How to Paint Your Home Built Recumbent Bike

Spray paint can make your home built recumbent bike look store bought.

Recumbent bikes are a popular piece of exercise equipment. These bikes are made so that the user can recline in the seat. Recumbent bikes can be rented, purchased or home built. Like manufactured recumbent bikes, home built recumbent bikes look best when they are painted and finished. Painting a home built recumbent bike is easy when you know where to start.

Things You'll Need

• Fine grit sandpaper
• Clean rags
• Degreaser
• Painters tape
• Drop cloths
• Painting primer
• Spray paint

Instructions

1. Disassemble the bike. Take off any pieces of the bike that can be removed. Set them aside to be reinstalled later.

2. Lightly sand the recumbent bike with fine grit sandpaper. This should rough up the surface of the bike and prepare it for paint. Sanding is important whether the bike is made from metal or plastic.

3. Clean the recumbent bike with a clean rag and a common household degreaser. Clean as much grease, dirt and sanding dust from the bike as possible. Allow the bike to dry completely before priming.

4. Cover any areas of the bike that you do not want painted with painters tape. Place drop cloths on the floor under the recumbent bike.

5. Apply painting primer to the recumbent bike. Use a primer that is specifically designed for the material you are painting. There are different primers for metal and plastics. Spray the primer on in thin coats. Apply two coats of primer, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the next.

6. Paint the home built recumbent bike with spray paint. Apply the paint in thin coats. Apply three coats of the paint, allowing each to dry before applying the next. Allow the paint to cure for a week before regular use.

7. Reassemble the bike.

References

• Stason: How to Paint a Bike in Ten Easy Steps
• Make: How to Paint a Bike Frame
• Tip Deck: How to Paint a Bike