'Glow In The Dark'

[ThePubSA]

Tippie's 'Glow In The Dark' 2013 Rocky Mountain Flatline

 

http://gp1.pinkbike.org/p5pb8606570/p5pb8606570.jpg

 

I had just received my new 2013 Rocky Mountain Flatline with some new frame tweaks, such as a super slack head angle and low BB, when I got the thumbs up from Rocky that I could paint it any color I wanted. They also arranged for me to have my first custom helmet paintjob to boot! After much deliberation, I decided to have Stacy Glaser from Painthouse paint the frame and helmet glow-in-the-dark!! Now, there's no real reason for an illuminescent bike and helmet, other than the fact that I night ride a lot and it'd be a fun, different, cool thing to do and it actually might make my bike pop a bit more on those dark shore photo shoots.

 

http://gp1.pinkbike.org/p5pb8606667/p5pb8606667.jpg

 

Stacy did a truly amazing job and I can't believe how brightly the paint glows in the dark. For the helmet, he did an alien dude with an afro, a skull astronaut, and the moon with my face in it. Planets were formed around the helmet incorporating my sponsors logos for a classic and fun look. I'm so happy with the results, that long after these items are past their prime for active use, they'll be hanging on my wall for years to come.

[ThePubSA]

http://gp1.pinkbike.org/p5pb8606670/p5pb8606670.jpg

 

Says Stacy Glaser, "When Brett first called me about doing some painting, he already knew that he wanted glow-in-the-dark features; it reminded him of his glow frisbee and he's also an avid night rider. I knew it was possible but I'd never worked with it before. After some research I ended up with a dry glow-powder from House of Color that I mixed, or suspended, in a transparent water-based paint from Auto-Air. For the most vibrant glow, you want a white base that reflects light back into the glow powder. That's how the designs started to evolve.

 

http://gp1.pinkbike.org/p5pb8606669/p5pb8606669.jpg

http://gp1.pinkbike.org/p5pb8606668/p5pb8606668.jpg

 

For the helmet, Brett came up with the idea for his face as the "man on the moon". We then came up with a concept drawing for the rest of the space themed graphics. The Rocky Mountain and Race Face logos were incorporated into planet designs, I came up with the astronaut graphic, and later the alien with the "Fro-Rider" afro. Using an airbrush, the glow paint was layered on top of the graphics after they were nearly finished. This would prevent it from toning down with further layers of paint. I also mixed a concentrated batch of glow paint to brush on certain highlight areas, and to create the constellations and enhance the stars. One of my favorite parts of this painting was adding the candy colors over the carbon fiber shell and blending the graphics together. In the end I ended up with a variety of glow colors, but the brightest being the moon with the white base.

[ThePubSA]

http://gp1.pinkbike.org/p5pb8606568/p5pb8606568.jpg

 

For the Flatline frame, the idea was pretty straight forward, but executing it would prove a little more involved. After cleaning the raw frame, I painted the entire frame white. Then came the glow paint, which of course I ignored the "not for full coverage" recommendation before starting. To get enough coverage for a bright glow, and to get consistent coverage over such a complex shape would take hours and countless layers. I had to keep spinning and flipping the frame to get all angles, and turning the lights on and off in the paint booth to check the glow. In the end, the effect was quite intense and worth the effort. Under a full charge this paint really glows, even lighting up its surroundings. It glows intensely for a good 15 minutes but goes on for well over an hour. Then with black I added contrasting Rocky Mountain logos and some subtle maple leaf graphics.

[ThePubSA]

http://gp1.pinkbike.org/p5pb8606569/p5pb8606569.jpg :clap:

[ThePubSA]

Tippie for president

[Tumbleweed]

Tippie for president

 

Agreed! Awesome posts, 2Nutz! Love Tippie! He's, er, nuts!

 

Did you ever see Search for the Holey Trail? They "kill" Tippie like 10 times in that film!

[ThePubSA]

Agreed! Awesome posts, 2Nutz! Love Tippie! He's, er, nuts!

 

Did you ever see Search for the Holey Trail? They "kill" Tippie like 10 times in that film!

LOL haha

Na i must check that,sounds "killer"

[build2race]

bike and helmet looks unbelievably awesome. Great job

[whistler]

Got an On One summer season, in glow in the dark green. It actually glows.

 

This bike looks great! The helmet is also quite somehing!

 

the search for the holy trail is an awesome film indeed.

[ThePubSA]

Got an On One summer season, in glow in the dark green. It actually glows.

 

This bike looks great! The helmet is also quite somehing!

 

the search for the holy trail is an awesome film indeed.

Cool, some pics of the green ONE

[MTBer wannabee]

I just heard about this on 5fm. I am in two minds.

http://www.bikeglow.com/

 

Not too keen on taking it on and off all the time.

[Wil6]

I just heard about this on 5fm. I am in two minds.

http://www.bikeglow.com/

 

Not too keen on taking it on and off all the time.

Not a chance I'm wrapping that on my frame.Rear light and reflection jacket is all you need.

[Red Zone]

I just heard about this on 5fm. I am in two minds.

http://www.bikeglow.com/

 

Not too keen on taking it on and off all the time.

Perhaps on the single speed? just for fun or for a 24 hour race. Wont be a fixture

[MTBer wannabee]

For fun I bought a pair of these.

 

But you have to be moving pretty darn fast to make it look like that.

[BogusOne]

Just paint your bike glow in the dark. Not that difficult

[MTBer wannabee]

I like, I might just do that with my next project

Edited October 1, 2012 by MTBer wannabee