I bought this bike a day before I had go out-of-town for work. Pocatello Idaho, first time, very impressed.
One thing that is helping me pass the time of hotel life is imagining what I will do with this bike when I return home. I didn’t have a lot of time to look at it before I had to pack, but my initial impression is that the frame is in the best condition I’ve ever had on a vintage bike and my plan is to give it a complete rebuild to as close to original as possible. But, the bar tape has got to go. That’s just too much black in my mind. I was thinking of a grey or possibly a light brown to match the saddle. Any suggestions?

That is an amazing find!! A bike really worthy of time and attention. Are those rims Carbon?

My vote,
https://cgi.ebay.com/Brooks-leather-b...#ht_745wt_1137

or grey
https://cgi.ebay.com/Brooks-Saddles-B...ht_2598wt_1137

I see dead people.




White Bike Ribbon tape, white Regal saddle. THAT would look good.

I'd finish the stealthy look with a black saddle OR go with the BBM suggestion...

Here's a Bianchi I had pass through my hands that looked much the same:



Maybe that gives you some idea of a black saddle look?

EDIT: Here, I blacked out the frame and grayed it more:

Black bike with white regal and white tape:

This is STUNNING. WOW.

Wow! That's impressive software you have there Khatful. Maybe I'll stick with black. I have this thing about trying to build a bike that I think deserves it to as close to original that I can when I first get it and then ride it for a while. I feel this gives me a better comparison of the actual riding characteristic as compared to other bikes. I've been told, however, that these bikes were often shipped without bar tape to be left to the discretion of the seller. I'm not normally a fan of black bikes, but that Bianchi looks awesome. The black does evoke an old fashioned look that I would like to follow. I feel strongly that the saddle is original so it stays for now. I have other plans for this frame on down the road.

Oh, you guys and your white tape, saddles, and hoods!

Wow again. This is turning out to be a nice thread. That's an incredible bike too Bigbossman. Maybe I'll just go with green to match the 'Go Green' head badge.

[QUOTE= Are those rims Carbon?[/QUOTE]

No. They are Matrix rims laced to 600 hubs. Interestingly, I thought at first they were original to the bike. The seller actually handed me another wheelset as I was leaving. Araya rims and Suzue hubs. I believe these 27's are actually what came on the bike and the ones I intend to use.

I'd go with BBM's suggestion on the white tape. I used to use Bike Ribbon but have been using Cinelli cork and like it lately as well. Nothing wrong with Bike Ribbon though, great stuff. And nice Centurion OP, and Pogliaghli BBM!

Hey Khatful, can you use your photo software to erase that strange looking tourist from my nice photo of the bike?

It's the brown saddle throwing it off. Black saddle and green tape and housing to match the head badge. Anything to get rid of that Raider look.

Best I can do with paint.net, I miss Photoshop sometimes...

I vote silver fizik.

pink.

white, black, silver. that's all too obvious and boring.

Thanks Khatful. I need to hire some bodyguards to keep the paparazzi away.

I'm thinking this too, although I'm trying to image what a light brown to match the saddle would look like.

I would normally also agree with you. It's a pretty dire looking bike. But, I'm trying to stay with a traditional look for the first build-up. I have other ideas of how I want to build it later. Barcons & Brooks come to mind.

Khatful, what are those tires on the Bianchi?

I was thinking fizik silver as well, but I wonder if the bike color is more gray; not as bright as the tape color. That would look bad.

OP - as far as the saddle goes, I wouldn't worry about keeping to original spec on that. It's always been acceptable and assumed that the rider would choose a saddle for personal comfort. You are planning to ride this, correct?

IMO, and with the color of the saddle, I would go with the Velo-Orange Elkskin..I put this on one of my Raleigh Competitions.

Here it is from the Velo-Orange homepage. Only cost $32.00

too bad it looks like sausage.

Silver Fizik tape. Black saddle.

Yes, definitely for riding not selling. I will probably put my Selle Italia SLR on it, but I wanted to keep it authentic for RobbieTunes' Centurion database. There are not many photos or much info that I could find on this bike. It seemed like a good idea to get a good shot of it in original dress for future reference.