Any Colour You Like
It wasn't long after Melodie's new bike day that I realised the kid's bike - cool as it may have been, wasn't best suited to her.
Not wanting to dump a heap of money into something she's possibly soon to outgrow, I slammed the post on Melodie's Bridge Club to see if it was suitable - she could ride it easily.
Not only that, after a blast around the block she was exclaming 'THIS BIKE IS SO FAST!' compared to the tractor treads of her MTB.
I really dig the 'Whipped Butter' that the Bridge Club comes in, but if I was going to make it her own, her favourite colour was the best way.
Off Course Custom Powdercoat
For the ins-and-outs about getting your next bike 'any colour you like', read about the process here.
Powdercoat is a great option for renewing a STEEL frame (and parts) at a relatively low cost. It's highly durable, though colour choices are limited, and the finish is muted compared to high gloss paint finishes.
Drop in to Off Course Bike Shop and use their colour chart to choose your finish. The difference between how colours present on a screen and real life is dramatic.
Prior to powdercoat my kid was adamant she wanted 'Purple'.
'Dormant Purple' was the colour of her current Karate Monkey which she was ho-hum about, but loved 'Lilac' - her favourite shade.
3 weeks later, the frame was ready for pick up.
Off Course handle the stripping and re-assembly so you don't need a home workshop - which is great time to further customise.
It sat in pride of place while some bits and bobs were in transit.
Mock up!
Some computerising on Illustrator helps visualise the end result if you're not sure.
I've overlayed blocks of the chosen colour (with a slight gradient) over a stock image of the bike.
With some input from 'the client' we chose fonts, and other little stickers to make it pop.
Spin some vinyl.
Vinyl comes in a variety of colours and finishes - but classic matte black seemed appropriate to tie in with the components for a little flair but not OUT THERE.
Throw the design from Illustrator into EasyCut (or equivalent) and let the plotter do its thing.
- Weed (remove the excess vinyl)
- Add application tape
- Apply to frame.
The first time I saw I did this was in 2008, with the massive assistance from RONE who was is like watching Danny Carey play drums when it comes to graphic design. For those of you following fyxomatosis back then, you may remember the bike.
Re-assemble
The rebuild is mostly stock. Notable upgrades being the hydraulic brakes, fenders and rack.
I absolutely LOVE the new Shimano CUES components. I couldn't get the brakes at the time but would for future builds.
The bike trailer was a Facebook Marketplace score - from a riding mate of all people, and has previously been used for Bikepacking the High Country, Grocery runs in Montmorency, and now towing the dog around the Norge.
The coolest thing about the bike is my kid is one of a handful of students, in a school of thousands, that rides to school. Hasn't missed a single day this year!
One huge request was to have a Quad Lock mount 'like your bike' which works great with a Nokia flip dumbphone - also purple.
The trailer is great for carrying gear, supplies, and pets!
Surly Rack on the back is where the pannier (with violin case) goes for Mondays.
The kid wanted the same pedals as Mum's bike - because they spin for days and have a great wide platform.
It was great to visit the MKS factory this year to see them being manufactured - and what makes them great.
FULL DISCLOSURE:
A massive part of the inspiration for the project was to infect my kid with the same disease I have for bikes, and continuously customising and accessorising.
It's been a massive success to that degree, and seeing her roam independently everyday, proud of her 'cool purple Surly' is payment enough for all the time and beans invested.
As the photos show, it's getting a lot of use and already showing signs of 'beausage'.
Build Breakdown:
Surly Bridge Club frame / fork (Medium)
Stock build with variations below
- RaceFace grips
- SKS Bluemel 75 fenders
- Noirette Plus WS Handlebars
- Panaracer Gravelking SK+ 27.5
- MKS Allways Pedals
- Surly Rear Rack
- Quad Lock Adjustable stem mount
- Kickstand!
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Genovese Bike Swap Meet - Melburn Roobaix Early Bird Event
Limited Stalls Available. BOOK A STALL NOW to avoid massive disappointment.
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Surly Bridge Club by Off Course Bike Shop
A super special custom build for The Boss by Off Course Bike Shop.
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