Still, the company ranks easily in the top
10 and possibly in the top five among bike builders in the United States. Roughly 100 U.S.-based builders, companies like Waterford, Serotta, Lynskey
Performance Designs and Independent Fabrication, manufacture about 12,000 bikes
a year domestically. That represents a miniscule fraction of the estimated 13
million adult bicycles sold in the country each year. The limited run of Paramounts and the
foundation of the Waterford and Gunnar models connect the company to its
lineage as an offspring of the once-dominant Schwinn line.
When our shop re-opens to the public following the coronavirus outbreak, we’ll be happy to discuss options for fit customization, upgrades, and accessories. This Schwinn Paramount from 1986 is exactly one of those standard bikes from the mid 1980s with Columbus SLX tubing and a complete Campagnolo Super Record groupset. The colour was called Icy White by Schwinn and corresponds perfectly with the shiny aluminium parts and the modern plain decal design. In my opinion, it’s crazy to go out & spend $ 1,000 plus when one is not sure how much they’ll enjoy road riding / racing. Visionaries like Kingbay could see that adult bicycles could finally become a market.
They felt, though, the Schwinn needed a take control of its top of the line Paramount, once and for all. Schwinn had made great strides in frame finishing during this period, decorating the Paramounts with the new metallic paints then becoming available. Joe Brilando, Frank’s brother, had developed extraordinary skills at the schwinn road bike delicate art of pinstriping. Many of the Paramounts of the 50’s had intricate box striping in multiple colors. During the next twenty years, most of the Paramounts would be built at Wastyn’s shop. The earliest Paramounts followed Emil Wastyn’s signature styling (balled-end seat stays, for example) and keyhole-styled lugs.
The deal to fabricate 1,000 frames a year
for Shinola adds to an already schizophrenic environment in the
8,000-square-foot factory, surrounded by trees and farm fields on the edge of
Waterford, Wis. Week-to-week, the diversely talented crew
of 18 workers move from milling machines to welders to oxy-acetylene torches,
joining steel tube with walls as thin as 0.4 mm with perfect tig welds,
artfully cast lugs, and spools of precious silver. Starting in 2005, Schwinn also marketed Motorscooters under the Schwinn Motorsports brand.[69] Production ceased in (approx). Schwinn also produced a variety of machined components to complement the frame – particularly a set of beautifully crafted wide-flange hubs. Schwinn also made parts such as stems, handlebars and even pedals, each marked with the famous Schwinn name in script.
While the Paramount still sold in limited numbers to this market, the model’s customer base began to age, changing from primarily bike racers to older, wealthier riders looking for the ultimate bicycle. Schwinn sold an impressive 1.5 million bicycles in 1974, but would pay the price for failing to keep up with new developments in bicycle technology and buying trends. While every large bicycle manufacturer sponsored or participated in bicycle racing competition of some sort to keep up with the newest trends in technology, Schwinn had restricted its racing activities to events inside the United States, where Schwinn bicycles predominated. As a result, Schwinns became increasingly dated in both styling and technology. By 1957, the Paramount series, once a premier racing bicycle, had atrophied from a lack of attention and modernization.
Beginning in 1952, a few of the Paramounts were built with the new Nervex lugs, Campagnolo dropouts and, of course, the new-style shifting system, the derailleur. The Nervex lugs eliminated the hand carving required of the old BSA lugs used since the turn of the century. During the 50’s, Schwinn started feeling the influence of a number of bike racers including Kieth Kingbay, bike racer and engineer Frank Brilando, Joe Magnani, Spike Shannon and Frank Greco, to name just a few.
Bicycle output in the United States grew to over a million units per year by the turn of the 20th century. Paramount-labeled bikes began to appear late in 1937, especially for Schwinn’s key six-day riders. In fact, the initial catalogs included letters from the current stars which promoted Emil Wastyn as much as Paramount. With the help of the NFT you can verify that the bicycle was purchased from Steel Vintage Bikes as well as the date and the price of your purchase. The Bike NFT isa digital certification that shows the value and authenticity of your bike. If you decide to sell it one day, then you can pass by the bike NFT to the new owner and preserver the value which will be increasing over the time.
The Paramount is a wonderful piece of cycling history which rides like a whirlwind and is good for many Eroica races to come and as many weekend rides as you can fit into your schedule. The bike is beautifully finished – and weighs about #, not the lightest of bikes – but not the heaviest, either. The SRAM Force eTap AXS-equipped bike proves Schwinn still knows how to flex.
He’s riding that old Benotto bike – which weighs 26 #, (so this Schwinn is a bit lighter), and is easily keeping up with the local ‘old guy’ riders on their sub 20#, $ 3000 + Trek, Giant or Specialized carbon fiber ‘wonder bikes’. I bought this road bike for my son for Christmas, and I’ve unpacked, adjusted & given it a ‘shakedown’ 10 mile ride. I have ridden road bikes for years, have an Italian ‘old school’ road bike – Benotto Mod 850, and this bike compares favorably. Ignaz Schwinn was born in Hardheim, Baden, Germany, in 1860 and worked on two-wheeled ancestors of the modern bicycle that appeared in 19th century Europe.