bar tape color...

[AngryScientist]

for today's trivial question:

excuse the absolutely crap photo. Just installed a new (to me) set of mavic SSC brakes, and a new black saddle. current bar tape is shot, i'm thinking black this time, thoughts?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0rG2VBJA_9I/UR-jUuQWn4I/AAAAAAAABG4/Y27uLnIiDhE/s640/IMG_0610.JPG

[vav]

red imo would look good

[Grant McLean]

Anyone who suggests something other than red must stay at the front
of the paceline and pull for the rest of the ride.

-g

[FlashUNC]

I love all kinds of bar tape colors, as long as they're black.

[Joe]

Nice bike.

Black would be ok...red would be better.

[Tony T]

Black

[William]

I know it's not popular today, but when I had my red/yellow fade (w/yellow fork) CSI I went with the red/yellow splash tape. I thought it was pretty snazzy (yup, I said snazzy...SO WHAT ABOUT IT!!??:butt: ). That said, red or black from a source located up under the Paceline banner.:cool:




:)
William

[Vientomas]

Black is the new black. Black.

[Tom Matchak]

Yes to red.

And maybe a matching saddle?
http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/34156114@N05/8395437401/

[Ahneida Ride]

HB black with 1 red & 1 yellow cord ....

HB red with yellow cord.

[William]

HB black with 1 red & 1 yellow cord ....

HB red with yellow cord.

Dang, I forgot about the stitching!!!:crap:



:cool::cool:
William

[maxdog]

Anyone who suggests something other than red must stay at the front
of the paceline and pull for the rest of the ride.

-g

Really, oh arbiter of taste?
Well my custom Atlanta, which I bought back in '96, came with matching yellow tape. This in my opinion, would much better complement the arrangement of colors on that frame. Of course you're missing the original yellow crown steel fork, which also adds to that aesthetic. I pulled my wife over, a person who is renowned in my community for her color selection advice, to give her opinion. Without suggesting mine she said yellow first or black second.
If you choose red, you're backing it up right against the frame red, which is not only incongruent with the alternating scheme and less visually appealing, but it better be a perfect color match.

[MattTuck]

HB black with 1 red & 1 yellow cord ....

HB red with yellow cord.

It's a good thing you have good taste, or else I'd file a motion that you recuse yourself from future bar tape related threads due to conflict of interest ;)

[Spinner]

Put red tires on that puppy

[one60]

yellow tape, assuming its a decent match for the paint, might balance the front & rear. Finish with red or yellow electric tape, anything but black.

You didn't ask but the white tires gotta go

2nd choice would be red.

[Rueda Tropical]

Needs a red saddle with red tape or yellow + yellow. Black would be OK with black saddle but a distant 3rd.

[Fishbike]

Red - if and only if you can find the right red to match. Not always easy. If you can't find the perfect red, then black. Black 'bra with colored cord would earn a dancing banana.

[bargainguy]

On my personal bikes, I stay away from lighter color bar wrap as it tends to get dingy soon. On flips, I have no problem with white or lighter colors to snazz up a bike.

If you hadn't just put on a new black saddle, I might suggest leather bar tape with matching saddle for a completely different look. But you did, so I won't.

[slidey]

Black or the HB option as suggested - Black/1 red/1 yellow chord.

[malcolm]

I would say yellow but the handle bra with a single red and single yellow cord would be best

[Keith A]

I think yellow might actually look good on this setup.

[Ahneida Ride]

you also want bar wrap .... not bar tape :rolleyes: :banana:

[Grant McLean]

Really, oh arbiter of taste?
Well my custom Atlanta, which I bought back in '96, came with matching yellow tape. This in my opinion, would much better complement the arrangement of colors on that frame. Of course you're missing the original yellow crown steel fork, which also adds to that aesthetic. I pulled my wife over, a person who is renowned in my community for her color selection advice, to give her opinion. Without suggesting mine she said yellow first or black second.
If you choose red, you're backing it up right against the frame red, which is not only incongruent with the alternating scheme and less visually appealing, but it better be a perfect color match.

You took that joke a little too seriously, but for the definitive answer, see rule #8

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/

-g

[yakstone]

I am with Ahneida Ride on this one - Black tape / yellow and red stitching.

[BumbleBeeDave]

HB black with 1 red & 1 yellow cord ....

HB red with yellow cord.

You can't lose.

BBD

[Elefantino]

I think yellow might actually look good on this setup.

It does (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=119241&highlight=atlanta).

[Jaq]

Bacon.

[zott28]

I just switched from white to black on my BMC pro machine, to take a little bling away, and I'm happy with the look. I used fizik bar tape.
Also, after wrapping many bars, I finally did a good job.

[dave thompson]

Angry, with the red/yellow fade paintwork there's a lot going on, visually. IMO, colored bar wrap would add too much to the 'confusion'. Keep it simple, black HandleBra with red/yellow stitching. Neat, simple and when someone spots the matched cording in the 'Bra. it's a bonus.

[rice rocket]

I like the white, but fix that gap.

[victoryfactory]

Get a black post, black stem and go with black wrap.
That classic Serotta fade is too strong. The rest of the bike needs
to be as monochrome as possible.

btw who did the couplers? Did you get a full repaint or touchup?
I have a similar frame and I'm in the market.

VF

[esldude]

I soon will be doing a frame with that same paint scheme. Mine does have a yellow fork though.

I plan on red bar tape and yellow cabling. Figure it mimics the red up top with yellow fading in and yellow lettering. I have a mostly red Fizik saddle I will try. I might think about a yellow saddle, but you don't see too many of those. I prefer Turbo's anyway, and likely will go with the dark brown Turbo saddle in the end. Not so color coordinated, but the saddle is the saddle it isn't the color of the saddle to paraphrase e-Ritchie.

[lukasz]

Black is the only option. But if you must go red I've got some Cinelli I'll never use that you can have for a beer, haha.

[AngryScientist]

btw who did the couplers? Did you get a full repaint or touchup?
I have a similar frame and I'm in the market.

VF

Thanks for all of the advice folks. I'll update once i make a final choice tonight!

VF -

Bilinkey in Philadelphia did the couplers. I did it on a tight budget during their sale fairly recently and just had them leave it at bare metal when they gave it back to me and i touched it up with rustoleum. it looks like an atrocity close up, but the metal is protected and ready for a respray somewhere down the road, and it looks halfway decent from 10 feet.

[Gummee]

I've always understood that it goes white saddle = white bar tape and black saddle = black bar tape.

...unless you're a pro, then you have white bar tape regardless of saddle color. The trick is the white HAS to be white. No dirty bar tape. Ever.

Having said that, its your bike, run what makes you happy.

M
(that reminds me. I need to change to white tape now that I've bought a white saddle!)

[swg]

HB black with 1 red & 1 yellow cord ....

HB red with yellow cord.

Either one of these but I lean to red with yellow cord.

[zuzu27]

Call me old school or call me crazy, but I'd go with some early '90s chartreuse...totally bad-ass.

[christian]

Black. That bike has a lot going on already.

[pdmtong]

Black. what christian said.

now that that is decided please report back on the mavic ssc's...

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

Finishing kit template, saddle and tape, same color. http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=964838&postcount=1

OCD finishing kit template, saddle, tape, cages, cable housing, cable donuts and tires, same color. :rolleyes:

My vote, black tape, black saddle, or yellow tape, yellow saddle.

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

I've always understood that it goes white saddle = white bar tape and black saddle = black bar tape.

...unless you're a pro, then you have white bar tape regardless of saddle color. The trick is the white HAS to be white. No dirty bar tape. Ever.

Having said that, its your bike, run what makes you happy.

M
(that reminds me. I need to change to white tape now that I've bought a white saddle!)

Dirty white bar tape says the bike is ridden, IMO.

[biker72]

How about black with a little red and white.

http://graphicfxs.com/EBay/Handlebar.jpg

[Louis]

I'd go with black.

[Shortsocks]

I always go with white. Black if I have to. I think white looks fine, maybe a gloss white fizik tape?

[dlui]

it does (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=119241&highlight=atlanta).

+1

[oldpotatoe]

I like the white, but fix that gap.

Glad somebody said it......

black,

I like BBB, Stella Azzura Eleganza and Fujitoshi. Leather-y, wears well.

[kohlboto]

Black for spring, fall and winter.
White for summer

[Gummee]

Dirty white bar tape says the bike is ridden, IMO.

Nah. Dirty white bar tape = I don't give a rat's behind about the way my bikes look.

I used to buy non-sticky bar tape and flip it over after a month or so. You get squeaky clean tape without laying out $ for new.

M

[AngryScientist]

updated!!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q6nhKty7AgU/USE9tOD5-vI/AAAAAAAABHk/iN59-xUjAeI/s640/IMG_0634.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o7OCdH73GLU/USE9ucKjmPI/AAAAAAAABHs/CJByaMY3HBU/s640/IMG_0635.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TmlYVU2mj1s/USE9uvPv2MI/AAAAAAAABHw/8XMBskWXfYk/s640/IMG_0636.JPG

[Keith A]

What kind of tape is this?

[AngryScientist]

What kind of tape is this?

FIZIK PRO Tape...


http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/product-images-large/fizik-performance-handlebar-tape-black-74569.jpg

[Seramount]

sorry, but those fugly white-wall tires are killing the look.

[AngryScientist]

sorry, but those fugly white-wall tires are killing the look.

yea believe it or not, those were a total accidental purchase. bought online, and didnt realize what color i was getting until they arrived. they'll be replaced with all black once they're worn out.

[Keith A]

FIZIK PRO Tape...Thanks. Standard or the soft touch?

[AngryScientist]

Standard glossy finish Keith, i dont like the soft touch stuff, it absorbs water and sweat. the glossy stuff has a very leather-like surface that is more durable.

[ShoMyOFace]

Black

[Keith A]

Thanks for the input!

[thegunner]

yea believe it or not, those were a total accidental purchase. bought online, and didnt realize what color i was getting until they arrived. they'll be replaced with all black once they're worn out.

tires are tires are tires. they're for being ridden. just ride them until they're so dirty they turn black. NY/NJ roads shouldn't be too hard :)

[AngryScientist]

yes i agree.

generally speaking, i ride the fixed gear bike until spring, so these will stay minty white for a while:)

[slidey]

Like the bar-tape...good choice, the only option really!

Agree about the white-wall tyres being a bit distracting, but I also find the steel seatpost/stem in the same league. You know you want a Thomson pairing for those two ;)

updated!!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q6nhKty7AgU/USE9tOD5-vI/AAAAAAAABHk/iN59-xUjAeI/s640/IMG_0634.JPG

[jmoore]

FYI, I may be adding red HandleBra leather to the available colors. I should know something next week.

Of course, I can always match the black leather. Black with red & yellow cords would be killer for sure.