For Josh Blake, bikes have never been just about getting from A to B. Based in Adelaide, Australia, Josh is a cyclist, content creator, racer and lifelong bike enthusiast with a particular appreciation for the details that make a bike feel truly its own.

From working in bike shops to his current role with one of Australia’s leading cycling distributors, bikes have been a constant throughout Josh’s life. Today, he races road and gravel, creates cycling content and spends a healthy amount of time thinking about his next bike build.

We caught up with Josh to talk about racing, bike design, the details that make a build stand out, and why a set of decals can completely change the character of a bike.

Performance first – but never performance only

Josh describes his approach to bikes as performance-driven, but with plenty of room for personality.

“I love going fast and I’m always looking for ways to make a bike lighter, faster or better suited to what I’m using it for. But at the same time, I want the bike to have some personality.”

For Josh, the best builds are the ones where everything feels intentional. Component choices, colours, graphics and proportions all play a role in creating a bike that looks as good as it performs.

“Bikes are one of those rare pieces of sporting equipment where performance and personal expression can exist together.”

That attention to detail is also what first drew Josh to Slik Graphics.

Turning individual components into a complete build

Josh discovered Slik through the idea that graphics could do more than simply replace or protect existing decals. They could help bring an entire bike together.

“By adding decals, you can take components you already love and make them work visually with the rest of the build.”

Wheels, forks and other components can all have their own graphics, colours and branding, sometimes making a bike feel visually fragmented. Slik gives riders the opportunity to change that, whether the goal is a subtle refresh, a colour match or a completely different look.

Josh’s own Cervélo Áspero-5 is a perfect example.

One simple change, a completely different bike

Built around a Nitrate Blue frame and Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheels, Josh immediately knew what he wanted: white wheel decals.

“There’s nothing particularly wild or custom about them, but they completely changed the look of the bike.”

It’s a simple example of how a relatively small detail can have a surprisingly big impact on an entire build. The white Zipp decals complement the frame colour while helping the wheels feel like part of the overall design rather than a separate component.

For someone who spends a lot of time obsessing over bike builds, those details matter.

Built to be ridden

Of course, a good-looking bike still needs to perform.

Josh races and rides his bikes in real-world conditions, which means his graphics need to handle everything that comes with cycling – from bad weather and regular washing to transport and plenty of time on the road or gravel.

“For me quality is when something looks good up close, performs properly and still looks good after you’ve actually used it.”

That philosophy is something we share at Slik. Our decals are designed not just to look good when they’re freshly installed, but to become part of the bike and stand up to the riding that comes after.

Bringing Slik into the bike community

As a Slik ambassador, Josh’s approach is refreshingly simple: let the bikes do the talking.

A large part of his content focuses on bike builds, new components and the small details that make a bike unique – making Slik a natural part of the projects he creates.

“I don’t want it to feel like I’ve stopped everything to show someone an advertisement. I’d much rather build something interesting, use Slik to help bring that idea together, and have people notice the graphics because they genuinely make the bike look better.”

And that’s exactly what we love about having riders like Josh in the Slik community. Whether it’s a subtle colour change, a fresh set of wheel decals or a complete build brought together through the details, graphics are another way to make a bike your own.

What’s next for Josh?

With more racing on the horizon and plenty of bike projects in the works, Josh isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

He’s aiming to keep pushing himself competitively while continuing to grow his content and create bigger, more ambitious bike builds.

“I’ve already got a few slightly ridiculous ideas floating around for what comes next, which is normally a good sign.”

We’ll be keeping an eye on what he comes up with next.

In the meantime, follow Josh’s builds, racing and cycling projects — and if you’re already thinking about the next detail to change on your own bike, explore the Slik Graphics collection and start building.

Words by Owen Taylor

As I write this, the elite riders will be lining up for qualifying for the 2026 Downhill MTB World Championships in Val Di Sole, Italy. They are preparing themselves to take on the infamous ‘Black Snake’, one of the most technically demanding downhill tracks on the planet; steep, rocky, rooty, fast and long. This year will be fourth time that the World Championships have been held here, and unfortunately I’m old enough to remember the first event, back in 2008.

As a 25 year old, my obsession with downhill was at it’s peak. I rode every day, trying to emulate the speed and style of the world’s top racers, captured in still life in my bi-monthly Dirt Magazine subscription. Seeing your favourite riders in action meant waiting for the next Earthed video to come out, but not in 2008. That was the first year of Freecaster TV, a free to view, live streaming service that showed all the mountain bike World Cup races live on the internet (crazy times!). We were able to see the races unfold live before our very eyes, complete with commentary from Rob Warner, and whoever decided to join him in the booth. It was fresh, raw, explicit, and the most exciting thing to happen to downhill in years.

As a fellow Brit, there was only one rider I wanted to win on that day; Steve Peat. I witnessed his heartbreaking last corner crash in Les Gets in 2004, and with Steve approaching the end of his career (we thought!), time was running out for him to get a gold medal at the Worlds. With only a handful of riders left to go, Steve was sitting in the hot seat, poised to take the win. The next rider was the on-form Sam Hill, the previous year’s winner who had been dominating the sport with his flat out, loose, moto-inspired style.

Sam began his run and he immediately looked fast and aggressive, drifting his Ironhorse Sunday around the tight turns, roosting dust from his back wheel. What would the first split be? 5.36s faster would be his reply. Now the track gets steep and technical, and as Sam skips effortlessly over huge boulders and gaps, seeming to float above the ground, he extends his lead to 6.35s. He exits the trees, only the final ski jump to go, then a short sprint to the finish. He lands the jump and sets up for the left hand turn. In typical Sam Hill style, he goes for the inside line, skilfully drifting the bike as the sunlight bounces off that polished frame. It couldn’t be more perfect…but then disaster. The Black Snake bit back, Sam washed out his front wheel, hitting the dirt hard. He climbed back on quickly but crossed the finish line in 2nd place, just half a second behind Steve. That would be one of the most iconic and memorable moments in the history of downhill mountain biking.

Fast forward to July 2026 and I receive an email from engineering consultant Dan Roberts, founder of Garage Bike Project, describing his idea of building an Ironhorse Sunday Restomod; A tribute to the bike that Sam rode on that day, reengineered to modern geometry and standards. The bike would be built using modern day equivalents of all the components that Sam used, around a custom made one-off frame. Straight away I got excited and after a chat with Dan, where we shared our memories and passion for the sport, I knew that Slik Graphics had to be involved.

The bike would be presented in Val di Sole in August, so with a relatively tight deadline to meet we had to get started, but the bike didn’t exist yet. Fortunately Dan was able to provide accurate scale drawings of the bike, so we began creating the decals based around old photos and existing designs. The main frame decals had to wrap around the top and town tubes, as well as negotiate welds and cable bosses. Along with the frame graphics, we were also tasked with reinterpreting Sam’s RockShox Blackbox fork and Vivid shock decals to fit the modern components. Working with DT Swiss, we printed a custom set of EX1750 decals to recreate those infamous white wheels, but this time in modern 29/27.5″ configuration.

With only a couple of weeks to go, Dan received word that Sam Hill himself would be attending the Les Gets World Cup the weekend before Val Di Sole. The opportunity of meeting Sam and showing him the bike was too good to miss, so everybody pulled out all the stops to get the bike finished. The moment Sam sees the bike is captured on film. It takes him a few seconds to realise what he’s looking at, but then the details become apparent. This is no reworked Ironhorse Sunday, this a custom made bike, designed and built from the ground up. The details are accurate, the construction is perfect, a meticulous recreation of one of the most decorated and adored bikes in downhill. Sam is quietly impressed, which says everything.

For professional cyclist Lauren Stephens, a bike is more than a piece of equipment – it’s a reflection of the rider behind the handlebar.

As the reigning U.S. Gravel National Champion and founder of Next Step Racing, Lauren has spent more than a decade competing at the highest level across road, gravel, cyclocross, track and mountain bike disciplines. Racing has taken her around the world, but today she’s equally passionate about building opportunities for the next generation of cyclists through her own team. 

A Championship Bike Worth Celebrating

After winning the U.S. Gravel National Championship, Lauren wanted to create something special to mark the achievement.

“It was also my first year running my own programme,” she explains. “For the first time, I had the freedom to build a bike that reflected who I was, instead of following a team’s standard design.”

Looking for a way to bring her vision to life, Lauren discovered Slik Graphics and reached out for some custom rim decals.

“I loved that Slik could take an idea and turn it into something that looked like it belonged on the bike from day one. The quality was incredible, and the finished product was even better than I had imagined.”

More Than Just Graphics

For Lauren, custom graphics aren’t simply about making a bike look good – they’re about telling a story.

As Next Step Racing took shape, she wanted every rider to have a bike that reflected their own personality while still feeling part of a unified team.

Each rider chose a spirit animal, which became the inspiration for their own custom Slik Graphics decals.

“Even though we’re all on the same team, I didn’t want every bike to be identical,” Lauren says. “In professional cycling, the expectation is often that everything looks exactly the same, but I think it’s important for each rider to have something that reflects who they are.”

The result is a collection of team decals that share a common identity while celebrating the individuality of every athlete.

“That’s what I love about Slik Graphics. They make it easy to create something that’s both personal and professional. You end up with a bike that represents your team but also gives people a glimpse of your own personality every time you roll up to the start line.”

Lauren’s current decal set up: Purple Chrome ENVE decals for rims and frame, her Unicorn team decal and a Rider ID with her name. 

Building a Community

Lauren’s partnership with Slik Graphics extends beyond her own bikes.

Working alongside Next Step Racing, Slik helped us to create team logo decals that have become a way for supporters to feel connected to the team. Fans proudly display them on bikes, helmets, water bottles and even their vehicles, creating a growing community that’s visible at races and group rides across the country.

“It’s a fun way for people to feel like they’re part of the team while also showcasing the quality of Slik’s work,” Lauren says. “Those decals become conversation starters, which helps spread awareness of both Next Step Racing and Slik Graphics.”

It’s a simple idea, but one that perfectly captures what custom graphics can do – bring people together through a shared passion for cycling.

The Details That Turn Heads

Lauren’s bikes have become instantly recognisable on the race circuit, particularly thanks to one memorable feature.

“The unicorn on my bike gets a lot of attention,” she laughs. “People always ask about it, and it’s become something they associate with me.”

The reactions don’t stop there.

“On my mountain bike especially, the graphics are so detailed that people often reach out to touch them because they think they’re painted on. They’re usually surprised when I tell them it’s actually a decal. The print quality and finish are that good.”

It’s exactly the kind of response that Slik Graphics strives for – graphics that integrate seamlessly with the bike while standing out for all the right reasons.

Creating Your Own Story

For riders considering custom graphics for the first time, Lauren’s advice is refreshingly simple.

“Start with something that means something to you. It doesn’t have to be loud or flashy – sometimes the cleanest designs have the biggest impact.”

Whether it’s your favourite colours, a meaningful achievement, or a design that reflects your personality, she believes your bike should make you smile every time you wheel it out of the garage.

Looking Ahead

Lauren’s ambitions remain as strong as ever.

On the bike, she’s focused on defending her biggest results while continuing to take on new challenges across gravel and road racing.

Off the bike, her mission is even bigger: continuing to grow Next Step Racing and creating more opportunities for women in cycling.

“If I can help more riders take the next step in their careers while still chasing my own goals,” she says, “I’ll consider it a successful season.”

For Slik Graphics, that’s exactly what being an ambassador is all about – celebrating performance, personality and the stories that make every rider unique.

Why Colour Matching Matters More Than Ever

In the world of custom decals, colour is everything. The right shade can elevate a bike build from clean to completely unforgettable. The wrong shade? It can throw off an entire setup.

It’s 2026, and riders expect precision. With modern frame finishes, limited edition colourways, custom painted frames and factory paint updates arriving each season, accurate colour matching has become both an art and a science.

For us at Slik Graphics, colour matching isn’t guesswork, it’s a refined process built on experience, calibrated tools, and rider feedback.

How We Achieve Accurate Colour Matching

Material-Specific Testing
Vinyl behaves differently depending on finish — gloss, matte, metallic, or clear-backed. We test colour output across materials to ensure consistency.

Lighting Control
Colour changes dramatically under:

• Trail sunlight
• Indoor workshop lighting
• Overcast conditions

We assess colours under multiple lighting setups to ensure they withstand real-world riding conditions.

Color scans and coding

To achieve the highest level of accuracy, we use colour matching systems and professional scanning equipment to capture the exact tone and characteristics of your frame’s (or fork’s, or rim’s…) paint. 

Once scanned, the colour is converted into precise colour data. Rather than relying on visual approximation alone, we work with measurable values to ensure repeatability and consistency across production.

This process allows us to:

• Reproduce colours with high precision
• Maintain consistency across different materials and print batches
• Fine-tune adjustments for gloss, matte, or metallic finishes
• Minimise variation caused by lighting or perception differences
  

By combining digital colour data with real-world material testing, we ensure the closest possible match — not just in theory, but on your actual bike.

The Challenges of Modern Bike Paint

Factory paint finishes are evolving. Brands now use:

• Pearl effects
• Satin metallics
• Flip-flop pigments
• Raw carbon with tinted lacquers
• And more…

These finishes require careful interpretation when creating matching custom decals. It’s not just about matching a colour code — it’s about matching perception.

Pro Tips for Riders Choosing Custom Colours

If you’re ordering custom MTB decals, here’s how to get the best result:

– Obtain colour codes from the manufacturer
– Send clear photos in natural daylight
– Tell us the exact bike model and year
– Mention whether your frame is gloss, matte, or metallic
– If possible, provide a close-up of the paint finish

The more information you provide, the more precise we can be.

Ready to Dial in Your Perfect Match?

Custom graphics are no longer just protective — they’re part of a rider’s identity.

Whether you’re upgrading a fresh build or refreshing an older frame, precision colour matching makes all the difference.

Explore our custom MTB decal options and start designing your perfect setup today.