Introduction: When the Bike Is Fine But the Budget Isn’t
The pro peloton is a perpetual arms race. SRAM drops an update and suddenly your 12-speed looks sluggish. Shimano gets lighter, and now your cockpit feels antique. Campagnolo gives you electronic shifting with more gears than the local cafe has coffee options. And let’s not even get started on carbon spokes, futuristic integrated cockpits, or the latest in stealth-routing wizardry.
The cycling industry is moving fast. Currently upgrades aren't just frequent—they're expensive. But what if your bike still rides beautifully, fits like a glove, and climbs like it always did? What if you could fall in love with it again, without dropping $10k on the latest everything?
We spoke with riders and painters across Australia to explore three creative and cost-conscious ways to transform your ride: a custom frame wrap, a DIY paint job, or a full professional respray. What each of them offers isn’t just a cosmetic boost—it’s a way to reconnect with your bike’s personality, as well as your own.
Bunnyhop Wrap applied to this bike never fails to turns heads
1. Wrap Stars: Dressing Your Bike in Personality (Without Picking Up a Paintbrush)
Peter Reynolds has been transforming bikes for over a decade through Bunnyhop Wraps, a vinyl-based alternative to paint that’s revolutionised the way riders approach customisation. Based in NSW, Peter’s workshop has wrapped bikes sent from all over Australia—and beyond. I recently chatted with Peter, who shared his experience.
“Most of the custom work is personal,” Peter says. “Either matching to the customer’s cycling kit or changing the colour to something they’ve always wanted. I’ve even swapped out brand names for their own name on the downtube.”
One of his clients, Chris Taylor, turned a “very generic white Canyon Aeroad” into a rolling work of art using the Cycology Aztec Full Wrap Kit.
“Almost every ride someone will comment on how cool the frame looks,” Chris says. “They often ask, ‘Is it hand-painted?’”
Chris, owner of a Bunnyhop wrapped Frame is questioned near everytime he's on the bike
His bike, now covered in bright, intricate Aztec patterns, has logged over 50,000km and travelled to Singapore multiple times.
“There’s no fading, no peeling. It’s held up at least as well as a factory paint job. And once, while stopped at a red light, Adam Spencer crossed the road in front of me and called out, ‘That’s a cool-looking bike!’”
The wrap, aside from making a serious visual statement, has also reignited his relationship with the bike—proving that visual transformation can be just as powerful as mechanical upgrades.
Bunnyhop wrap comes in customisable options, including reflective colours
Peter offers the Bunnyhop Wrap in both DIY kits and full-wrap installations, with prices starting around $450–$550, depending on design and size. If you bring your own design? He can work with that. Want reflective vinyl for visibility? He’s got you covered.
“Top tip?” Peter adds. “Measure twice. Use heat carefully. And don’t rush. It’s easier than painting, but precision matters.”
For riders unsure about going the full-paint route, or those with frames that may not be financially worth painting (think older carbon or unbranded imports), Bunnyhop wraps offer a fully reversible way to bring new life to your ride. And yes, you can easily remove and rewrap in the future.
2. Spray It Like You Mean It: DIY Paint With Personality
If wrapping your bike is like slipping into a fresh, exciting jersey, then painting your own frame is more like tailoring a three-piece suit—hands-on, personal, and dependent on careful planning with every layer. If you're just starting on this creative journey, you can also start simple. Enter Spray Bike, a unique paint system developed specifically for bicycles, designed to empower any rider to become their own custom painter.
A striking Spray Bike Finish before the build
What makes Spray.Bike different? For starters, it’s a powder-based acrylic paint in a can—not a traditional liquid spray. It dries almost instantly on contact, meaning fewer drips, less mess, and more control. It was created with frame tubes in mind, not lawn furniture or model cars.
Whether you’re chasing a classic team graphic, a subtle fade, or even a hand-stencilled tribute to your favourite climb, Spray.Bike gives you the tools to take creative control.
“A customised, personalised bicycle is the main aim of riders who choose to use our products,” says Ari from Spray.Bike Australia. “Whether it’s a colour they couldn’t get on a new bike, or a creative vision they’ve had in mind, the sky is the limit when it comes to creativity.”
In situ: Spray.Bike application nearly complete at the studio
The Process: Equal Parts Prep and Patience
The first step? Preparation.
Painting your own frame means stripping it down completely, removing components, degreasing, sanding the clear coat, and masking off anything you don’t want painted—including dropouts, seat tubes, and bottom brackets. It’s not hard—but it is detailed.
“It’s all in the prep,” Ari explains. “Put in the time to strip, clean, and lightly sand your bike. That way, the painting part becomes easy—and fast.”
In the midst painting a custom titanium Auren frame
What stands out most about Spray.Bike users is the artistic freedom they embrace. One of the most creative builds? A custom titanium Auren frame finished using the marbling method—spraying paint onto scrunched paper or plastic bags and dabbing it on for an organic, flowing pattern. The painter left exposed titanium sections to honour the material, masked the logos with vinyl, and let the raw-meets-painted aesthetic shine.
The completed Auren frame using Spray Bikes, personalising the rider's experience
“We’ve seen riders paint their bike six, seven times,” says Ari. “A Halloween-themed blood-streaked frame using detergent layering, distressed finishes sanded back in patches, autumn themes, and more. The best part? You’re never stuck with one look.”
The built Auren bike is ready to ride, thanks in part to a creative Spray Bikes paint job
Why DIY?
Aside from cost—Spray.Bike kits typically run between $80 and $150, depending on how many colours and finishes you choose—the appeal is emotional. You’re putting yourself into the bike. You know every curve, every line, and every time you stop at a café, you know the compliments are earned.
It’s not without risks. Overspray happens. Some riders underestimate prep. And there’s always that moment of panic when the first coat looks nothing like your vision.
But then, something magic happens: you finish. And it’s yours.
Spray.Bike is available through Australian distributors and online. Even if you don’t take on a full frame, it’s great for touch-ups, and accessories, or adding flair to otherwise bland parts. Their Sport Pens also allow for hand-drawn squiggles, lettering, or fine detailing.
“Anyone can buy something off the shelf,” Ari says. “But taking a bike to the next level in individuality—you painting it—it becomes an art piece. It’s restoration, expression, and pride rolled into one.”
3. Pro Touch: When It’s Worth Doing Right
For some bikes—and some riders—there’s only one way to go: all in.
A professional respray isn’t just about looking sharp. It’s about reviving something that still rides like a dream, or perhaps repairing damage that left you in a deep conundrum without your favoured steed.
When done properly, a respray transforms more than the finish—it transforms how a rider feels about the bike.
Carbon Steed: “Make It Like It Was”
In Brisbane, Gary McDonald of Carbon Steed doesn’t just paint bikes. He brings them back from the brink—whether it’s a road-worn frame begging for colour or a carbon shell that needs reconstructing.
“Our repaints start with a basic one-colour finish and three decals,” Gary explains. “It gets more complex from there. Chrome is especially labour-intensive—it’s beautiful, but it’s not quick work.”
Carbon Steed completed this frame by Woods Bicycle Co. (Bike builders from Melbourne)
Among his recent standout projects is a stunning metallic green frame built by Woods Bicycle Co., run by two Australian brothers and renowned in the local custom bike industry. The finish is clean, rich, and unmistakably premium. The paint isn’t just colour—it’s light, movement, and depth.
Gary’s work goes beyond bikes. From carbon violins used at the Tamworth Country Music Festival to a Trek respray celebrating a client’s breast cancer victory, each job is steeped in story. No design is too strange; it just needs to be meaningful.
“Often, someone brings in an older frame with plenty of wear. You might think it’s not worth the cost. But there’s always a reason—sentiment, fit, history. And when it’s done, the bike is often better than new.”
A frame prompted by overcoming a life changing event, painted by Carbon Steed in Brisbane
Every job at Carbon Steed follows a meticulous process:
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Document and photograph the frame
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Design and cut custom decals or masks
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Complete any carbon repairs
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Apply primer, base coats, colour, clearcoat
Regarding the carbon repairs, “Our philosophy is ‘make it like it was,’” Gary says. “Not weaker, not stronger—just right. If we can’t promise that, we don’t take the job. But when we do, we’ll do it properly.”
Bike Addiction: The Long Game
Down in Sydney, Stan at Bike Addiction has been painting frames since 1986, when steel ruled and carbon was still a fringe material. He was one of the first to offer carbon repair and repainting in Australia.
“Back then, the biggest issues were the joints between alloy lugs and carbon tubes coming apart,” Stan recalls. “Now it’s impact damage—crashes, wear, or just time.”
Stan is known for his durability-first approach. He works with 2-pack professional paint systems, which outperform cheaper single-pack options and offer a high-gloss, factory-grade finish.
“Matching colours is the hard part,” he says. “Even shades that look similar often aren’t. But when it’s done right, your bike looks new again—and you get to choose the colours, the decals, the details.”
A full custom repaint with Stan ranges from $800 to $2500, depending on complexity, sticker work, and paint types.
For a rider who wants to restore rather than replace—or perfect a frame they already love—it’s money well spent.
Pegoretti owner Roddy retouched his frame to preserve a mark in history
4. Ride It Like You’ll Love It Forever: The Perfectionist’s Perspective
For some riders, repainting a bike isn’t about flash or even nostalgia. It’s about respecting the machine—its design and craftsmanship, its engineering, and in the case of a custom frame from Italy, its soul. Riders like Roddy don’t chase the newest thing. They invest in what lasts. And before it needs care, they provide it.
Details of the Pegoretti after the repaint
A meticulous, lifelong cyclist, Roddy has owned some of the most revered custom frames in cycling: a white Bixxis built by Doriano De Rosa, a phenomenal steel Zullo by the recently retired Tiziano Zullo, a Pegoretti, measured and built by Dario himself—all of which Roddy has stripped and repainted to perfection under his watch.
“I choose bikes that are made to last and made specific to me,” he explains. “Not just in build quality, but in how they ride. If a builder places their time and experience on my frame, it’s worth preserving and maintaining.”
Owner of several custom frames, Roddy repaints his Bixxis
When the paint on each began to fade or chip from use, Roddy didn’t flinch. He had both his pegoretti and Bixxis frames professionally stripped, resprayed, and completely rebuilt, down to the last bolt and bearing, by his trusted local mechanic.
“It wasn’t about chasing a new look. It was about feeling the bike the way it was meant to be felt. After refreshing the paint, the bike feels uplifting — it gives the bike life. I'm more inspired to take the bike out.”
For Roddy, repainting isn’t indulgence. It’s maintenance with honour. A fresh coat is simply the next chapter in a story with many rides left to tell.
“Looking after a bike isn’t just about performance,” Roddy says. “It’s about stewardship.”
Conclusion: The Frame That Speaks for You
In an age where cycling technology along with next generation groupsets could cost more than a bike trip to Italy, it’s easy to see why riders are bypassing a new bike to instead restore, reimagine, and rejuvenate what they already have.
A custom wrap, a bold DIY spray job, or a professional respray—each is more than cosmetics. It’s a declaration of ownership. A celebration of identity. A quiet resistance against planned obsolescence.
Whether you’re chasing colour, clarity, or a connection to the bike you already love, remember this:
A personalised bike isn’t just something you ride. It carries your stories — and when it reflects who you are, there’s nothing new that could replace it
