How to apply paint on a racing bike ?

The choice of paint types and application techniques is not essential, but we will say "important" when preparing a Stardust Bike paint, for the particular case of a racing bicycle. How to repaint a racing bike and which primer, which paint, which varnish to choose? The bikes are already painted in the factory, but you may wish to revamp and personalize your frame, with the colors and effects of your choice, without losing performance and quality!

Weight is an important aspect. A traditional bicycle has a total of 50-75g of primer, 100g of paint and 100g of varnish, for a final, dry and total thickness of 90 microns. It is therefore very reasonable, however it is better to remove a good part of these layers with a 320 sanding so as not to accumulate the weight of several layers of paint.
It is absolutely inadvisable to remove the primer if it is in good condition, as this would require redoing the delicate work of preparation and adhesion.

Which paint should you choose for your racing bike ?

Concerning the primer, if the frame has been exposed, whether it is carbon or metal, then one or two very thin coats should be applied: avoid thick coats so as not to overload unnecessarily, and above all because thin coats always have better adhesion! If you have defects to cover, use the filling primer and sand it completely: its purpose is to disappear and only remain in the scratches or holes! The goal, you have understood, is to have an irreproachable bottom and to gain weight.

To repaint a racing bike, there are now superb Candy, Chameleon, phosphorescent, holographic, pearlescent, opalescent, chrome effect, fluorescent colors. Be aware that painting a paint with a two-coat or three-coat effect will also involve a varnish, in addition to the base coat, this means more work and a little more weight.
Nevertheless, the weight remains very negligible, knowing that on a racing bike, paints of the “matt base to varnish” type represent 250g during application and 100g after drying. Ditto for the creation of graphics and color, we will necessarily have to apply a varnish, for this we have unique solutions to create the most resistant and thinnest possible varnishes (see below). Painting a racing bike can also be done in strict economy mode, with a single coat, which could be a two-component hi-gloss type polyester lacquer or a matt lacquer : in this case, we are counting on a total thickness from 25 to 50 µm dry and a weight of 100g per bike.

The opening of a racing bike

Varnish helps with aerodynamics by reducing air resistance and friction. A few micro Newtons per meter is not negligible over a 100 km race!
There are now exceptional varnishes developed by Stardust: ultra-thin and super-resistant matt varnishes, and a type varnish ultra-shiny, ultra-hard ceramic, with a thickness of just 15 to 30 microns!
Indeed it is not the thickness that counts, on the contrary, the thicker the varnish, the more it can be subject to detachment!

Let's talk about aesthetics and custom

It is worth taking some time to discover the wonderful modern effects of the world of paint and the techniques that exist.
Combining color backgrounds and transparent layers of interfering pearls, scintillating pearls, or dyes transparent, to play with light, can give magnificent and surprising finishes.
Talk to your painter, in terms of painting on bicycles, the specialists are familiar with effect paints and will be able to advise you.

Stardust Spray Bike
Bike paint for spraygun
Bike paint primer and filler
Special varnish for bike paint
Bike paint tools and accessories
Special effects for bike paint

How to paint your bike ?
What paint to paint your bike ?
How to repaint your bike without dismantling it ?