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'nother "Gimme your handlebar wrap color opinion" thread...

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'nother "Gimme your handlebar wrap color opinion" thread...

Old 06-19-12, 05:58 PM
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'nother "Gimme your handlebar wrap color opinion" thread...

So I have finally gotten around to swapping out the short stem on my 1989 Paramount for a longer, better-fit-for-me stem. Meanwhile, I've been putting off any decisions until now about bar wrap. As built, this thing comes off a little bit like Darth Vader. Especially with the basic black wrap currently on the bike, it all feels a little overwhelming. At issue is the frame color, which is Waterford's "Emerald Black" — a green so dark that you have to see it in the right lighting just to pick up on the fact that it's not really black at all. I sure love brown wrap but I'm not feelin' it here. So, I'm looking for suggestions from the group. Here's the data to work with:

(Shown here with the original short 3ttt stem)


And in this picture I've slightly lightened things to show that the "black" really is green. (It's nowhere near this light though. The pictures above are much more accurate to real life.)


Let the opinions flow!
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Old 06-19-12, 06:07 PM
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If it were my bike I'd go for white with white hoods, and probably a white saddle and cable housings. Hard to keep clean though.
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Old 06-19-12, 06:10 PM
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I think white wrap without changing anything else would look good too. Orange would give it a totally different (sportier?) look, but pick up on the brown tires and copper rivets. My vote is for white, though.
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Old 06-19-12, 06:11 PM
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White tape, black hoods and saddle, white housing.
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Old 06-19-12, 06:12 PM
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Say no to white saddle/hoods/housing. Thats just tacky atmo.

Say yes to white synthetic tape. Deda carbon will feel great and stay clean.
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Old 06-19-12, 06:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 02Pilot
If it were my bike I'd go for white with white hoods, and probably a white saddle and cable housings. Hard to keep clean though.
I neglected to mention that the saddle is a "non-negotiable" for me; the Regal fits me pretty much perfectly. (And the cost of Campy replacement hoods is absolutely beyond ridiculous!)
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Old 06-19-12, 06:16 PM
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I vote for white too, to brighten up the bike a little bit. White's really nice too if you have enough white graphics on the frame. Kinda picks it up.
After seeing all that white padded bike ribbon tape on TDFrace bikes through the 80's I just can't consider anything else myself since then.
Please stay away from any camouflage or splash pattern tape.....they are tacky looking on any bike, IMO.

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Old 06-19-12, 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Chombi
I vote for white too, to brighten up the bike a little bit. White's really nice too if you have enough white graphics on the frame. Kinda picks it up.
After seeing all that white padded bike ribbon tape on TDFrace bikes through the 80's I just can't consider anything else myself since then.
Please stay away from any camouflage or splash pattern tape.....they are tacky looking on any bike, IMO.

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I cannot begin to tell you how much I hate splash!
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Old 06-19-12, 06:59 PM
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I hate splash too. As it ages, it looks worse and worse.

+100 White, and white housing. Saddle and lever hoods up to you.
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Old 06-19-12, 06:59 PM
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Old 06-19-12, 07:06 PM
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I agree with the suggestion of white cables and synthetic tape.
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Old 06-19-12, 07:13 PM
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Silver Fizik.
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Old 06-19-12, 07:14 PM
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Black Lizardskin Wrap.

Silver Jagwire or Silver VO housing, will "carry" the component colors up the sight line, connect the stem and seat post, bring out the lettering without having to add white housing. White housing won't accent the white lettering as much as add to it, and beg more. Silver, light grey, or the VO housing will blend the white lettering, polished components, and contrast with the frame a bit, but won't create work for the brain to process.

Done.

3.50

Last edited by RobbieTunes; 06-19-12 at 07:18 PM.
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Old 06-19-12, 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by AZORCH
I neglected to mention that the saddle is a "non-negotiable" for me; the Regal fits me pretty much perfectly. (And the cost of Campy replacement hoods is absolutely beyond ridiculous!)
Black to match saddle, and it's easiest to maintain. I vote Fiz'ik Mikrotek
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Old 06-19-12, 07:27 PM
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the other option to brighten things up...

...is gumwall tires.

keep the black saddle, black tape, black housing. get the cool stripe effect with those ano'd rims & gumwalls.
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Old 06-19-12, 07:29 PM
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the beauty of this bicycle is the simplicity, really. when you start adding white saddles and white housing and white tape...well, then, the bicycle turns into a fred-mobile. no offense to the freds.

I say switch out the tires to some gumwalls. Or just go with white tape. Done & done.
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Old 06-19-12, 08:38 PM
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Conti GP4000s in 700cX25, White Bar wrap, White Cables thru out. Leave the Hoods black so they Match the saddle.
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Old 06-19-12, 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted by TimeTravel_0
the beauty of this bicycle is the simplicity, really. when you start adding white saddles and white housing and white tape...well, then, the bicycle turns into a fred-mobile. no offense to the freds.

I say switch out the tires to some gumwalls. Or just go with white tape. Done & done.
I'm enjoying reading the various bits of advice in this thread. I'm leaning toward white wrap at the moment. I confess that if this were a 70's era Paramount the first thing I would have done would be to replace the tires (and wheels, by the way.) But to me, with less fork rake and the angles and graphics, the Conti GS 700 x 28 tires that I currently have mounted are more appropriate. They also fit my mode of riding too.
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Old 06-19-12, 08:49 PM
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Right on.

Thats one sweet bike. Hope to see what you come up with.
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Old 06-19-12, 08:57 PM
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Another vote for white. I usually shy away from it, but this bike is calling out for it. White perforated - in leather or Fizik Microtex - would be awesome.
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Old 06-19-12, 09:48 PM
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+ whatever, white Fizik Microtex...leave the rest.
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Old 06-19-12, 09:49 PM
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Keep the black.

Only bike that has white tape on it in my household is my girlfriend's...just sayin'
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Old 06-19-12, 09:54 PM
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ive looked at it several times today and have not made up my mind but i am going to vote white bar tape and tires with a traditional tan sidewall.
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Old 06-19-12, 11:48 PM
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No tape color other than black, white, or brown (with matching saddle) belongs on that bike. Bringing another color in wouldn't look right IMO. My favorite bar tape is the Performance Grip-Tec stuff. It's the same as the Shimano Pro and Arundel tape but $5 cheaper. It's super grippy, feels fantastic (thin gel), and when the time comes to replace it it doesn't leave any residue. As for the white cable housing suggestions, I've never understood why you would want to call attention to cable housing. Bright white loops of housing tend to detract from the lines of the bike. ...but that may just be me.
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Old 06-20-12, 12:07 AM
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Originally Posted by RobbieTunes
Silver Jagwire or Silver VO housing, will "carry" the component colors up the sight line, connect the stem and seat post, bring out the lettering without having to add white housing.
This.
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