Cycling UK Forum

Any colour except black.
Is black is even a colour?

Sandy Bags wrote: ↑29 Aug 2023, 2:34pm It's interesting what you said thirdcrank about the colour black, and in particular Henry Ford's now eponymous remark..since all my other bicycles with one are exception are black! I've always favoured this colour for bicycles that are used regularly..since it's the one colour that hides touch-up paint colour deviations. Even RAL codes are sometimes totally out..my Park tool truing stand got chipped, so Park gave me the exact code needed for the same coloured paint..except it wasn't, by a long stretch!

I agree about black being a good colour for a bike. I have successfully used black nail polish (mainly sold to goths I suppose) to touch up black bicycle paint, but generally don't bother unless a chip exposes bare steel. I do admire the dedication of trying, albeit unsuccessfully, to match exactly the colour on a truing stand!

francovendee wrote: ↑30 Aug 2023, 8:13am Any colour except black.
Is black is even a colour?

Thread drift alert:
My art teacher at school's favourite saying was "There are no such colours as black and white" . She also had a prosthetic arm.

rotavator wrote: ↑30 Aug 2023, 10:42am

francovendee wrote: ↑30 Aug 2023, 8:13am Any colour except black.
Is black is even a colour?

Thread drift alert:
My art teacher at school's favourite saying was "There are no such colours as black and white" . She also had a prosthetic arm.

The extraordinary story of Vantablack:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vantablack#Controversy
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-ne ... 180962748/

I once spent an hilarious half-hour trying to photograph the interior of the camera unit of the Solar Orbiter.

Jonathan

Thanks nosmarbaj, I am always of the mind that 'a job worth doing is worth doing properly..' I do take pride in my bicycles and extensive bicycle tooling.
It's funny, but my car gets largely abused..rarely ever cleaned, currently running a warning light (only an orange one though!!) Tyres probably dangerously under-inflated, whereas my bicycles I am meticulous about. I guess that when the love is there (and I really do love all things cycling ) you'll make the effort..

I'm getting ever closer to yet another black bicycle!! Thanks to you all for your helpful replies.

Cheers.

My impression is that paint that's been maturing for a year or two is considerably less delicate than new paint.

That's based on the differences between a new frame (that's not a standard frame from stock) and a frame that's come back from repair and hasn't been built up for a year or three (parts transferred to a different frame before sending it off).

My Mercian Vincitore is in Ruby Flamboyant.

Ooh Mick, that's VERY pretty! Was that the original paint, or have you had it refinished? Hows it held up I wonder, being a flam paint and all..?

On the topic of pretty colours..if I attach a photo here, I wonder if anyone can work out which colour it is/the nearest equivalent- according to RAL or BS381c codes? It was originally painted by Bob Jackson's, before their sad demise..it was painted 'British Racing Green,' it was a plain enamel (gloss lacquer) paint finish; the problem is, neither myself nor Argos know precisely which modern colour it resembles..
Argos suggested one of the Brunswick Green paints, my guess would be the 'mid-green' one.

Any ideas all?

Cheers.

To me, it looks too ‘vibrant’ for the Brunswick greens, and I wonder whether it might be BS381c 221 Brilliant Green, or even BS381c 228 Emerald Green (which I think is rather like some of the early versions of BRG, which were based on the green in the Irish tricolour flag).

My very first two-wheeler, on graduating from a trike aged c5yo, was British Racing Green, ‘cos that’s what I asked for, but since it was secondhand, arrived in dull maroon, and spent a period in my father’s shed before emerging resplendent, I think the actual colour probably owed a lot to Woolworths standard range of enamels!

Thanks Nearholmer, I also had the same feeling when Argos suggested the Brunswick colours..although one things for sure, it ain't Emerald Green..since that's what's on there at the moment!! Albeit a metallic version of it. I will check out the Brilliant green, thanks for the suggestion.

Lovely story about your childhood bicycle, thanks for sharing.

I feel a survey coming on..!!

Mick F wrote: ↑30 Aug 2023, 3:24pm My Mercian Vincitore is in Ruby Flamboyant.

Helmsdale.jpgPICT0037.JPG

That's more like it, nice colour and shiny chrome. What's not to like.

Sandy Bags wrote: ↑30 Aug 2023, 6:17pm Ooh Mick, that's VERY pretty! Was that the original paint, or have you had it refinished? Hows it held up I wonder, being a flam paint and all..?

That's not the original paint, but I had it re-done in the original colour scheme for its 21st birthday. Took it to Derby to the shop.

Frame made to my spec from Mercian's catalogue and I took delivery in October 1986. I spent ages picking my components, most came from Whisker's mail order. Bought the wheels from a place in Redruth - Ricci's.
Only components still original are the Cinelli handle bars and stem, and also the Campag seatpost.

Earliest photo I have to hand was when my ship (HMS Sirius) was in Bermuda 1987(?) I took my bike with me on board on all my trips.

I love hearing stories of people buying a (lovely) bicycle and then keeping it for yonks
The ultimate in sustainable living!
Thanks for sharing that story Mick, I really enjoyed it..as I'm sure everyone else did.

Thanks to you all for taking the time to post a reply, it is very much appreciated. Thanks to the information herein, I've decided firmly now to go for a nice black gloss enamel..but with the lugs lined in gold and various other nice bits and bobs to offset the black. One day, if I find myself a bit less poor..perhaps I'll go for a Flam/fancy colour, but for now black with gold lug lining/lettering seems the sensible balance between easy maintenance and nice aesthetics.

Cheers all.

I had my Colnago Master repaired (cracked chainstay replaced) and resprayed in Flamboyant Red by Argos Cycles last year. They did an excellent job of accommodating my many annoying requests and the frame came back looking absolutely mint. However, like many others here, I have found the paint to be pretty fragile - nowhere nearly as resilient as the paint that it replaced. This is despite me applying a ceramic coating recommended to me by the car detailing community. The touch up paints supplied by Argos do allow me to do a reasonable job of patching things up. Silver base coat, followed by the red "varnish", protected with some clear nail gloss. A light rub down with wet & dry, followed with some T Cut and it's very difficult to spot any patch-ups.

Mick F wrote: ↑31 Aug 2023, 10:12am Bought the wheels from a place in Redruth - Ricci's.

Boo! Thankfully he has closed down - long time local bike industry villain.