It seems there’s always more ways to spend money on cycling, whether you’re upgrading bike parts or splashing out on some new gear. But let’s be honest, we can be a frivolous bunch, and a lot of us are happy to throw money at our hobby just to be that one bit better than our mates.
But you don’t always need to break the bank to do this. Bike stickers, also known as bike decals, are one of the cheaper additions you can make to your set up. And can often mean a bit more to us than just changing the colour of our bar tape.
What are bike stickers?
If you’ve never seen a bike sticker/ decal, they’re small custom stickers for your frame that’re usually inscribed with your name. They’re often placed on the top tube just in front of the seat post, but in truth, you can stick them wherever you like. Whether it’s beneath the handlebars or even on your helmet.
[Bike Stickers from Names on Frames]
Why would you buy a name on frame decal?
Many of us will see the appeal of having our name on our bike. To me, certainly, the bike is an extension of who I am, and the sticker is just a reflection of that. A way to personalise my bike.
For others, it might be a small way feeling a little bit more like a pro. If you really need a logical explanation for it, they also allow you to identify your bike when you’re riding as a team or taking part in a large cycling event.
If you own one of the more popular bikes of the year, it allows you to avoid the “wait this isn’t my bike” moment… Or is it only be that happens to?
But are bike stickers cool?
Obviously, bike stickers aren’t for everyone. Some prefer to strip the bike down, as much as they can, for a more minimalist look. But for those of us who can barely fit our heads into our helmets and talk the talk a little more than we walk the walk (or cycle the cycle?… no?), they’re the butter on our bread.
And who cares what everyone else thinks anyway? As a cyclist, you should be used to the odd cheeky comment.
Can you remove bike stickers?
Yes, most bike stickers will be removed by slowly peeling it off with your fingernail or using a bit of heat from a hairdryer to soften the glue.
But it wouldn’t hurt to check the retailer’s FAQs or product reviews before purchasing, just to make sure.
This might be an obviously point to make, but don’t attempt to peel it off with a knife or any other sharp implement. You will scratch your frame, and you’ll only have yourself to blame.
How to apply bike stickers
You’ll want to take your time when applying your bike stickers. This will avoid any damage and ensure that both name decals (if you’re applying two) are evenly aligned.
- Spray the frame with some cleaning fluid, wash off any excess and wipe the frame dry with a microfiber cloth.
– This will remove any muck or oil from the frame, which might interfere with the sticking agent.
– Using a microfiber cloth is important as it won’t leave any lint or residue on the frame after the wipe down. - Peel off the paper backing of the sticker, and you’ll see that the name decal is stuck in the centre of a larger sticker, paper or tape backing.
- Apply the whole sticker to the bike, being careful to apply it straight and smooth.
- Then apply pressure from the centre outwards to ensure there are no bumps.
- Very carefully remove the outer layer, leaving the name decal attached to your frame.
Tip: If you’re sticking another decal on the other side of the frame, use some painter’s masking tape to more easily align the second sticker with the first.
Where to buy cycling stickers?
Below we’ll list a few options for where to buy bike decals, which should all be of a good quality. But a little of your own research wouldn’t go amiss as they’re not all identical. E.g. some stickers aren’t weatherproof (shockingly).
Also, each of these options offers slightly different pricing and customisation capabilities, but we’ll discuss that in the following.
Names on Frames
[Names on Frames Homepage]
This company is based in the UK and has a 5-star average review on their Facebook page. Your sticker is generated on the page as you chop and change details and design, so you have a good idea of what the end result will be.
Prices
Bulk discounts are available.
- 4 Stickers: £7.95
- 8 Stickers: £9.95
- 20 Stickers: £12.95
Post and packaging
- UK: Free
- Europe: £1.70
- Worldwide: £2.20
You’re able to choose from a large selection of flags, and the ability to format your name stacked or side-by-side.
Names on Frames also offers bespoke labels for those with more specific design requirements, such as sponsor logos and team stickers. You just need to get in touch for a quote.
Website: Names on Frames
Bicistickers
[Bicistickers Homepage]
Based in the Czech Republic, Bicistickers also boasts a high Facebook review average at 4.6-stars. Your stickers are generated on the page, and you’re able to customise the name, flags, text colour and background colour. You can also choose between matte or glossy sticker types.
They have four options for name formatting; classic, professional, MTB and custom. The custom option allows you to select a font for your name.
Price
You’ll only have one option for the quantity of bike stickers you can purchase, but you can order as many of these sets as you’d like.
6 Big + 6 Small: £14.95
Shipping: Free
Shipping Times
Bike stickers are manufactured and shipped within 2-3 business days of your order placement.
- Europe: 1 – 2 Weeks
- USA & Canada: 2 – 4 Weeks
- Asia & Australia: 2 – 4 Weeks
- Other: 2 – 4 Weeks
The bike decals themselves are high quality vinyls, are weatherproof and supposedly last up to 7 years.
Website: Bicistickers
Flandria Bikes
[Flandria Stickers/ Decals Page]
You may well have heard of the famous Flandria cycling team, but you might not know they sell customisable bike stickers. They have a selection of styles to choose from, but unlike the others on this list your decals aren’t generated on the page.
The customisation is also a little more limited than other options, but you can still select a country flag, choose a main text colour and add a contrasting border.
Prices
The lowest prices below are based on a 4 pack of custom name decals.
- Standard Packs: £8.00 (10 pack: + £4.00 | 20 Pack: + £7.00)
- Italic and Script Packs: £8.00 (10 pack: + £4.00 | 20 Pack: + £7.00)
- Deluxe Pack: £12.00 (10 pack: + £5.00 | 20 Pack: + £8.00)
Shipping
- UK Tracked: £2.50
- UK Standard: £1.00
If you’re shipping to outside the UK, you’ll have to register with the site and check your own shipping costs.
Website: Flandria Bikes
Pegatin
[Pegatin Homepage]
This company has been mentioned in publications like Cycling Weekly and Bike Rumor. Although, the customisation on the bike stickers is a little basic. Where you can choose from a number of flags, you can’t customise colours, fonts, or text formatting (your first name has to be in italics and your surname in bold).
Packages are also a little different to all others on this list, as rather than buying packs you choose between three options.
Price
Basic (white surfaces only): £9.99
- 10 black stickers | no white in your flag
Pro (light and dark surfaces): £16.99
- 5 black stickers | 5 white stickers | weatherproof
Plus (light and dark surfaces): £29.99
- 5 black stickers | 5 white stickers | individual cut letters
This is a bit of an odd pricing structure, but on the bright side post and packaging are free.
Website: Pegatin
There are many other companies and individual retailers that sell bike stickers, especially on Amazon and Etsy, but we wanted to cover some of the larger companies. Feel free to get in touch if you know of an alternatives with high quality results.
If having your own name on the bike just feels a little too narcissistic, why not go for an inspirational or motivational quote? A friend of mine had a ‘shut up legs’ sticker on the top bar of his frame, which is a fun twist on the concept. Take a look at our 50 Incredible Cycling Quotes to Motivate You article for a few ideas.
Truthfully, it doesn’t even have to be a cycling quote. Just whatever keeps you pedalling at the end of a long ride.