after putting some miles on a new resto and falling in love with its cockpit and drivetrain, this other bike, the moto, now a bit scorned, deserves some attention.

i want to go from this...



to this...


from 72 parallel on flickr

so i ordered calipers with kool-stops. i'm working on a big 52t ring and an ird 5-speed. gonna change all the suntour to campy nr. (just can't get enough.) new cables and a sram 830 chain will almost get me there.

how you can help
donate now!
or merely advise me on (1) pretty red bar tape under $20, and (2) a tire under $35.

(1) how about a shine to the tape or maybe satin looking? if not fabric, it shouldn't look too rubberish. it shouldn't fade to pink in three months. the sheeny red tape above looks nice, and this tape also:


[nice, colonel.]

and from vestige, something like this tape might work:



on shellac: i have a can of amber; have never applied it on bar tape; am interested in what amber looks like on red cotton; am concerned it would not feel comfortable, but i might start wearing half-finger gloves. thoughts? thoughts on half-finger gloves?

(2) and please point the way to a lightly colored (tan, brown or ... grey?) sidewall in a 700x23c. all black is too much for the frame. i'm tired of the krylions, their bright yellow, and pain in mounting. some kevlar, grippy treads and slick patterns all sound good.

got advice? got pics? got links?

thanks!