Norco’s Custom Frames: The Story Behind the Paint

Carlos is a Whistler local whose passion for painting led him to an incredible opportunity—custom-painting frames for the Norco Race Division. In this post, we take a closer look at his trayectory, exploring how he turned his artistic talent into a career and the intricate process behind painting these high-performance bikes.

Like many great stories, his began with a perfect mix of timing, opportunity, and the right connections—being in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into bike painting?

I’m originally from Spain and began painting graffiti around the age of 14. From there, I started using spray cans to customize helmets, bikes, and anything else a friend or I wanted to personalize—basically, any surface that could hold paint!

What is your background in painting and design?

I spent a couple of years studying to become a professional car painter and panel beater, which also allowed me to apply custom paint designs to cars. However, since bikes are a big part of my lifestyle, I naturally started painting bikes and helmets.

How did you get the opportunity to paint the Norco Race Division Downhill team bikes?

My work with the Norco Race Division began thanks to a wonderful friend to whom I’ll be always thankful. Last summer, she signed me up for a bike event called Aspire in Whistler, where I had the chance to meet people from the bike industry. I connected with someone from Norco who asked if I was interested in painting a frame for junior rider Lina Frener. Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity!

Did the team have specific requests, or were you given creative freedom?

In this case, the frames I received were raw, straight out of the oven, and they provided me with specific instructions regarding colors, graphics, and designs.

Were there any inspirations or themes behind this year’s paint job?

These particular frames had a basic design since they were for training, but I would love the chance to paint a frame with more creative freedom in the future!

What kind of paint and techniques do you use to achieve the final look and how do you ensure the durability of the paint under extreme conditions?

The technique I use is quite similar to car painting. It involves extensive sanding, applying primer, sanding again, and degreasing everything before I apply the base color and graphics. Finally, I finish with a clear coat. I exclusively use thinner-based paints.

Durability comes from high-quality products and thorough sanding! At the end of the process, I let the frames cure in a drying oven at 80 degrees for a few hours to ensure the clear coat sets properly.

Are there any special finishes or effects used on these frames (e.g., metallic, matte, color-shifting)?

The designs on those frames were quite basic—flat colors and shiny finishes with nothing overly elaborate.

How long does the entire painting process take from start to finish?

Typically, the entire process for painting a frame takes around 10 to 15 hours, including sanding, painting, and graphic design.

What was the most challenging part of painting the Norco Race Division bikes?

The most challenging part was definitely keeping it under wraps that I was painting Danny Hart's bike until it was complete!

Do you include any hidden details or Easter eggs in your paint jobs?

Yes, I added my logo to the designs!

If you could paint a dream bike for any rider, past or present, who would it be, and what would the design look like?

I would love to have the chance of painting for one of the top riders, that would be awesome. Riders like Minnaar, Goldstone, Bruni, or Finn would be epic!