# What colour should I paint my bike? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697 "2005-04-04T17:55:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/1 "2005-04-04T17:55:09Z")
Yeah, yeah, I know, mundane and pointless… It’s your basic model, nothing too fancy about it. I’m thinking white, and calling it Shadowfax (to cement myself as a complete Tolkien geek), but what would you lot suggest? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/2 "2005-04-04T18:23:06Z")
White is good! Helps reduce accidents. Just remember to add reflectors, a light, & a bell. And, given that gas may hit $3 a gallon this summer, a good metal basket would be clever for errands. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/3 "2005-04-04T18:28:44Z")
(Er… maybe I should have specified that this is a bicycle, not a motorbike…? Or am _I_ being wooshed? 😕 :o) ---
**Author:** ![Canadiangirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Canadiangirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadiangirl)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/4 "2005-04-04T18:31:09Z")
Paint it green…green is for go,girl, go!!! ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/5 "2005-04-04T18:35:32Z")
No, no, no. First you have to decide to paint it red, but then your monkey’s going to walk in with a couple of funky friends and tell you to paint it blue. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/6 "2005-04-04T18:38:13Z")
Silver. 😃 Pssst…BTW… reflectors are for geeks! Who said that?!! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/7 "2005-04-04T19:16:04Z")
Gun metal gray! Then it’ll look just like \*my \* new bike. And yes, don’t forget the reflectors & bell. And the helmet, too, _please_. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/8 "2005-04-04T20:55:06Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > Er… maybe I should have specified that this is a bicycle, not a motorbike…? Bicycles should have reflectors and bells. And front and rear lights if there’s any chance you’ll be riding after dark. White is a great color - my tandem is white and it looks great. But it does require extra effort to keep clean. My favorite bike color is red - it’s a bright solid color, mud and dust don’t show up too well, and it doesn’t clash with rear reflectors and lights. I’m even getting my new custom titanium frame powdercoated red, which some would consider blasphemy. Dark green is cool if you want to go for the retro look. I saw a nice one recently, complete with leather saddle, silver (chrome plated?) luggage rack and tan canvas panniers. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/9 "2005-04-04T22:01:10Z")
I’d go with **Anaamika** ’s suggestion of gunmetal grey - it does well for not showing dirt and dust. And I’d also second the reflectors - they are useful. I’m less sold on the bell, though. I know the theory, but I’m skeptical. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/10 "2005-04-04T22:29:46Z")
I’ve had more than a few custom painted bikes. If you have a white one, you can do fun stuff with that as a base. I had one bike that was white with Grateful Dead dancing Bears all over it and Steal Your Face on the steerer tube. I had another that was white that I painted a bunch of Celtic knotwork all over in a metallic green, that was really really nice. My favorite one was a cyclocross bike I had painted in Chameleon paint, the paint you see on hot rods that changes colour as you look at it from different angles. It was pricey (~400 IIRC) but it was easily the best looking bike I ever had. Damn I wish I hadn’t sold that one. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/11 "2005-04-04T22:50:25Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > (Er… maybe I should have specified that this is a bicycle, not a motorbike…? Or am _I_ being wooshed? 😕 :o) Bicycles can be used to run errands. Why do you think you’re being whoosed? 😕😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/12 "2005-04-04T22:55:17Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Silver. 😃 > > Pssst…BTW… reflectors are for geeks! > Who said that?!! Who said that? The guy who got hit by a car that couldn’t see him in the dark, probably. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/13 "2005-04-04T23:23:10Z")
> [@monica](#): > > Who said that? The guy who got hit by a car that couldn’t see him in the dark, probably. :rolleyes: For Og’s sake! I bet you were an elementary school safety monitor. 😛 Look. Reflectors _are_ geekie looking. Particularly the ones on wheel spokes. I stand by that because of esthetic AND practical reasons. HOWEVER, there are such a thing as flashing LED lights for visibility from all angles during twilight and night rides. I’m a big advocate of those because you can see them even when the car headlights are not directly pointed at the cyclist. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/14 "2005-04-04T23:38:05Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > :rolleyes: > > For Og’s sake! I bet you were an elementary school safety monitor. 😛 > > Look. Reflectors _are_ geekie looking. Particularly the ones on wheel spokes. I stand by that because of esthetic AND practical reasons. > > HOWEVER, there are such a thing as flashing LED lights for visibility from all angles during twilight and night rides. I’m a big advocate of those because you can see them even when the car headlights are not directly pointed at the cyclist. Sorry if I got a little snappy. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/15 "2005-04-04T23:40:58Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I’m even getting my new custom titanium frame powdercoated red, which some would consider blasphemy. DEFILER! 😃 Not my favourite frame geometry (even for a tri bike) but certainly one of my favourite factory [paint jobs](http://www.rooworld.com/images/2004/caliente_large.jpg) . ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/16 "2005-04-04T23:42:34Z")
> [@monica](#): > > Sorry if I got a little snappy. ☹ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/17 "2005-04-05T14:36:25Z")
If you are going to go through the trouble of PAINTING it, pimp it out. Try one of those new chameleon paints that shift from purple to green depending on what angle you look at it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/18 "2005-04-05T15:36:30Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > DEFILER! Hey, this frame builder doesn’t do brushed or polished titanium. It’s either the powdercoat or [bare, unfinished](http://www.reynoldsweldlabs.com/Bike/zbonepics20.htm) tubes. I’ve already got one of his bare Ti frames and everyone asks me if I built the bike myself. :smack: The prettiest bike I’ve owned had a [polished aluminum](http://a8.cpimg.com/image/14/B6/24019988-9263-02000175-.jpg) frame. But it had no clearcoat and it needed to be polished often. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/19 "2005-04-05T15:41:13Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > The prettiest bike I’ve owned had a [polished aluminum](http://a8.cpimg.com/image/14/B6/24019988-9263-02000175-.jpg) frame. But it had no clearcoat and it needed to be polished often. My current [Ultimate](http://www.litespeed.com/bikes/2005/ultimate.aspx#) obsession. They offer painted finishes as well but I just have the heart. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697/20 "2005-04-05T16:11:44Z")
Zebra stripes are nice. Really! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-colour-should-i-paint-my-bike/297697.md?page=2)