The Look: Skinwall v. Blackwall
12-26-18, 03:07 PM
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52psi
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The Look: Skinwall v. Blackwall
Until last night I'd only ever seen my Volare with full-black tires; I was surprised how much skinwalls change the overall look of the bike:
My wife thinks it looks lighter, as in weighs less, with the skinwalls (I can almost see that and I suppose it actually does, by a negligible amount). And the black to me looks faster, or maybe more serious about going faster.
Pure subjective silliness, that, but the bike does look quite different and I'm almost second-guessing the white tape now. We'll give that some time. But I'm sure there are other shots out there of the same bike with both skinwalls and blackwalls... let's do some compare and contrast.
My wife thinks it looks lighter, as in weighs less, with the skinwalls (I can almost see that and I suppose it actually does, by a negligible amount). And the black to me looks faster, or maybe more serious about going faster.
Pure subjective silliness, that, but the bike does look quite different and I'm almost second-guessing the white tape now. We'll give that some time. But I'm sure there are other shots out there of the same bike with both skinwalls and blackwalls... let's do some compare and contrast.
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
12-26-18, 03:19 PM
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weapons-grade bolognium
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Black is the new black.
12-26-18, 03:39 PM
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Black does look faster. Makes you focus on color more. But also makes the bike looks more modern and plain in some ways. At least that's my take on my bikes.
12-26-18, 03:40 PM
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Looks better with black sidewalls. In my opinion most CV bikes do, although not period correct. I’ve kind of compromised by using Gatorskins which have a dark brown sidewall. Really though, nice looking bike either way.
Tim
Tim
12-26-18, 04:09 PM
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I totally agree with your wife!!
We mostly color blind/clueless guys should never ever question the color tastes of women! We all know that from way back when we were kids with our girlfriends, mom's and sisters!
Black wallS Phew! Gagging! PTOUIE! BELCHH! Cheeeep!
We mostly color blind/clueless guys should never ever question the color tastes of women! We all know that from way back when we were kids with our girlfriends, mom's and sisters!
Black wallS Phew! Gagging! PTOUIE! BELCHH! Cheeeep!
12-26-18, 04:53 PM
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I really think pic #2 looks a lot better.
Skin walls/gumwalls/tan walls almost always look better, and more refined. Yet I don’t currently have a single bike with them! Time to change that.
Skin walls/gumwalls/tan walls almost always look better, and more refined. Yet I don’t currently have a single bike with them! Time to change that.
12-26-18, 04:53 PM
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One other thing I noticed about black walls. I ride a 61cm Klein. When the tire is all black it makes the frame look larger. And I'm not a fan of really tall frames. Its helpful that the tubes are fat but still noticable
12-26-18, 04:55 PM
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Way way back I had ONE all black tubular, a Wobler maybe a CX type of tire, it had fairly aggressive tread. Won at a race, "terrific" prizes 43 years ago!?
Never liked the look. Reminded me of what was on a Schwinn Varsity, which an all black tire looked correct on for whatever reason. Maybe the Huge chromed spoke protector and chainring guard?
I have bought bikes with all black tires, I used them until they wear out.
Never liked the look. Reminded me of what was on a Schwinn Varsity, which an all black tire looked correct on for whatever reason. Maybe the Huge chromed spoke protector and chainring guard?
I have bought bikes with all black tires, I used them until they wear out.
12-26-18, 05:00 PM
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Skinwalls make it look complete. Blackwalls..cheap..
If it were mine and I wanted it to look faster, I’d shorten those brake cable housings, but then what do I know...
P.S. Great looking bike!
If it were mine and I wanted it to look faster, I’d shorten those brake cable housings, but then what do I know...
P.S. Great looking bike!
Last edited by tyler_fred; 12-26-18 at 05:05 PM.
12-26-18, 05:56 PM
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Was hoping to see other bikes that had sported both sorts of tires, but were otherwise basically unchanged. Are there no other pics? Maybe should've started the title with "Post Your..." 
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
12-26-18, 06:49 PM
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Those tan walls are a little pale . Here is some black bar tape for you , and a Selle Supercorsa . And a little panto on the mast .
DSCF2465 by mark westi, on Flickr
. Here is some black bar tape for you , and a Selle Supercorsa . And a little panto on the mast .DSCF2465 by mark westi, on Flickr
Last edited by markwesti; 12-26-18 at 06:54 PM.
12-26-18, 07:08 PM
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Skin/gumwalls = classic/classy, black = blackout, has it's place, can look great on the right bike, both highly subjective.
I like Continental Duraskin sidewalls as a third option and they seem to work for me no matter what I put them on.
I like Continental Duraskin sidewalls as a third option and they seem to work for me no matter what I put them on.
12-26-18, 07:25 PM
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12-26-18, 07:50 PM
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Non omnino gravis
Bikes with lots of silver/chrome accents look better with skinwalls, IMO. Which means almost all C&V. Most "modern" bikes look better with blackwalls-- as blacked-out seems to be the norm.
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12-26-18, 08:11 PM
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Agreed. Wonder whether those of us who rode C&V bikes when they were new bikes---I got my Raleigh Blue Streak 10-speed bike in 1964---are more likely to prefer the look of light-colored sidewalls, if only because that's all you saw on racing bikes until the 1990s.
12-26-18, 08:19 PM
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Black/black/black . Rule # 8 https://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
DSCF2568 by mark westi, on Flickr
DSCF2568 by mark westi, on Flickr
Last edited by markwesti; 12-26-18 at 08:28 PM.
12-26-18, 08:29 PM
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Skin all the way.
12-26-18, 08:31 PM
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@Cl904 Nishiki?
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
12-26-18, 09:01 PM
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With the op's bike built as-is, I like blackwalls. If the same bike had a black saddle and tape, I'd favor gumwalls.
12-27-18, 09:37 AM
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Lots of good advice here. IMHO, with exception to black or grey bikes, blackwalls usually give a C&V machine a distinctly modern look. Skinwalls if you want the world to know that your C&V ride is C&V.
-Kurt
-Kurt
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12-27-18, 10:01 AM
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No one mentioned the sidewall rot problem. I have never needed to retire (so to speak) a blackwall because of sidewall rot, but I have, for safety reasons, thrown out Specialized Armadillos and other skin or gumwalls long before the tread wore out. However, to play to this thread's theme, I do have before and after pictures of the 1959 Capo.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
Last edited by John E; 12-27-18 at 10:04 AM.