Well, I need help designing my next tattoo. I want the tattoo to reflect my love of biking, and to also try (I use this word loosely) and make others see what I see in biking. The biking I do is heavily weighted towards commuting, which is why I post here. Position of tattoo is dependent on the specific tattoo in question. Though, I must say that I am partial to the calf (I work where shorts are okay).

Give me your ideas, post a picture. Let me know. This isn't my first tattoo so I know what I am getting into. Also, just because you suggest it, I may decide to go my own route .

Have fun and be creative. If I decide to get one of the suggestions I will post pictures immediately!

Can you tattoo a reflective stripe on the back of your neck?

Me too! I really want a black simple-looking road bike with drop bars on my calf! I don't know if it'll ever happen, but hey. I think it'd look cool!!
Otherwise, I'd probably get a chain ring with a Celtic knot on the inside or something like that...

Maybe the classic "Cat 5 tattoo" but in actual ink instead of chain grease?

Ha, or if color's an option, a PB Superflash.

I'll have my avatar or something close to it tattooed on one of my legs someday, I just haven't had the guts to do it so far. I keep saying myself if I still want to have it done after 6 months (in 2 months), I'll do it.

Yeah, that was kinda my thought. The 'ol chainring on the back of the calf, or maybe a series of chainrings making some sort of design? Or the chainring mark with blood drippin' down from it?
Be sure to post what you decide.

In the future I hope to get a tattoo celtic high cross design - but the cross be bike chain and the circle be a chainring. Currently I have a lion of Flanders on my right shoulder (got it for the cycling relation), soon to get a German eagle on the left, and then the bike themed cross in between.

I just haven't had the guts yet to plan a more visible tattoo. Still jobless after graduation and can't predict where I'm going for employment.

That would be awesome! I've thought about that before, how much it would make me smile every time I saw it. Even if it was on someone else.

I got a smudge on my left leg the other day... still wondering how it happened, but it was so hilariously awesome.

They do have glow-in-the-dark inks out now.

I always thought a simple chain ring would be nice. full, half, dunno.

I've thought about something involving a blazing sun, a raindrop with a lightning bolt through it, and a snowflake, to represent the wide variety of conditions through which I commute. I also wanted to get a simple C somewhere on my leg to represent the C in century or the romal numeral for 100.

How about a tat of your fav bike, but have globes of a greener earth where the wheels should be!? if you think its a good idea Ill get one too! who knows, it might catch on and become the symbol of cyclist everywhere!.....sorry, I get excited easily! =)

There's always the Chainring Heart.

I've thought about this before and I came up with the idea of a single sprocket.

It details everything that I love about cycling.

Simplicity, Efficiency and Utility. A single sprocket on your shoulder, or wherever, should just about cover it.

I want to get the "Hammer Nutrition" symbol done on my calf, not just because I like their product but because it'd be a sweet tat.

-Barry-

Have a look at these two sites:

https://www.blackbirdsf.org/chainwheels/

https://www.bikecult.com/works/chainring.html

I'd consider a 50-plus-tooth chainring on my back...

https://www.blackbirdsf.org/chainwhee...es/fonlupt.jpg

I'm thinking of the "chainring tat" or the simple bike mentioned in the thread, but I like that one too.

I'm thinking of getting the Olympic cycling symbol.

but there's so much more you can do with ink! it's going to be there the rest of your life, why not do something really special and unique?

the more tattoos i get the more i've learned to incorporate depth, shadow and photo-realistic details. also, since the canvas in this art is skin, make the design fit the qualities of the flesh and muscle, rather than just slapping an image on wherever.

i don't have any cycling-specific tattoos (yet) but here's what inspired my user name:



to the op: i'm imagining some sort of "view of the open road"... what do you see in cycling anyway?

I'd talk it over with your artist. This is one of my examples of what happens...


Just remember that what looks good in one media will not translate exactly in another media. i.e. draw to tat.

Isn't that kind of proprietary ( probably not the best word, but.........)

If I'm correct, this was designed by the two people who run microcosm as a wedding gift for each other or something like that. So I think they have asked others not to replicate it. On the other side of the coin, they do sell stickers, patches and buttons of this design, so you can come to your own conclusions.

Hmmm...... replication of a tattoo...what's the general etiquette anyway? I have seen some that would look cool, but is there an etiquette for copying others?

Hey, how about part of a chain ring in an arc around the world, kind of like a Saturn ring. If I get some time this weekend I'll work on a design for you.