Performance Parabola

[[ dhs ]]

Being the sole cyclist where I work, I get all the bike-related questions
around Tour time, as well as the occasional "I cleaned out my [insert house
location here] this weekend and came across this [bike part]," which may
result in my selling the part for this person on eBay, etc.

This past week, however, I got a whole bike. The guy just wanted to get rid
of it, and here is what it was: A Performance-brand Parabola road bike.
Chromolly construction, and a hodge-podge of Shimano & other brand
components.

My plan is to rebuild the bike with an old Sora group I have for use as a
beater, but wanted to see what the capabilities of the bar-end shifters on
this bike are.

They are labeled as Shimano "515" if "SIS" (there was some (house) paint on
them, and when removing the paint, I inadvertently scratched some of the
labeling off, and control an "Ex-Cage" 7s rear derailleur. The only other
labeling advises the shifters "not compatible with Dura-Ace rear
derailleur."

Anybody have any idea what other compatibility issues may exist for them? I
would like to use these in building up a TT bike, but had planned to stick
with Campy Mirage or Veloce 9s. Not having to buy new shifters would be
nice, though. :)

Any (useful) info would be much appreciated. Thanks.//dhs

[Jon Isaacs]

>Anybody have any idea what other compatibility issues may exist for them? I
>would like to use these in building up a TT bike, but had planned to stick
>with Campy Mirage or Veloce 9s. Not having to buy new shifters would be
>nice, though. :)

These are just standard Shimano compatible shifters. The stuff is 7 speed and
with the single pivot brakes that likely came with it could all make decent TT
stuff.

If the TTs are relatively flat, 7 speeds are more than adequate. And even if
they are hilly, with the right choice of cogs, there should be sufficient gear
choices.

Bar ends on the ends of the aerobars with Shimano derrailleurs is pretty
standard for TT bikes. Add some cowhorns, diacompe reversed BMX brake levers,
maybe a forward seat post and some older narrow Q cranks like Shimano 600 and
away you go.

Making a workable TT bike out of an old frame is more related to whether an
optimal position is possible. Hopefully the frame is rather small and has a
relatively steep seat tube, though this is not likely with a bike which bar
ends and probably a triple crank.

Jon Isaacs

[9sDura-Ace]

I think the Performance Parabola was a full-on loaded touring bike.

Very stout and heavy steel frame (made from MTB tubes, even the bent
chainstays and large unicrown fork), Shimano SIS 7s bar end shifters,
36H wheels with relatively wide Araya rims, Shimano triple crank,
Exage derailleurs (the front one "For Hybrid", that is for the smaller
angle betweeen a road bike's chain stays and seat tube than an MTB's).

Jon is right: the bar ends will shift every Shimano derailleur except
some older Dura-Ace models over any Shimano 7s cogs. I've been tempted
to get some for my 7s TT bike.

However, IIRC, the brakes are *very* long reach Dia-Compes unsuitable
for modern road frames.

Keep it as a touring or commuting bike.

joni...@aol.com (Jon Isaacs) wrote in message news:<20020907073559...@mb-fy.aol.com>...

[[ dhs ]]

The frame would be kept as a touring-type -- run to the grocery store,
etc. -- while the shifters (and nothing else, if things go my way) would be
moved over to another bike I am working on for TT use. You did nail the
Parabola dead on, though.

Now, back to the Shimano shifters, are they, in fact, limited to 7s, or will
they work with 8s or, dare to dream, 9s? What about Campy Mirage or Veloce?

I won't be using anything as high-end as DA, but will go with either 105 or
Ultegra. The TT bike won't get much use as TT's aren't terribly common
around these parts. This year's big one (Tour de Gruene) has been called due
to excessive flooding. At least I've another year to complete my machine. :)

Thanks.//dhs

"9sDura-Ace" <9...@veloemail.com> wrote in message
news:5030045a.02090...@posting.google.com...

> I think the Performance Parabola was a full-on loaded touring bike.
>

<snip>

[Raymo853]

I have the same bike. I bought it for $20 at a salvage sale. Mine has all
the components you seem to mention except had flat bars with LX 7 speed
shifter/brake combos. I am putting on drop bars with bar end shifters and
since there is no place to mount the standard cable adjusters I am using
those in-line adjusters.

This is a heavy and over built frame with the touring type mounts (double
rear eylets, triple bottle mounts, low rider mounts on the fork) and uses
long reach calipers. I plan on using it as a commuter, tourer and a sort
of cyclcross bike. With R600 long reach brakes I can fit 30c cyclcross
tires.