recovery from the hurricane and a return to normalcy.
Thanks. The initial rain hit was a close call, and now we have one more as we wait for the St. John's river to crest. The creek is about 18 inches from a flood now. If it goes over, we'll be a couple feet under, at least. All the waiting and worrying is worse than the storm.
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Old 09-16-17, 08:05 PM
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I understand the 'it's perfect now, keep it perfect' mentality as it is a preservation mentality. But...it's chrome. And vintage Schwinn American chrome. The honey badger factor is very high with that plating, as my semi-lowly all-chrome previously-not-super-loved Super Le Tour can attest to. $4000 is an easy $2000+ too much in my younger mind. Ride the thing. Dust won't hurt it. Heck, with decent care, rain will have a hard time hurting it as well! The fact that it's a P15 sub-model means it's meant to tackle more than a nice road ride or race. If one want to preserve the original parts, then remove them and put on a slew of more modern stuff and watch how nothing is sacrificed and so much is gained by riding these wonderful things. My '74 P15 is treated a bit nicer than normal (which is already quite nice!) due to its paint job (by me) being not as durable as a factory effort. Otherwise, it's a very nice bike and needs to get out there!
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Old 09-16-17, 09:28 PM
  #22  
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Sometimes I feel sadness for cool bikes I find and bring home, because they were clearly lonely and unused for 20 or 30 years, in the back of a dark, cold garage or storage room. And then I feel good because I know I am giving them a second chance! Ha ha. But that has crossed my mind. How sad would a Paramount that had never been ridden in it's 45 year life be?!?!?
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Old 09-16-17, 11:23 PM
  #23  
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No way this bike was never ridden... not much but it's not NOS.
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Old 09-16-17, 11:31 PM
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Some people don't take NOS to literally mean New Old Stock, they throw the term out there under a loose interpretation as "well it's in really good condition " which of course is wrong.

Not saying with authority that this bike is being misrepresented, but rather that I have encountered electronic and music gear being wrongly labeled as NOS by sellers that were clueless and/or unethical.
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Old 09-17-17, 09:05 AM
  #25  
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I am more of the "It's perfect now, let's try to keep it perfect as long as possible". In other words, at first I would be very careful with it, only riding on sunny days, wrapping it in a blanket to transport, etc. But inevitably, it will get that first scratch or ding. Once that happens, the aura is not so bright and the level of protection lowers a notch. As the scars accumulate, hopefully over a long time, the bike becomes just another member of the herd. But I will have a memory of what it was, as well as memories of all the rides.
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