Carbon fiber bikes are on everyone's lips. This wasn't the case until the latest technologies improved manufacturing and found a way to offer carbon bikes at a fairly low cost. Before that, they were high-end bikes that were primarily used by professional cyclists. However, there are still high-end carbon bikes out there, but regular users have no use for the performance they bring. People find it necessary to beautify their bikes and the need for painting may arise.

Painting a carbon bike frame is not as easy as it sounds, so there is a separate topic about it. Carbon fiber bikes are made from a combination of epoxy resin and fiber. Because epoxy is easier to damage than high-strength steel, painting a carbon frame requires a little more attention than painting a high-strength steel frame. However, with the right care and a little sensitivity, you can paint your bike so well that it is in no way inferior to a professional painter.

To start painting a carbon bike frame:

• You can cover the area you want to work on to protect it from stains and dust.

• Thoroughly clean the bicycle frame with a degreasing cleaner, such as liquid dishwashing detergent, dissolved in hot water. Then rinse it with hot water as it removes oil and grease easily.

• Dry the bike with a soft cloth. Do not use coarse fabrics such as towels as they can leave fibers behind.

• Tape off or remove the parts of the bike that you do not want to paint.

• Before painting, use sandpaper or other rough material to finish the surface of the bicycle frame. The goal here is not to completely remove the existing paint, but rather to treat the surface so that the new paint can adhere to it.

• Then wipe off any sanding dust residue with a cloth and apply a primer coat.

• To make painting easier, hang the bike frame. Then spray the varnish with epoxy paint in long, even strokes, moving to the other side of the frame when you're done with one side. Hang the bike frame from a clothesline by threading a wire hanger through the holes in the seat tube clamp. Clamp the frame onto a wooden trestle or the edge of your work table, or slide the seat tube opening over a piece of steel rod fastened vertically to the ground.

• Allow the bicycle frame to dry for the prescribed time. If it is humid outside, you can add an additional half hour.

Painting carbon fiber is not the same as painting standard car parts. Carbon fiber absorbs paint exceptionally quickly because it is woven together. The carbon fiber crosshatch pattern may be visible in certain areas after painting if the paint is not applied evenly. Carbon fiber bikes require a primer coat before painting because carbon fiber materials do not mix well with paint, no matter what type it is.

The things you need to paint or repaint your carbon fiber bikes are a sponge, gloves, safety glasses, painter's mask, clear coat, rags, degreasing cleaner, painter's tape or bike tools, wet/dry sandpaper, mask for painting, epoxy paint, rags, rags, etc.

However, before you start painting, you should be aware that it is a lot of work and requires energy and several hours of stress. You also don't want to get to the epoxy that holds the carbon fiber together to avoid breaking the bike and causing injury later. It's your first time painting. You should experiment with a much cheaper frame that you don't mind messing up. It's a nice personal experience when you paint your bike frame yourself. Still, it would help if you prepared yourself for how stressful it is. People are often happy to give it to a professional bike painter, but it's worth giving it a try if you want to get your hands dirty.

Painting your carbon bike makes you feel good, especially if you're comfortable with it. Try our custom paint jobs to personalize your bike and make it stand out from the crowd. We hope you find this article helpful and can paint your carbon bike to your liking and taste.

Of course, painting jobs are difficult because carbon fiber bikes are so common. Nevertheless, most carbon wheels are painted; You don't have to paint again.

ICAN offers an individual painting service for bicycle frames. Customize your frame with patterns and colors that you like. We also have high quality carbon frames with unique paint finishes to choose from. The X-Gravel bike frame is our new lightweight, reliable and good-looking frame for 2024.

For more details on painting, see the video below.