Did Serotta mfr Paramounts?

[Dromen]

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bik/4559723768.html

[GeorgeTSquirrel]

1998 60th anniversary edition.
Reynolds 853 models were made by "match cycles" in Redmond, WA.
Titanium models were made by Serotta.

So yes, that is legit. The polished stays are evidence that it is a titanium model.

Paint chipping was a problem on both models.

http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1991_2000/1998_02a.html

[Scooper]

These were made for three years in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Here are the '99 and 2000 catalog pages. The geometry was the same for both the Match built 853 and the Serotta built Ti frames over all three years. The top tubes were longer than typical for a given frame size, so they worked well for riders with long upper bodies.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Schwinn%20Publ%20Pages/1999_48paramounttimed_zps115fc791.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Schwinn%20Publ%20Pages/2000_Consumer_45_Ti_Paramt_med_zps66c3544f.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Schwinn%20Publ%20Pages/1999Paramount-Peloton-CircuitGeometery.jpg

[charliedid]

I can't stop laughing at the location of this bike...

[Yossarian]

To the OP, if you search the forum you'll find more information about the Serotta built Paramounts, but not much.

I've owned mine since new, purchased in 99 at a shop I used to work at. Later in the early to mid 2000's I search the then Serotta forums for information and found that the frame was considered a bastard step child by the "true" Serotta crowd. Much miss information was offered, such as straight gauge tubes vs. butted. In the end who cares, it's a well made titanium frame.

The frame dimension diagram has an error. The frames were actually measured center to center, everything else is correct. Also what Scooper said is correct, longish top tubes for the size. 15 years after purchasing mine, my aging body does not like the seat to bar drop, even with the addition of a Nitto Pearl stem for additional height.

If these can be had a fair price. it's a good frame. Will it ever be a "collectors" item? Who knows, and ultimately who cares.

[Seramount]

I have a Serotta Ti Paramount.

the person I acquired it from claims that his father was an executive at Schwinn and that the f/f is the one Serotta supplied for evaluation prior to the 1998 production run.

I've contacted David Kirk and altho he recalls the bike, there are no identifying marks on the frame to prove that it's the actual test model.

however, there are a few subtle clues that it is not a production model...Serotta F1 fork, anodized head badge, and the paint is noticeably different. I've had it next to a production model and there is a distinct difference in the gold color, much more metal flake on mine. supposedly, the test frame was painted by House of Kolor.

the seller reported that the angles are slightly different from the production run models, but I've never bothered to check them.

so, even tho I can't document its history, the bike is very nice riding and never fails to generate compliments.

it's a keeper.

[Saint Vitus]

I can't stop laughing at the location of this bike...

Hail Fredonia! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsw9jYU_rJI)

[xjoex]

I always thought these bikes were cool. There are 3 I see around downtown Boulder used as commuters.

-Joe

[paredown]

I've had a passing interest in the Match/Isaacs steel version--it was probably Scooper who enlightened me to begin with.:) I like the combo of fatter tubes and the retro decals.

There have been a couple on eBay in the past year or so, and there is a titanium one on there now:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwinn-Paramount-Titanium-60th-Anniversary-Frame-Time-Club-Carbon-Fork-DA-HSet-/360994635965?pt=US_Bicycles_Frames&hash=item540cf500bd

The ad claims only 530 of the titanium were built--apologies if this is lifted from the other link, because he goes on to mention the bad paint.
However, Schwinn also contracted well known titanium frame builder, Ben Serotta of Serotta Cycles in New York, to build a limited number of titanium frames to their specifications. Between 1998 and 2000, Serotta built a total of 530 of these titanium frames. The titanium frame was made of custom drawn, double-butted, seamless US 3/2.5v titanium tubing and 6.4v titanium bottom bracket shell and dropouts. The curved seat and chainstay increase lateral stiffness. The machined titanium dropouts and brake bridge add increased strength.

[happycampyer]

Just a technicality, but I don't think match is capitalized, sort of like google, just not as famous (although it's employees were better looking).

[thwart]

I can't stop laughing at the location of this bike...
Fortunately, here we pronounce that Free-donia. :cool:

[Scooper]

Just a technicality, but I don't think match is capitalized, sort of like google, just not as famous (although it's employees were better looking).

Thanks for mentioning that; I hadn't heard it before. Googling, I came upon an interview with the principal of Duncan Cycles in Seattle who was an apprentice at match, and said this:

"Duncan Cycles: I had enrolled in UBI’s lugged steel course in early 1998 and after I got back from that, I started sending out resumes to companies for a job as an apprentice framebuilder. I was put in touch with Tim Isaac who was putting together a very nice framebuilding facility (the match bicycle company, Tim always insisted on a lower case “m” for match) in the Seattle suburbs and in the fall of 1998 I moved here from the east coast to work at match."

Duncan Cycles Interview (http://www.therubbishbin.net/post/1043631416/duncan-cycles-interview)

Now I know. ;)

[charliedid]

Hail Fredonia! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsw9jYU_rJI)

!

[charliedid]

Fortunately, here we pronounce that Free-donia. :cool:

Yeah I know...:cool:

[texbike]

I have a Serotta Ti Paramount.

the person I acquired it from claims that his father was an executive at Schwinn and that the f/f is the one Serotta supplied for evaluation prior to the 1998 production run.

I've contacted David Kirk and altho he recalls the bike, there are no identifying marks on the frame to prove that it's the actual test model.

however, there are a few subtle clues that it is not a production model...Serotta F1 fork, anodized head badge, and the paint is noticeably different. I've had it next to a production model and there is a distinct difference in the gold color, much more metal flake on mine. supposedly, the test frame was painted by House of Kolor.

the seller reported that the angles are slightly different from the production run models, but I've never bothered to check them.

so, even tho I can't document its history, the bike is very nice riding and never fails to generate compliments.

it's a keeper.

This is a stunning bike in person!

[happycampyer]

Thanks for mentioning that; I hadn't heard it before. Googling, I came upon an interview with the principal of Duncan Cycles in Seattle who was an apprentice at match, and said this:

"Duncan Cycles: I had enrolled in UBI’s lugged steel course in early 1998 and after I got back from that, I started sending out resumes to companies for a job as an apprentice framebuilder. I was put in touch with Tim Isaac who was putting together a very nice framebuilding facility (the match bicycle company, Tim always insisted on a lower case “m” for match) in the Seattle suburbs and in the fall of 1998 I moved here from the east coast to work at match."

Duncan Cycles Interview (http://www.therubbishbin.net/post/1043631416/duncan-cycles-interview)

Now I know. ;)match bicycle company had a pretty amazing assembly of talent in it's brief existence: Kirk Pacenti, Curt Goodrich, Steve Hampsten, Martin Tweedy (who has built for Steve H for years and now builds all of the lugged steel Hampsten frames), Mark Bulgier (who worked at Davidson), among others.