How to Pimp a Bike for a Girl?

bikeboff
bikeboff Posts: 87
I'm passing my son's Islabike on to my 8-year old daughter, and buying my son a new (larger) one for Christmas. So that my daughter doesn't feel she is getting second-best, I'd like to add some (preferably pink) items to the older bike to make it feel special for her.

Besides a bell and water bottle, is there much else I can do? I did wonder whether I might be able to find some sort of wrap to put on the frame to change the colour, but perhaps that is excessive.

Any ideas?

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    New grips / pedals can be a good start. No there is not any wrap. But a good clean can do wonders. But without seeing it it is hard to say what may be best.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • http://starvinyls.com/home

    Pretty sure you could change the colour with a vinyl wrap if you wanted to.
    Cheers
    AC
    Carrera Fury for the muddy stuff
    Boardman Road Team for the black stuff
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  • Giraffoto
    Giraffoto Posts: 2,078
    You can probably get a pink saddle, and some sort of pink luggage would provide a large area of pink while also being useful.
    Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
    XM-057 rigid 29er
  • baudman
    baudman Posts: 757
    As per above. A few subtle colourway changes can make all the difference. Even tyres?

    Also, get her involved. She may be able to help push the grips on. Perhaps some stickers etc. There's more than one way for her to 'own' the bike - and it's not just by pinking it up. ;)
    Commute - MASI Souville3 | Road/CX - MASI Speciale CX | Family - 80s ugly | Utility - Cargobike
  • I've just done the opposite, converting a girls bike into a boys - there are loads of pink bits in halfords, although most of these are rubbish that will break in no time. I really struggled for boys accessories, I finally got some car pimping tape and put some go faster stripes on the mudguards, handlebars etc - it may be worth looking for a pink version.
    My daughters bike had streamers for the bars and some horrible disney princess things that attached to the spokes!
    Bring back the original C4 Tour theme tune !

    The wife's breastfeeding tops website
  • Have you considered taking it to a powder coater for a complete colour change.Not always as much as you think......
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • pink brake cable worked here

    2654189882_f304cd2d13.jpg
  • Daz555
    Daz555 Posts: 3,976
    Grips, cable outers, seat and pedals gets my vote.
    You only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
    If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
    If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape.
  • zebra67
    zebra67 Posts: 113
    Tassles. Big frilly one with beads. Isla herself would have kittens at the sight, but your DD will be delighted.
  • zebra67
    zebra67 Posts: 113
    Actually, I take that back, at 8yo tassels are way too babyish.
    I let my middle son but some dinosaur stickers on one of the handed-down bikes, though, to make it "his".
  • southdownswolf
    southdownswolf Posts: 1,525
    So was me stripping down my sons Trek, sanding all the paint off, turning my shed into a paint booth and respraying going too far? :-D

    Just need to get the new cables and all will be done.