75lechamp 

Well, here is Paramount #5.... a very nice 1973 P15-9, serial number J7373 (September 1973, 73rd frame that month, kind of cool). I had my local painter redo the original color, Silver Mist. At first, I considered a color change, leaning toward Coppertone, but I am glad I stuck with Silver Mist. Something about the contrast between the silver color and the chrome on the bike is kind of unique. The chrome on this one is really very good - a real testament to the quality of the original work. I tried to keep to the original specs on this one, full Campy including an original triple with a 36t inner. I put my usual tubulars on this, which are Mavic Championnat du Monde, which I believe were original spec, or at least period correct, laced to high flange Campy hubs with flat skewers, oval logo 1A and Giro d'Italia bars, etc....

Hoping to take it out shortly. Thanks!


Brian did his usual great job painting

Something about the silver color against the chrome lugs...

J7373 on steerer

J7373

It took me about half an hour to get those dang head badge screws back in....

P3, which I think makes it one of the frames built by Don Mainland in Racine...

Kool stop pads


Found some NOS levers with very fresh hoods, hard to find....

75lechamp 

Oval logo 1/A, Giro d'Italia

Brooks pro




Triple w. original 36T inner

juvela

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simply wonderful to see one which has not been "updated"



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Kabuki12

Nice choices. I’m wondering what kind of FW choice you will have with a triple and a NR rear derailleur. I don’t think you will be able to have a very low range with a 52 -36 triple up front. The bike looks beautiful , almost an NOS appearance.

75lechamp 

That is a very good question. Although I have temporarily put a NR RD on it, the orginal spec was a "Le Tour" derailleur (which I have, below), and a Regina 14-16-19-25-31 freewheel, which I just found on eBay and is on its way....

abdon 

When did they switch from Campy brakes to those? My P-15 (somewhere between 69 and 71, I have to check) has campy brakes.

I have a Campagnolo Rally rear derailleur on it, with a Shimano Crane on standby in case the Rally bites the dust (which first generation Rally were wont to do). Even if the correct one would be a Campy gran Tourismo I guess that's the limit of what my drive to originality goes; I'm afraid Krull would steal it to go kill a monster with it

AdventureManCO 

You always seem to have the classiest bikes in town. Kudos!


I didn't see you at the Eddy Rando - did you come? Maybe I just missed you.


My Paramount would be jealous. But since I keep my Paramount locked in a dungeon/torture chamber, it can't be jealous of that which it doesn't know about, mwahaha

merziac

We've discussed this many times, Campy brakes were optional with the Weinmann's being standard.

The Campy's were not technically offered on 15 speed touring bikes as Schwinn deemed them inadequate for loaded touring, but as we know, Schwinn would usually do whatever the customer wanted so.....

75lechamp 

I did find a link to the '73 Paramount specs document: https://www.schwinnbikeforum.com/SLDB...%20Catalog.pdf

I believe that the P10-9 and P15-9 both shared the same frame, a bit more rake in the fork and a longer wheelbase with more room for wider tires. Even with a drop bolt, I have not found it possible to fit Campy brakes on these frames, and I have tried. The other differences with the P10 and P15 from the "racing" P13 is that they have eyelets front and back, and also the braze ons for the brake cables on the top tube. These make it a little awkward for Campy rear brakes, since the exit for the rear cable is on the driver side, while the input for the Campy rear brake is on the non driver side. Not that it can't be done, just looks a little awkward. In the catalog, it stipulates Weinmann sidepulls for all three models, including the P13, but I think just after that they eliminated the braze ons for the P13 and Campys came standard on the P13.

Having said all that, I am aware that many if not most Paramounts could be ordered with whatever you wanted, so really anything goes! As an example, I have a P60 step through from 1975 that can easily take Campy short reach brakes, which defies explanation. The clearance is way too short to accept Weinmann 750 on the rear for sure!

pastorbobnlnh 

Beautiful Paramount restoration! Well done!

repechage

noting the brake pad placement, no Campagnolo brakes for this bike. Also the top tube cable run stops are on the wrong side.
‘this frame was original with 27” wheels, I think using tubulars or 700c clinchers is the way to go.
the Shimano sourced rear mech is the only way to catch a 14-31 unless a Soma cage exchange, and that might require axle placement creativity, and maybe no go 52-31, not a good combo anyway but one must stay aware.

ascherer 

Shiny & sharp! Enjoy...

TakingMyTime

I am not worthy.

Beautiful

SwimmerMike 

The paint job looks great. Great job on the build.

Fairlane63

Lovely Paramount. A labor of love and it shows.

abdon 

Missed that memo.

Heck the whole bike is inadequate for loaded touring so it is kind of funny to key on just the brakes. When I was bike commuting to work I had to remember to ride the trek 720 the days I would restock the snack bar. I could carry 2 cases of soda and that bike and it actually handled better. Similarly loading the paramount would make it handle like $*t.

Still, a super comfy bike for long rides, one of my favorite for centuries with probably about 20 pounds worth of stuff.

merziac

So the designated "touring" Paramount's may have been some different tubing, other considerations, etc.

The other thing is most Paramount's were very robust in general so they are not the lightest but they were/are tough.

I would have zero concern about taking any of them touring or anything else for that matter.

If you have one of the one's that is a bit "whippy" then that may not be the one for you but I seriously doubt it would ever fail in any way, we have seen very few in the hundreds of them we have and have seen.

abdon 

Don't get me wrong, I love my Paramount and logged thousands of miles on it. I would not hesitate to use it on a century and if I was still into randoneering even further. Credit card touring? Bloody perfect. But it doesn't like to be loaded heavy.

merziac

Well if we're talking about your 69, its a whole other kettle of fish, they were still a bit more last decade than next decade when production ramped way up and Schwinn racheted many things Paramount up some.

They had been trying to shed the old ways and finally broke away from Wastyn which they had been trying to do for years. Once that was done they really got after in house production and made it their own and improving much of it along the way to meet demand, show the buying public and racing community they were serious.