DIY Vinyl Helmet Graphics

Photos and Text by Sean “Griz” McClendon

Custom painted helmets seem to be a necessity to most pro racers these days - but who says it has to be paint? Vinyl is a cheap and practical (as well as a do-it-yourself) way to put together a custom lid. For $40-bucks, with the help of graphic designer/ pro downhill racer Christian Schloessman along with a donated TLD Sting Ray visor from T-Sage, I was able to design and create my first “custom lid.”

Click to Enlarge: The stickers and vinyl waiting for the hand of Griz.

The idea was to have a clean “racey” look  with a bit of punk rock in it that would carry along two subtle identities, those being the “26 Griz” logos and the “westside” hands. 26 is a self-proclaimed racing number which stems from the 2six days and the westside hands are there to display the territory I represent at the races as well as endorse my “east vs. west” domestic racing rivalry - just like 2pac and Biggie Smalls.

Somewhere in Western U.S., Not UCI compatible just yet. All you bullet head lovers, move along.

Vinyl wrapping a helmet is time-consuming requiring precision and patience, and is hands down the easiest way to pass time while driving accross the country. Starting in Ventura, California, the helmet took about 10-12 hours to complete and was finally finished in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A mandatory “helmet drop” was done in Massanutten, Virginia and saw the top of the box that weekend at the opening round of the Gravity East Series.

Visor, finished and looking dialed.

Keep on doing-it-yourself, America.

See you at the races, Griz.

Finished product for the fraction of the price of a custom paint job! All it takes is some time and patience.

helmet

Done, son!