Frame respray advice

[Godlykepower]

I upgraded an old Marin Muirwoods that I got off eBay, into a rather nice touring/all rounder, last year.

The frame always had a couple of minor nicks on it, but I have added a few more this year.

I really like this bike & don't mind chucking a few more quid at it and a nice project over the winter will be a bonus.

Firstly, regarding frame decals, I am not at all bothered by the frame looking 100% genuine or period correct or anything naff like that, but I do want some decals, at least on the head and down tubes.
I understand sourcing older model decals from Marin is a bit of a headache, so can I just have my own adhesive vinyl decals made up at the local sign and graphics shop?

Secondly, part of my upgrades included fitting a Chris King headset. How do I get it off/out of the head tube? Specifically what tool do I need? Can I do it myself or is it better to take it to a shop?

[andrewjoseph]

I'd advise headset done by your lbs. Bodging it may go smoothly, but if not you can ruin the frame and new headset.

[gordy]

I use eBay for frame decals. there are some cheap Marin ones here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/11-MARIN-Fram ... 2328cabc27

Or try this company:

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/worldwide-cyc ... 7675.l2559

Changing a headset is easy.... but you do need a couple of special tools, namely a headset remover and hammer (or a big screwdriver and hammer) and a headset press. Crown race tools are useful too, but can (of course) be substituted by a screwdriver and hammer.

All the instructions you'll ever need are on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbO8PDrKdP0

For a one off, it will be better/cheaper to get a shop to do it.

[Godlykepower]

Hmm, I might have a shop do it then, don't want to risk messing something up.

As a matter of interest, I have mocked these pictures up in Photoshop, with the colours I quite like. Opinions?
What other colours might look nice?

http://imgur.com/XuUxukg

http://imgur.com/epspTzp

[ukdodger]

I upgraded an old Marin Muirwoods that I got off eBay, into a rather nice touring/all rounder, last year.

The frame always had a couple of minor nicks on it, but I have added a few more this year.

I really like this bike & don't mind chucking a few more quid at it and a nice project over the winter will be a bonus.

Firstly, regarding frame decals, I am not at all bothered by the frame looking 100% genuine or period correct or anything naff like that, but I do want some decals, at least on the head and down tubes.
I understand sourcing older model decals from Marin is a bit of a headache, so can I just have my own adhesive vinyl decals made up at the local sign and graphics shop?

Secondly, part of my upgrades included fitting a Chris King headset. How do I get it off/out of the head tube? Specifically what tool do I need? Can I do it myself or is it better to take it to a shop?

For the headset you need one of these:

http://www.singletrackbikes.co.uk/m8b9s ... tAodKSoAnQ

Think Halfords do them as well.

But you'll also need a headset press which is a lot more expensive. I'd take it to a shop.

[McVouty]

A local graphics shop did a good job on two bikes (a Romany and a Benotto) for me although it wasn't particularly cheap. Both head tube badges were easy to reproduce, though, and I was content that the graphics were close lookalikes rather than absolutely accurate reproductions.