noglider 

I'm planning to replace my commuter/errand bike. Currently, it's my 1971 Raleigh Super Course. I acquired a Raleigh International of the same era, though I don't know what year it is. It has Nervex professional lugs and thin seatstays.

It's not painted yet, and the seller is willing to paint it for me, in one or two colors.

I generally don't clean my bike. I'm not putting high end stuff on it. I want it to function but not be worth a lot. This frame ought to be nice. It has roughly the same geometry as my Super Course, and it should be lighter.

I was thinking of using a scheme like this, but then it occurs to me that it's too eye catching. Maybe just one color?

And what color? We're going with an glossy type paint.

It currently has primer on it.

As you know, the International has a fair bit of chrome on it. If we paint over the chrome, the paint may not stick well. It might if I scratch the chrome, which means that bringing it back to a nice finish would be impossible. (Right?)

Forgive my lousy artwork. I'm not an artist. I took the frame image from the web and colored it in like a kindergartener.

Never mind the colors I used. The point is the pattern. I'm asking for opinions on colors and perhaps schemes, too. Nothing too complicated, because the seller is very generous to paint it for me.

531phile 

I like the John Deere Green and Yellow color scheme. The only thing I would change is paint the whole seat tube yellow. Sorta like the Centurion Ironman color schemes. Best thing is that it won't have that nasty looking Centurion logo.

snarkypup

How about something like their mink blue/silvery combo? I can't remember the exact pairing, but there are many bikes on the list with it, and it's lovely and understated.

rhm

I like the design. Are you going to forgo decals entirely? I, personally, would put a Raleigh heron logo in the center of the seat tube, and this would entail putting a broader band of the contrasting color there; so you'd have a broad band with one or two thin bands above and below. But this depends entirely on the decal scheme.

Color? I suggest you tell us your main color idea, and have the color-oriented people here suggest good secondary colors; otherwise, I suggest white or cream is always a good idea for the secondary color. As for the main color, I would always go with blue, because that's the one I can see; so obviously I'm not the one to ask.

But wait. What about doing the whole frame (except for the chrome) in the solid color of your choice, and then adding the second color in a reflective tape (www.identitape.com is my source)? Refelective tape is pretty stuff, comes in a 4" width, and a goodish variety of colors; and it's very tough and weatherproof. You can apply your decals and headbadge over it. And it really lights up in car headlights; so it's a great safety feature.

531phile 

I like these colors:

jstewse

What shape is it currently in? Nothing beats a beater themed around town bike like an beater original paintjob. Case in point, I just love what your super course has going on.

Oregon Southpaw

Before anyone else can...FORK'S BENT!

Also, is it me, or brifters just getting uglier and uglier?

EDIT: I have always wanted to have a nice camo beater bike with a black paint job and "Huffy" decals. Might be too obvious though.

auchencrow

+1

531phile 

I always wanted to sup up an old huffy road bike with full dura ace and supa light wheels, just to see how a crappy frame rides with the best parts.

RobE30

I think something "earthy" would be kind of nice. Maybe a brown with a blue headtube/seattube. I like Rudi's suggestion for the reflective tape on the seattube in a complimenting color. The only snafu for your project will be the chrome lugs. If the chrome is nice, its kind of a bummer to cover it, but leaving it exposed defeats the purpose of your project.

Oregon Southpaw

Someone will be able to make a lot of money when they figure out some sort of bicycle second skin, a plastic covering that would be seamless and could totally disguise a bike. Kind of like the SNL "jalopy" bit, where you pressed a button and your car turned into an old beater, except for bikes.

noglider 

531phile, tires make the most difference of everything. Your tires really don't care what kind of, say, derailleur you have.

noglider 

Oregon Southpaw, in NYC, some bike messengers wrap their frames with inner tubes.

I got a mountain bike in perfect condition for $22 at a police auction because it was wrapped in inner tubes. I could see what it was. It was one of the only bikes I have acquired that needed absolutely no work.

Kobe 

I always like the traditional rootbeer and gold colored Raleighs, but that may out it for what it is.

Charles Wahl

It will probably be lighter, but my guess is not that much lighter. I have an International frame that's among the heavier "full Reynolds 531" frames I know of. I hope that you have secure places to stash it while commuting, because the Nervex lugs might be an attractive nuisance. How about Black and Flat Black for a color scheme? And, t'were me, I wouldn't try to paint over good chrome. That Super Course couldn't be a much finer commuter frame, IMO.

bradtx

noglider, Paint it attractively and then paint rust spots on the chrome parts. Face it, no matter what you anticipate, any unsecured bike, in any condition is up for grabs.

Brad

mickey85

If you're wanting a theft-proof bike, go with black spraypaint. Bonus points if you fully build the bike, then overspray everything.

If you're wanting a nice looking bike, I wouldn't be opposed to black with chrome lugs, or pearl with chrome lugs.

noglider 

I work from home, so I don't actually commute. But I ride to see my clients. I'm a computer consultant. Everyone knows I'm quirky, so they don't mind my odd transport mode or my weird clothes.

I am in a low crime area. Most of the time, I just lean my bike against the outside wall and don't even lock it. When I do lock it, I use a cable lock with a built in combo lock. I'm the only one around here who locks both wheels up. I'm originally from Manhattan, the original bike theft capital of the world. But I have locked it up on the street in Newark. So far, so good. Not many cyclists there, so anyone who steals a bike there would be a generic thief, not a bike specialist, so he wouldn't know what he's looking at. So it doesn't have to be that ugly. I may not ever take it into New York, so, hmm, thinking as I type, I guess it doesn't have to be THAT stealthy. I really don't want to spray paint the components.

I love all your thoughts and suggestions. Keep them coming.

What makes the Super Course a better frame than an International? It has no advantages that I can think of except that if it gets stolen, it breaks my heart a bit less. I'll try not to get too attached to the International so I'm not heartbroken if something happens.

And my Super Course has Nervex Professional lugs on it.

Anyone interested in my Super Course frame? It's straight and true. I think it's a 21.5" model.

You're right that I shouldn't paint over the chrome.

Tom

91MF

if you are trying to build a bike that is nice but you can lock up without worry i suggest a light gold/wheat beige with black lining on the lugs.
also, dont polish the shiny bits you hang on it. non-matching component group is a plus[deter the knowledgable bike thieves].
wrap the bars with old tape off another bike, liberal use of electrical tape is acceptable. old white tape is a good choice here as it always looks like crap.
a nice comfortable saddle in poor aesthetic shape is always a nice touch as well. i know you guys love your brooks saddles but these are thief magnets. an old faded concor lazer with the suede delaminating is my personal favorite.

*side note: most saddles are stolen with the seatpost as it only requires the single allen key to remove. a good deterrent is to superglue a small ballbearing in the allen key hole for the binder bolt once you have your bike fit dialed in. sure, if you ever need to move the saddle height you are required to destroy the binder bolt but if you like you brooks, well...

JohnDThompson 

+1

My "beater" is painted flat white for that reason.

Charles Wahl

Well, that's about it! So many people love their SCs that I don't imagine that there's a big difference in ride quality between a Super Course and an International. Still, if you're going to do it, have fun. If you want to see some nice color schemes and two-tone configurations, then check out the Classic Lightweights UK, Readers' Bikes section.

mickey85

Tom, I'd love a SuperCourse. Don't know if I could afford the green though...

Sixty Fiver

It can only be British Racing Green.

mickey85

Green as in dollars American. Nothing like a BRG bike though. Except maybe a mink and silver one...

Sixty Fiver

Well...if you have to give away a Super Course in my my size who am I to say no ?