Darth Lefty 

I have a '76 Paramount P10-9, bought new by my dad. I'll be keeping it but I'm not sure I need to ride it any more to know it's not right for me. It's too big, and the components are too primitive, and the gearing is too narrow. Yesterday I rode my BIL's Diamondback Expert TG, which was the 1990's post-Ironman last hurrah of Centurion road bikes. In spite of it being worn out and its awful 90's paint job (neon orange with black slashes), the size was right, the high gear was higher, the low was lower, the handlebars were better shaped, the indexed downtube shifters were nice. The ride was harsher but not bad, and it's clearly mostly due to the difference in tire size / pressure.

Time to hang up the Schwinn and start looking for a bike my size. This makes me sad... I had high hopes it would be more wonderful.

Bandera

Most definitely hang into it and take it for a plooter once in a while as a tribute.

The most important thing about a frameset isn't the maker, the materials or the doo-dads: a proper fit trumps all.
Be very specific about your requirements and enjoy the search.

-Bandera

Wildwood 

Some things have value, even when they are old and not quite the right fit. Dad's original, very nice bike might fall into that category. Glad you are keeping it.

pastorbobnlnh 

My advice is don't be afraid nor overly conscience about modifying the gearing and the stem and bars in order to make it a comfortable ride for you. My '71 P-13 sports a tall Nitto stem with rando bars from a Sports Tourer/Super Sports/Continental, a Campagnolo NR crankset converted to a triple, a rear freewheel with a range of 13T-32T, a Rally RD, and barend shifters. All of which is to say, my Paramount is no longer a vision of its original race oriented self. But it is certainly a joy for me to ride.

3speed

If you can straddle the top-tube, you can probably make it fit at least enough to be comfy on fun, short spirited rides of ~20mi or so. And as pastorbob said, don't worry too much about swapping out that freewheel for something with a bigger cog on it. Indexed shifters are an easy, minor swap too. I bet you could change out just a few things and find that it's a fun ride and experience some of the joy your dad had when he rode it.

Scooper

+1

Great advice here.

Velognome 

Greater advice...send it to me

rhm

Why don't you measure it and photograph it and put it on the "frame don't fit" thread? What you want is exactly the same frame in a smaller size. It may take a while, but I'm sure sooner or later you will connect with someone who has the inverse of the same problem.

Darth Lefty 

Bob, I could do all that but I don't have the parts lying around and the cost of it all would be as much as an entire 1990's welded bike that addresses all my issues... and it would still be too big. It already has an 8cm stem and compact-ish handlebars, and still feels too long. It's a 23" and I probably need a 21". I know my Dad had similar problems (hence the 8cm stem) and must have gotten a bum steer on the sizing, way back when.

Darth Lefty 

Family heirloom. I have the receipt.

rhm

Yes, I understand that.

But it doesn't fit you and it didn't fit your father. He made a mistake. Of course you cannot fix all your father's mistakes, but nor should you feel you need to perpetuate them all. Here's one you can possibly fix.

pedalnmetal

if the question is whether to part with it or not, that's not an easy call. but i'd say hold on to it if it has any sentimental value, unless you have a pressing need to let it go. maybe it'll fit someone else in your family at some point and can be passed along to the next generation.

more importantly, as a proud owner of a DB Expert TG in bright orange with black 'tiger' splatter, i'm trying not to take offense at your 'awful 90s paint job' reference.

Darth Lefty 

Oh my God... it looks like a Genera Hypercolor shirt before you washed it

Chrome Molly

As someone who owns some faster bikes, I appreciate having a few slow ones too. Some of my bikes absolutely demand to be hammered every time I go out, and they are wonderful rides.

On days where I want to go for a ride but am not up for a hammerfest or multi hour ride, having something different is very satisfying.

rootboy 

He probably got the "French fit", which was kind of common in some shops in the 70's as I remember.
Two inches is tough to fudge though.

Bianchigirll 

If the bike is the wrong size it is the wrong size nothing to do there however.....

You need to adjust your way of looking at the bikes. You need to think of the Paramount as sort of '57 T Bird with a manual shift and no AC. The Diamond Back is more like early 70s 442 or Judge with one of the selective transmissions where you can either shift it or put it in automatic plus air power windows and all the other goodies.