1982 JP Weigle
 

So last weekend I picked up this beauty after a 400 mile round trip from NJ to Connecticut. It's a 1982 JP Weigle 61cm that fits me perfect. It wasn't cheap, I sold the Fat City cycles Slim Chance and 1971 Raleigh Professional track bike to fund this one. N-1 I guess :) It has a mix of old campy and newer 9 speed Centaur.

The seller knows Peter personally and bought from him to ride in the 2014 French fender day. I believe the original owner had sold back to Peter or maybe Peter sold for him to the 2nd owner. Fortunately for me, this one was to small for the 2nd owner and after one ride it sat unridden since FF day.
I don't plan on changing much, thinking of going with a Nitto m18 rack up front, swapping the Cinelli tour bars for Nitto rando 135's and a taller stem with a little less reach. I swapped out the Japanese Belt saddle for a Brooks Professional.

I can't decide on brown leather bar tape or yellow or light blue cloth tape, or maybe shellacked brown??? Opinions welcomed.

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Here is a link and photos from the bike shop that had helped with the previous owners build.
Vintage J.P. Weigle ? Storrs Center Cycle

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Tasty. That's a great find - glad you were able to nab it.

Beautiful color contrast! For what it is worth I would go with blue cloth, the yellow would detract from what is already there I think, and would get dirty quickly as well. Actually, there are some light blue cloth tape that would be a close match to the shade on your bike. I am sure it rides as nice as it looks too.

Dream machine.

Thanks guys. I'm thinking blue cloth tape and if I don't like it, I can shellac it.

What beautiful workmanship, lovely colorway and the components choice is spot on. If it were mine, I'd go yellow cloth tape with a vintage yellow Concor. In your case, I'd agree with your light blue bar tape choice; after all, brown wouldn't match the saddle. I suppose you could always use black tape, but then that may be too conventional for this.

DD

+100

I like these suggestions so far. Can't decide which way I would go yet.

In the meantime, could you do a close up of the fork crown?

I'm mesmerized.

Those lugs=yum!!!

A gorgeous bike, as all of Peter’s creations are. Blue bar tape would be nice, especially if treated to some clear shellac.

Hmmm, I vote for dark brown leather tape, to match the seat. Very close second choice would be light blue cotton.

I definitely vote no on the yellow tape. Yellow tape shouldn't be used by people older than 17, IMHO of course. ;)

Shellacked tape? I dunno on that particular bike. It's not period correct (for the US), but maybe you could make it work. It's not like brifters are period correct either....

PS. Get yourself a metal campy pump head. 10x more functional than the plastic silca heads.

Beautiful bike. Beautiful Lugs, and I agree with gomango: The fork crown is fabulous in it's elegant simplicity.
Blue tape I think.
Brent

I would try the brown leather tape or brown cloth with clear shellac to match the saddle. There is already a lot of blue & yellow, plus the pump. The other upside is dark colors don't show dirt.

+1 that would be elegant and keep the attention on the frame where it belongs. Really a stunning bike; congrats.

I'm also voting brown for this.

A weigle is just about the only thing I'd still jump at. Bruce Gordon and Weigle.

That's a "wow" bike. And since it' my size range, I'm drooling. Holy Geeze, that bike is nicely thrown together. Jelly.

I like the idea of blue cloth tape and in my eBay searches I'm sure I've seen one close to that shade. Once you shellac it, you're not close anymore.

As a woodworker, I understand shellac on jewelry boxes, guitars and gun stocks, but I just don't get it on bar tape. Black tape / black-ish saddle works fine for me.

Ooh, nice. I see yet more interestingly colored photos in your future.

Bar tape? It would tough to match that light blue. Any light color will get dirty, with yellow getting dirty just because you look at it. You might consider a medium gray if you can find it. Let the tape disappear.

Thanks all for the suggestions, I have some light blue Newbaums on the way, however I would like to pick up some thin Brown leather tape and see what works best. The Brooks tape that I have on my Bruce Gordon is a little on the thick side for my liking.

Anyone have recommendations for thinner leather tape? I've heard Velo Orang may have some good leather tape.

Btw, the seller also had some beautiful 63cm bikes he was considering selling. A Somec and two Guerocetti's one with Joe Bell and another Cycle art repaints , they were amazing inperson. If anyone is interested I can put you in contact with seller.

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Beautiful bike. And looking through your pictures, your little Boston is also beautiful. We have 2 and love them.

^^^Thank goodness I can't ride a 63!

nice bike.

Handlebra leather tape is thinner and a LOT nicer. I put a layer of hockey tape underneath.

Generally I'm not wild about leather tape, but the handlebra stuff is nicer than others. Fizik mikrotek in antique brown is my favorite, and I think would work well here.

Thanks Aaron, I like Fizik tape, going to check out.

I'll second the Fizik.

It's all I use on road bikes.

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

Congratulations!