mangosalsa

I'm painting the MTB this weekend, this will be a tour/camping bike. I was wondering if anyone has their bike painted in a camouflage scheme to help with stealth camping. I am using reflective material on certain areas, but those will be removable or covered when camping. If you have a camo bike, I'd like to see a pic or 2 ... thanks.

Hobartlemagne 

https://www.designyourwall.com/store/...3-pr-2045.html

This self adhesive paper will make it easy. Sealant spray over it may be a good idea too.

Bekologist

its easier, more versatile and more effective to hide a bike with a camoflague tarp IMO.

Ronsonic 

Never been tempted by camo paint. But truck bed coating, that's something I have to try sometime.

grantman18

https://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/..._Oliv_Sand.jpg

jpmartineau

Not camo, but my bike is olive green... Also, my city bike is matte black - melts in great with the parking meters.

Cychologist

Once saw a bike that had been painted so it looked like it was rusted. Had nice Ultegra parts, but looked like it had sit outside for a couple years. The owner used it to commute.

positron

I have wanted a fillet-brazed ritchey commando for as long as i can remember.... go here:

https://www.oldmountainbikes.com/cata...paloalto1b.jpg

top corner

truman

Soma makes some beautiful & confy woodland camo bar tape in their Thick and Zesty line. I have it on my tourer, but just for looks.

Also available is camo tape, mde for bowhunters, that leaves no sticky residue when it comes off.

Hawkgrove

You've probably already researched it but Rust-Oleum and Krylon make camouflage paint.

mangosalsa

Yeah, I have the paint already; it's the standard green/brown/black colors. Think I'll go by the hunting section of the local store and talk to one of them about it. I don't hunt and was never in the military, so I know nothing about using camo properly. I stealth camped locally on Saturday night, and was thinking about camo when setting up camp. The bike I used that night is red, and the parts are all shiny and "glinty" enough to catch the Sun. Just thought it would be fun to do, and a little-bit useful. Thanks

[Positron, I'd take that bike any day. Killer set up!!]

Ronsonic 

The key to camo is to get colors that are found in nature and to break up the outline. Lines and splotches or whatever pattern you use, the Canadian army has worked maple leaves into their woodland pattern, should contradict human made shapes. Zebra works and might look cool on a bike. Try not to outline anything, nothing too parallel and don't make any eye shapes or other things that catch attention. You get a lot of bites at the apple since the pattern is essentially not a pattern. So if your splotches start to look like something you can add more to ruin it. Oh, darker on bottom, lighter on top, like everything in nature - and nothing above knee high should be horizontal and no true verticals.

If I was more concerned with effectiveness than style, I'd apply the base color on the frame (do it all over in your lighter color) then prop it up out of direct sunlight with some typical terrain behind it. Stand back, walk up with a spray can of the darkest color and wreck whatever lines catch your eye - break up all the tubes. Walk back 20 yards, look again and go back with another color. Rinse and repeat. It'll never disappear, but it shouldn't stand out from the shadows. If style is more important, I'd find a nice pattern in photo's of military, outdoorsy or hunting gear and replicate it.

Bridgestoned

Go for it, panniers even It's not my bike, just a German cyclist I met in north Thailand in Feb.

Creakyknees

+1 a tarp or thin / light mesh netting that hunting stores sell, instead.

Besides, the best camo is not to be see-able at all. As in, something solid between you and potential viewers. If you're where somebody can see glints, you need to get better hidden.

Bekologist

There's a bike in the middle of all these pictures...

obscured from road views by brush breaking up tarp outline beyond camera perspective.

the two pics in bottom row match up to the pics above them.

At night, no flash of metal, no reflective glint off silver bits or 'feccos from headlights or flashlights.

proethele

I'd get a couple of camo USGI ponchos at the military surplus store - good for hiding the bike, weigh next to nothing, and in a pinch you can make an improvised tent with a few lengths of paracord...

stokell

The bike's not the problem. it's the reflective surfaces. Bikes are meant to reflect light from most angles, except from the top. If you are stealth camping, drop your bike on the ground with the top facing the roadway. I suggest being at least 30 metres from a trail and 150 metres from a roadway anyway. If you are stuck, try using a tarp to block headlights.

You can go to my stealth camping articles on crazyguyonabike or one of my touring journals for more ideas.

Good luck!

bigbadwimp

I don't see a bike in the second pic, just some guy walking up a hill...