Shawn D.’s Paris Sport

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The OTSG is filled  feel-good stories of bikes once discarded rising like two-wheeled phoenix from the ashes of their own demise all thanks of the love of some good hearted passer-by. Today’s OTS is not unique in that respect, but what is unique about Shawn’s Parking Lot Princess is that Shawn had the foresight to document the actual scene in which his Paris Sport was so mercilessly cast.  This is the happiest ending I could have ever hoped for…well, except for that albatrossesque SDGCS!

Returned to respectability Paris Sport 10

Poor OTS down on its luck, just begging to be liberated from it troubled past!In my eyes this is almost as bad as dumping a litter of puppies by the roadside!You don't need to tell me twice!

Here’s my OTS, a “Paris Sport” that’s probably from the 70’s. It has a bunch of Huret components, so whenever they went out at newest.

I found it in the parking lot in front of my apartment back in college. As you can see, there was a note that said “Take.” I obliged.

It needed new tires, tubes, brake pads, and a new crankset (was NOT going to mess around with the original cottered crankset) just to get running right. I also put on some handlebar tape (the tape was free), swapped the old style wheel reflectors for modern clear ones, upgraded the saddle (the original one was hard on the manly bits), converted the seatpost binder to quick release and found a longer seatpost. I did most of the work myself but I had a local shop install the crankset. I don’t have the special tools to disassemble a bottom bracket. All of $75 dollars later I have one sweet ride.

It’s been four years since I found it, and it’s become my go-to bike, placed above my much more expensive Trek road bike and my Schwinn mountain bike (The last of the GOOD Schwinns, before they got bought by Pacific and ended up in your local Wal-Mart). The lugged steel frame of my trusty OTS rides so much more smoothly than the modern Aluminum one on my Trek. Really makes me wonder why I spent as much as an older used car on it…

I’ll be treating the Paris Sport to a full tune-up in the near future. New cables and housings, possibly a different handlebar setup (would have to replace the stem… dumb French sizes). I might eventually swap out the rear derailleur.

I hope you enjoy this Old Ten Speed! I know I do.

Shawn.

Thanks Shawn

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  2. Troy And Meghan’s 1973 Schwinn Worlds
  3. Phil H’s Mid-1980s Saint Tropez La Sport
  4. PatWoz’s 1972 Schwinn Super Sport
  5. Beau O’s 1984 Raleigh Gran Sport
  • Doug W.

    Nice save Shawn! I could use a good used french bottom bracket if you have one. Harder to find those french threads. I’m working on my old Louisan Bobet 15-speed touring bike. bikeilm-ots@yahoo.com