When one has had their fill of custom track, randonneurs, and mountain bikes, there can appear to be only a few avenues left to the bicycle savant. One popular option is custom paint. The leader in this field is a one-man shop in the UK called Death Spray Custom. And when he teamed up with artist Stevie Gee, also originating from the UK, the result was nothing short of spectacular.
Featuring two bikes, El Capitane (inspired by Ernest Hemingway—himself a keen cyclist) and Figo Vengeance (a shaman Sioux), Stevie generated an exhibition around a fabled and legendary race. Paintings adorned the walls, sculptures and the bikes created a three dimensional environment.
London’s custom bike shop Tour de Ville supplied two slender, vintage track frames, and Death Spray Custom applied the base coat (including a Keirin-inspired sparkle in the paint of El Capitane). Stevie Gee’s eclectic illustrative style was finally administered and endowed the bikes with two contrasting personalities.
The exhibition, titled ‘Vengeance is Coming’ was up and running before I had a chance to book a flight to London, but thankfully Stevie’s agency, Stem, has a gallery of photos from the opening so we can see what we missed out on. Keep an eye on the blogs of Stevie Gee and Death Spray Custom to see the latest from the creative duo. And if you’ve been inspired by El Capitane and Figo Vengeance, Tour de Ville can provide you with the perfect vehicle. Big thanks to Richard Baybutt for the excellent photography.
