The northern lights on your frame: Trek Project One ICON launches the Northern Lights finish

Have you noticed that, at any coffee stop, the first bike everyone looks at is the one with the unusual colour? Trek wants that to be yours: according to Todo Mountain Bike, the brand is launching Northern Lights, a new Trek Project One ICON finish inspired by the aurora borealis. The paint will be available on five bike families, including gravel and electric models.

The geometry, weight and build don't change. What changes is something that also counts when you wheel the bike out of the garage: wanting to look at it and ride it.

What Trek Project One ICON is and what Northern Lights brings

Project One is Trek's customisation programme, the one that lets you choose colours and finishes for your bike. Within it, the ICON line brings together the brand's most special paint designs, the ones that go beyond the usual colour catalogue.

Northern Lights joins that line with a clear idea: bringing the look of the northern lights to the frame. The source points out that it isn't limited to one type of bike, as it comes to five families, including gravel bikes and e-bikes. In other words, you don't have to be a pure road rider to treat yourself.

Before choosing a special paint job, think about this

A finish like this is a decision you'll see every day, so it's worth thinking it through calmly:

• Real use. A gravel bike that rides through mud and stones every weekend will suffer more than a road bike. A clear protective film on the contact areas (chainstays, down tube, where bags rest) helps keep it looking good.
• Cleaning. Water, mild soap and a soft cloth. Avoid using a pressure washer up close and harsh products, which punish any paint.
• Touch-ups. On complex finishes, a scratch is harder to hide than on a plain colour. Keep your order details in case you ever need to contact the brand.
• Lead times and price. The news doesn't give figures, so ask your Trek shop how much the finish adds and how long the bike takes to arrive before deciding.

Special paint jobs and second-hand bikes

This is the angle we like most at bicis.net. Bikes with unique finishes tend to stand out in listings: they catch the eye in the list and they're remembered. If you ever sell a Trek with ICON paint, mention it in the title and take photos in natural light, from several angles, so the colour really shows.

And if you're on the other side, looking for a used bike, a good finish that's been well kept says a lot about how its owner has looked after it. Check the condition of the paint calmly along with the usual: drivetrain, bearings and, if it's an e-bike, the battery.

Your next Trek, new or used

Northern Lights is for those who want a brand-new bike customised down to the last detail. But if it's the brand that draws you, you have plenty of options already ridden: take a look at second-hand Trek bikes or, if you fancy tracks and dirt, at second-hand gravel bikes.

And what if the new paint has given you the excuse to change bikes? Make room in the garage and list your bike for free: someone is looking for exactly the one you have.