News

Buy 1 2h2o Water Bottle Mount and get a titanium light mount for FREE!

While supplies last, purchase one of our 2h2o water bottle mounting systems and we'll throw in a titanium light mount for free!  It's a light light mount (get it?) made out of reclaimed materials by our very own product designer Luis Lopez to go with another product he designed, the 2h2o mount. The pictures below shows the light mount integrated onto the 2h20:

Stay safe and hydrated!

Our titanium ISO caliper mount for our SRAM UDH/T-Type round, rear dropouts is now available for purchase here.  A 1018 steel version will be available soon. Here are the details:

• Material: 6/4 titanium or 1018 steel (coming soon)

• Mount:

  • ISO

  • Use our 160 mm ISO adapter, BK4003 or BK4003B, for a clean, integrated brake mount; available for purchase here
    

• Application: PMW round, rear dropouts for SRAM UDH/T-Type; available for purchase here
  

• Miter: None
  

• Thickness: 0.177" +/-0.005
  

• Spacing: 51 mm hole-to-hole

Our line of titanium EC37/37 headtubes are now available for purchase in 90, 95, and 100-180 mm (in 10 mm increments) sizes.

And a reminder that we will be stocking a reamer for this standard and anticipate having them available for sale in late March/early April. We are accepting pre-orders for the reamer NOW  at a discounted price of $140/each (Retail $180). The reamer is compatible with the Park Tool headtube reaming and facing handle set.

Pre-order Details:

• Full down payment is required
• No refunds after down payment has been made
• Shipping charges are not included and are due prior to shipment
• Offer expires February 29th
• E-mail orders(@)paragonmachineworks.com to place your pre-order

We will be expanding our line of steel EC37/37 headtubes to include titanium options in 90, 95, and 100-180 mm (in 10 mm increments) sizes. In addition, we will be stocking a reamer for this standard and anticipate having them available for sale in late March/early April. We are accepting pre-orders for the reamer NOW  at a discounted price of $140/each (Retail $180). The reamer is compatible with Park Tool headtube reaming and facing handle set.

Pre-order Details:

• Full down payment is required
• No refunds after down payment has been made
• Shipping charges are not included and are due prior to shipment
• Offer expires February 29th
• E-mail orders(@)paragonmachineworks.com to place your pre-order

We are pleased to introduce our 1-1/2" OD steel BSA threaded Utility Bottom Bracket Shell, available in a variety of widths. They offer a cost effective alternative to our current style of 1-1/2" steel BSA bottom bracket shells:

• They have no internal relief, reducing production costs.
• They are made out of 1020 DOM steel instead of 4130, reducing material costs.
• They weigh about 30% more than our internally relieved styles, leading to less distortion with welding.
• They cost significantly less.

Left to Right:  Riding the Biz Johnson Trail, Mark's induction into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, road trip to Crater Lake

From Mark Norstad

To all our friends and customers,

I started Paragon Machine Works over 40 years ago, with no idea of how it would work.  My immediate goal was to earn enough to live and make the payments on my machinery.  Through a combination of hard work and dumb luck, the business succeeded.

From a tiny space in my parents’ basement, to a shared 900 square foot shop, to a rented 2700 square foot space and finally to an 8000 square foot building that was purchased, the business grew.  Machinery was all manual to start.  The first CNC machine was a 2-axis lathe in 1987.  2 CNC mills followed in 1993.

It has been a wonderful journey, at times slow, and at other times so fast it was hard to keep up.  Money was tight, and sometimes it poured in.  Throughout the cyclical nature of business, I’m happy to say I would not trade it for a different career path.  I consider myself fortunate to have combined two things I’ve always been passionate about, bicycles and machine work.  The ability to earn a living has been a bonus.  I could not have done this without the support of our employees, our customers, my family, and most importantly, my wife Donna.

I am proud and satisfied with what I have accomplished.  Paragon Machine Works is a solid manufacturing company with an excellent customer base.  To continue this, I am stepping down and letting the next generation take over.

I’m happy to announce that our son Calvin is taking over the business as of January 1, 2024.  I will remain available on a part-time and consultation basis.  The business will continue to support framebuilders both domestic and international.  Innovation and timely development of new components remains primary.

My heartfelt thanks to all who have contributed,

Mark Norstad

Founder of Paragon Machine Works

From Calvin Norstad

A Letter to You:  Our Customer

It is with great excitement, and a certain degree of nervous anticipation, that I begin the final stages of taking over leadership of Paragon Machine Works, Inc. It has been a long journey, a lifetime, of familiarizing myself with the business and the space in which it rests.

Mark has been a leader in the custom frame building industry for over 40 years, and as happy and healthy as he is, he is ready for a promotion to the role of part-time consultant and full-time bike packer.

It was not always cut and dry that I would assume the role of my father. I pursued my passion of rowing in high school and mechanical engineering with a minor in mathematics at Northeastern University. I did not feel that Paragon was for me. After all, pressing buttons was boring. However, due to the pandemic, I was sent home with my summer internship in Boston canceled. I had no option but to pursue a job at Paragon. Lo and behold, it led me to where I am now. 

Come to find out, working at Paragon wasn’t boring. In fact, it was fun, and quite rewarding. I committed myself to learning the business: machining, design, organization, and customer/industry relations that has allowed Paragon to provide the best products it can. I am confident that I have risen to the challenge and am ready for this next step in my life.

I understand that it is unusual for someone at the age of 23, someone so fresh in this industry, to take on a leadership role like this. Yet having frequented the building since I was six, and working here since thirteen, I have learned that it is what you do with your knowledge, not how much you have, that counts. Rest assured; we have a great group of machinists, designers, and operators alike at Paragon, not to mention our industry leading customer service and shipping department. Mark will continue to operate as a consultant, Donna will stay full-time for the foreseeable future, and I will continue to learn. I only ask that you work with me.

Paragon is thriving after 40 years of dedicated work from Mark, Donna, and all our employees, past and present. I hope to continue the trend of excellence and innovation that has been so key to Paragon’s success and longevity. We will continue to be here for you, the frame builders, and consumers alike.

So, here’s to the future. To the continuation of US manufacturing, small businesses, and family businesses. To the custom frame-building industry, bicycle trade shows, and so much more. And most importantly, thank you. I would and could not be here otherwise.

Best regards,

Calvin Norstad

Owner and CEO, Paragon Machine Works

Our DR208X series of flat mount dropouts are now back in stock!  They are made out of 1018 steel which is an excellent alternative to 4130; it's readily available and strong enough to withstand the stresses placed on it.  We're happy to be able to continue to offer this dropout and think that you and/or your customers will be happy with the quality and pricing.  Thank you for your patience.