Seeking opinions of aesthetics on my Centurion touring bike
08-21-16, 01:45 PM
#1
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Seeking opinions of aesthetics on my Centurion touring bike
I have a Centurion that I'm freshening up.
So far I have new Panaracer Paselas on order along with a new set of gum hoods and cables from Velo Orange.
I'm waffling back and forth on my saddle and bar wrap choices though.
Choice A ) Honey colored Brooks B17 with cotton wrap bars and shellac to match the Brooks. This would seem to tie together with the gumwall tires and the gum brake hoods.
Choice B) Blue Brooks B17 with blue shellac cotton bar wrap.
Choice C) .....????......
I'm most heavily leaning towards option A but I'm not too proud to admit that I sometimes miss the boat when it comes to good visual taste. I do kind of want to do the cotton bar wrap deal though. I've never done it but I do like the look.
I welcome your opinions and thank you.
So far I have new Panaracer Paselas on order along with a new set of gum hoods and cables from Velo Orange.
I'm waffling back and forth on my saddle and bar wrap choices though.
Choice A ) Honey colored Brooks B17 with cotton wrap bars and shellac to match the Brooks. This would seem to tie together with the gumwall tires and the gum brake hoods.
Choice B) Blue Brooks B17 with blue shellac cotton bar wrap.
Choice C) .....????......
I'm most heavily leaning towards option A but I'm not too proud to admit that I sometimes miss the boat when it comes to good visual taste. I do kind of want to do the cotton bar wrap deal though. I've never done it but I do like the look.
I welcome your opinions and thank you.
08-21-16, 01:52 PM
#3
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Robbie. I can. Brooks sells Honey colored leather bar tape. 75 bucks is the cost. That makes me a little weak in the knees. I'm not saying no, because this bike is worth whatever it takes to make it right.
Or I could do this with ten dollars worth of cotton tape and shellac. (stolen picture from Retrogrouch blog)
Or I could do this with ten dollars worth of cotton tape and shellac. (stolen picture from Retrogrouch blog)
Last edited by Shady Rascal; 08-21-16 at 01:55 PM.
08-21-16, 01:53 PM
#4
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As the relatively new owner of a beautiful maroon Brooks Professional, I suggest strongly considering the blue Brooks.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
08-21-16, 01:56 PM
#5
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Bike Discount in Germany has a sale on all Brooks. A B17 and wrap would be about $110 shipped. I think the honey would be a lot nicer than the blue. Nice bike!
08-21-16, 02:02 PM
#6
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It's a nice BLUE bike, WORKING is my main thing but then I also RAT and have a hot affair with the fridge. No food, not much love. Your bike only looks perfect once.
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08-21-16, 02:55 PM
#8
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08-21-16, 03:05 PM
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08-21-16, 03:08 PM
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If it were me, I'd go in a different direction...
Black Brooks with Burnt Orange Newbaum's. Doesn't add more blue to mix and would pick up the orange Kool Stops. Add some orange cable crimp ends if you want to go further...
I think the natural Cambium goes well with Paselas/gum hoods if you wanted more options. I added light blue Newbaum's to that combo to a Trek that I used to have and liked the look.
Black Brooks with Burnt Orange Newbaum's. Doesn't add more blue to mix and would pick up the orange Kool Stops. Add some orange cable crimp ends if you want to go further...
I think the natural Cambium goes well with Paselas/gum hoods if you wanted more options. I added light blue Newbaum's to that combo to a Trek that I used to have and liked the look.
08-21-16, 05:28 PM
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Complementary: black Brooks B17 saddle, black wrap
Contrasting: brown or honey Brooks B17 saddle, with any variation of brown or honey wrap
Outliers: slate or natural Brooks Cambrium saddle, with complementary wrap
Contrasting: brown or honey Brooks B17 saddle, with any variation of brown or honey wrap
Outliers: slate or natural Brooks Cambrium saddle, with complementary wrap
08-21-16, 05:39 PM
#13
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I went ahead an ordered the Honey Brooks. Now I just need to figure out bar wrap.
08-21-16, 07:04 PM
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Good choice on no more blue. Check out the Brooks Microfiber tape. The price will be more to your liking and imo it feels very very nice. And it will match... At least until you put a lot of miles on the saddle and it gets darker.
08-21-16, 07:11 PM
#15
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Done. $12.33 from Amazon Prime. Will be here on Wednesday. Thank you for that lead.
08-21-16, 08:31 PM
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Need to replace that rear derailleur. Suntour Cyclone or maybe a Suntour XC or ARX with the 3 jockey wheels.
08-21-16, 08:36 PM
#17
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08-21-16, 08:53 PM
#18
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nothing will ever beat white handlebar tape...try it!
08-21-16, 08:53 PM
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If it were me, I'd go in a different direction...
Black Brooks with Burnt Orange Newbaum's. Doesn't add more blue to mix and would pick up the orange Kool Stops. Add some orange cable crimp ends if you want to go further...
I think the natural Cambium goes well with Paselas/gum hoods if you wanted more options. I added light blue Newbaum's to that combo to a Trek that I used to have and liked the look.
Black Brooks with Burnt Orange Newbaum's. Doesn't add more blue to mix and would pick up the orange Kool Stops. Add some orange cable crimp ends if you want to go further...
I think the natural Cambium goes well with Paselas/gum hoods if you wanted more options. I added light blue Newbaum's to that combo to a Trek that I used to have and liked the look.
I think your honey choice will be very pretty! There are grooves in your seat post right? What if you filled them in with red to go with your brake pads or dark blue to match the head tube? That really is a pretty bike.
Also.... WOW toavii that is super pretty. I love the light colors, did you shellac over the cotton?
08-21-16, 10:09 PM
#20
Senior Member
FWIW the honey saddles get a couple shades darker pretty quick if you proofide them and ride them. Mine now almost exactly match the color of the gum brake hoods.
To me, shellacked bars on a Japanese bike of that era would look kind of weird. It just so would not have been done back when that bike was made. It's also kind of hard if you will be using this for touring. I'd probably go for plain cotton tape, something neutral like white or black or brown to match the saddle. The thick stuff VO sells is kind of neat. One advantage of cotton tape is it only last a couple months before getting kind of tattered, but fortunately it is cheap, so you can change it like socks as the mood strikes you...
If really touring on it, consider some kind of neutral looking modern padded tape. (padded tape has been used since the early 70s at least, btw)
Anyone remember that cheezy 'velvet' brown tape that used to come on 80s bikes? I think it is extinct now.
EDIT: Never mind. Just noticed you ordered some Brooks. That seems like a good choice. Please review when you receive it.
To me, shellacked bars on a Japanese bike of that era would look kind of weird. It just so would not have been done back when that bike was made. It's also kind of hard if you will be using this for touring. I'd probably go for plain cotton tape, something neutral like white or black or brown to match the saddle. The thick stuff VO sells is kind of neat. One advantage of cotton tape is it only last a couple months before getting kind of tattered, but fortunately it is cheap, so you can change it like socks as the mood strikes you...
If really touring on it, consider some kind of neutral looking modern padded tape. (padded tape has been used since the early 70s at least, btw)
Anyone remember that cheezy 'velvet' brown tape that used to come on 80s bikes? I think it is extinct now.
EDIT: Never mind. Just noticed you ordered some Brooks. That seems like a good choice. Please review when you receive it.
Last edited by Salamandrine; 08-21-16 at 10:16 PM.
09-09-16, 10:48 PM
#22
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Late to the party....
I had an '84 ProTour with honey colored B17. I chose cork tape, natural tan color. I haven't seen natural cork tape in a long number of years. Need to check Niagra and some others.
I had an '84 ProTour with honey colored B17. I chose cork tape, natural tan color. I haven't seen natural cork tape in a long number of years. Need to check Niagra and some others.
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09-09-16, 11:59 PM
#23
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09-10-16, 12:32 PM
#24
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That MII Cyclone is going to look great and work great on your bike. The Honey Brooks is going to be a good choice.
The Pro Tour is a Class A bike, your example is really clean as well. It's going to be an awesome riding bike that's going to look cool. And attract the *****es.
The Pro Tour is a Class A bike, your example is really clean as well. It's going to be an awesome riding bike that's going to look cool. And attract the *****es.
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09-10-16, 12:53 PM
#25
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Pictures will be posted tomorrow. My wife and I have a little MUP ride with food truck park lunch planned.
