Specialized has revealed its race bikes for the Rio Olympics will have a special paint job that changes colour based on the temperature, transforming from red to yellow at 22ºC.
“Below 22˚C, the paint reflects the warm, orange embers of fire, and as things heat up, a striking yellow emerges,” says Specialized.
Announcing the new bikes on its Facebook page with the video above, Specialized says: “Almost 3000 years ago, the pinnacle of sport was celebrated with fire. Today, we honour the Gods of Sport by bringing the flame back to competition. Spark the torch once again with this limited edition collection of fiery bikes and gear.”
The paint job will be used on the Tarmac and Amira men and women’s road bikes, and the Epic for the mountain bike race, which this year will controversially include Peter Sagan.
The temperature that Specialized has selected for the colour transformation is based on the average temperature in Rio de Janeiro at this time of year.
Specialized will also provide matching helmets and looks to be offering a full outfit based around the red and yellow, with jerseys, gloves, socks, bottles and caps, which will all be available to buy soon. Prices haven’t been confirmed yet but as soon as we know we’ll update this article .
Specialized started this trend of specially painted bikes for the Olympics at London in 2012, with red bikes designed to avoid the IOC’s strict branding rules, as well as ensuring maximum marketing potential. Other bike brands have copied Specialized, including Scott and Canyon.
12 thoughts on “Specialized’s Rio Olympic race bikes will change colour with temperature”
So gimmicky.
So gimmicky.
But would love that at a more suitable change temperature for British weather. Say around 10 degrees. Different colour bike in winter and summer!
unconstituted wrote:
Yes, but then you’d have two colours to co-ordinate your kit with, two lids, pairs of sunnies etc. nightmare!
unconstituted wrote:
Didn’t you have a Global Hypercolour t-shirt in 1991?
Leviathan wrote:
So gimmicky.
But would love that at a more suitable change temperature for British weather. Say around 10 degrees. Different colour bike in winter and summer!
— Leviathan Didn’t you have a Global Hypercolour t-shirt in 1991?— unconstituted
Want.
Someone’s bound to say it, so
Someone’s bound to say it, so I may as well get there first!
Is that to eliminate the need for thermal cameras? 😉
Seriously, though, I think it’s quite fun. If they are lucky with their choice of temperature, they’ll start out one temperature and change during the race. Chances are they won’t change during it though.
Agreed, I suspect Rio may
Agreed, I suspect Rio may exceed 22c fairly early in the morning.
guyrwood wrote:
Well, according to this weather website the average temp in August is 22…
http://www.holiday-weather.com/rio_de_janeiro/averages/
David Arthur @davearthur
Yep, but that is the overall daily average, with the average high at 26. On a cooler day we might see the bikes change colour at racing time (I’m assuming they’ll race in the afternoon when it is warmer), but on a warmer day it’s likely to be well over the threshold I reckon.
Its a fun idea though – hopefully we get to see it in action.
In other news, Specialized’s
In other news, Specialized’s crack team of lawyers are working on time travel to be able to go back and sue thermochromic t-shirt makers in the 90s, and the mood rings manufacturers in the 70s.
You park an orange bike
You park an orange bike outside the coffee stop, when you return it’s nowhere to be seen…
Love it, although it wouldn’t
Love it, although it wouldn’t surprise me to find there was a UCI rule against such a thing. Something to do with registered colourways, perhaps.
Hate to scratch it though – what colour touch-up paint do you use?! I imagine obtaining a 20ml tube of thermal-reacting paint might not be easy…
Paint is heavy.
Paint is heavy.