I am restoring my 89 Giro. My question is, was the original handlebar tape cloth or vinyl? If cloth is there a particular pattern to it? If vinyl is it perforated or smooth? Any suggestions for a replacement brand that is close to original? I'm sure I can't get original but I would like to get as close as possible.
Also the screws for the water bottles, were the originals tapered heads or straight heads?
I'm sure I will have other questions as I progress thru this project.

Thanks for any help.

For those years, most likely padded vinyl as made by Ambrosio (Bike Ribbon) or Pelten, in Celeste color or white, which was very popular.....
Cloth was used mostly in the 70's and earlier.

Great thanks. What about the bottle cage bolts, straight or tapered?

Domed, low profile Allen head bolts would be appropriate for late 80's bikes...

Thank you so much.

My 1988 Bianchi Giro. It was all original with less than 100 miles on it when I got it. The seat was pointing up that way.



Closeup of the original bar tape. Someone else can probably ID it.



I used this Fizik Celeste bar tape on my 1990 Mondiale. It's close to the original tape that came on my 1988 Giro.



verktyg

The original tape looks like Ambrosio's "Bike Ribbon" to me....
They had the single line of holes punched in through the mid line of the tape.
IIRC, Pelten's vinyl, padded tapes were very similar.

I found some Ambrosio Bike Ribbon tape in Celeste. It even came with the red/white/green tape for the ends but did not come with the end plugs. From what I can see in photos they are chrome. Does anyone know if they are plastic or metal? I would think plastic. And did they have the Bianchi name on them or were they just smooth?

BTW....Anyone have a Celeste seat they want to sell?

Is it the one from ebay for £12 (~$25)

If it is let me know what you think of it..looking for bar tape for my 88 Giro

No it's not, if it's the same one I'm looking at. I have found some original ones but they have astronomical prices.

Malcala622
I thought you were talking about the seat,if you mean the bar tape yes it looks just like the one in the pictures from Verktyg. It is solid with holes down the center and comes with the Italian flag tape to seal it at the center. It does not come with bar end caps though. I'm trying to figure out which ones they should be.

nice. What type of steel is it? Columbus sl ?

The original decals were gone when I got it but given that it is a 89 Giro it should be Columbus SLX

Here it is painted with the new decals.