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[Miranda]

I have thought about getting a tat for a long time. I know there are quite a few of you here that have them.

It's been about five years since my life changed dramatically for the better when I did something finally for ME... by losing a lot of weight, and refinding my long lost love of riding a bike.

Originally, I thought I would get the tat something along the lines of a butterfly (symbolic of change, beauty, freedom) w/the # 100 incorporated into it... after I completed my first century cycling.

But, my first century attempt this last Fall ended with a bad crash that I posed about on here. That has definately changed me in more ways that one. Well, short of that in how it relates to the tat is this...

My shoulder scar is like an oval on my upper left blade. It hit me today, I could get my tat put over my scar. Something that encompasses it.

Even before my crash, I also liked the idea of a bike chain configured in the symbol of infinity. Now, I think it is even more appropriate.

However, the bike chain is very intricate thing to ink on. I have know some peeps that the artists messed up their tats. And it ended up looking nothing like they originally wanted... then are stuck with it.

So... maybe just the plain black solid lines with symbol for infinity. But, kinda a not sure if I would want to leave out the cycling relation.

Still thinking... just looking for some experiences / thoughts from my inked bike friends here on TE. Ops? Thx.

[moonfroggy]

i have no tats but many of my friends have them and some very intricate and beautiful ones. it seems to me that one of the most important things when getting a tat is to find a tat artist who does work that you love and who has done a lot of intricate great tats if thats what you want. if you are going to get one make it one you love that means a lot to you and if what you love is a simple infinity sign then do that but if what you really want is a bike chair then find someone who can do it and who will do it in a way that you love it. find someone who comes highly recommended and who has a style that you like. it is an art form you are buying a piece of art and that art will always be with you so make it a great piece of art.

[gnat23]

I would hesitate to put a tattoo directly over scar tissue. The skin there behaves a little funny. Just FYI.

As for how intricate you can get it, I would spend some time asking people with tattoos you like where they got them done. When you decide to check someone out, go to their shop and flip through their portfolio... NOT the big posters on the wall or in the flippies, but they should have a genuine photo album with stuff they themselves have inked onto people. Look for patterns: does this artist do lots of fine linework? Good with shading? Leans towards tribals or full color or photorealistic? Get to know someone with a style similar to what you're after.

A good artist should be able to draw up something for you, probably with a deposit. If you only have a vague idea of what you want, you can work together with this person to have the perfect design.

You'll know it when you see it. It's the art that you realize that you can't live your life without. It's the stained glass on the temple of your new body.

-- gnat! (lotsa ink, no regrets)

[tc1]

Ask everyone you see with a tattoo where they got it done. It sounds like a personal question, but if they are displaying it they will almost always be glad to talk about it. Don't ask about the meaning, that is a personal question and they will tell you if they want you to know.

I have 3 and want some more, but the artist I want moved back to Idaho.

[Aggie_Ama]

Think long, think hard and research harder. I have two tattoos and don't like either. One it is the location, the other I love and the artist sucked. It was tattooed uneven, scabbed and healed horribly. So my adorable purple butterfly is needing a big touch up. I picked a butterfly for a lot of meanings, it looks unique in design just done terribly.

My other tattoo is a yellow rose which has meaning to me. What I don't like about it is it is bigger than I had planned and is on my ankle. I thought about adding a bike chain ring to make it more me but where it is it is already not the best in my line of work. The artist did a fabulous job but I want to get it removed because of its size and location.

Both were done by a reputable shop but I should have looked harder for the second artist. It was a simple design but I should have been pickier, I was young and didn't know better. So there is the opinion of one who regrets her ink, 10 years later.

[Miranda]

Thanks! You guys always come through with great advice. One of my GFs I was telling about my ink idea said some of the same... research, and seek it out. Guy buddy made the comment that "scars are tattoos for then brave... leave it uncovered". Hmm, interesting. And thanks for the comment about scar tissue being different. My shoulder blade was a pick of place to put the tat before the crash scar. Maybe I could even put it right below it. I have had a month long lasting henna ink before. I loved the design, but it was on my ankle. And kinda large. It encirled a birth mark there... that filled in the tats color. It was ok, until I had to go into work with a summer skirt on... and my large tat showing. That made me think twice about where I would put a tat on my body permanently in the future.

[roadie gal]

I just got my first tat, which I love.

I agree with the others, talk to lots of people, ask where they got theirs and who the artist was. People are happy to talk about their tats. Go to a few shops, check out the feel of the shop, the cleanliness, etc. The artists will have books of their work, go through those. Take your time. If they push you about it, leave. I took a friend who has a tat with me when I went. It made me less nervous.

When you finally pick someone out, spend some time talking with her/him about your vision for the tat. You'll probably have to put down a deposit to get a preliminary drawing done. It's worth it. My drawing was great, but a little too large. The artist was able to shrink it down to the perfect size for me. Don't be shy and "accept" it if you don't like it. It's your body and your money. You want it to be perfect.

I'm extremely happy with mine. I'm glad I took my time and researched it.

(There's a pic posted on the thread I posted "I'm gonna get me some ink" last month.)

[TryingisDying]

My next one is going to be an Ironman one. I have two small ones now....BUT someday lol I will get the ironman one....Hey I can dream big can't I lol

[sunshinefuntime]

Like everyone else has said, please be careful with the artist you choose! It is something that will be there for the rest of your life! As long as you pick a reputable artist your good to go!

[bikerHen]

I have 3 and want some more, but the artist I want moved back to Idaho.

What part of Idaho? I'm thinking about another tat and need a good artist. bikerHen

[Atlas]

Like someone else mentioned, scar tissue isn't the best place for a tattoo. Ink doesn't behave normally because the skin is so different. It's more likely to fade or heal oddly.

Also, remember that it's hard to have a very detailed and small tattoo. Do you want something small and simple, or very detailed and larger? Everyone is spot on in suggesting searching high and low for a good, reputable artist. Tattoos can be expensive (and addictive) but it's going to be their forever and it's worth the high price of a good artist. I've spent nearly a grand on tattoos and don't regret any of it. It's money well spent for the personal meanings and reminders that are always with me.

ETA: I don't know where you're at, but bmezine.com is a great resource for ideas and information about tattoos. I've seen a lot of cycling tattoos in the sports section of bmeink. Also, they have a lot of artist portfolios there that you can peruse from home.