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bigguy

2009-07-23 10:06 PM

Regular

126

Subject: Tattoo Ideas

Ok I need a litttle input. I am getting a half sleeve triathlon inspired tattoo in a few weeks and I need some ideas as to what to include. I figure Ill include waves for the water some sort of triangle and a flaming pedal or tire and some sunglasses. However I need a few more things and some additional ideas. Im also thinking about the ironman M but I don't ever plan on doing that distance but it's very recognizable. What are your thoughts?

auto208562

2009-07-23 10:18 PM

in reply to: #2305045

Pro

4206

Los Angeles, CA

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

You talking the very recognizable red M without the dot on top?

Well, people will probably still associate it as a ironman tattoo and people in the know (triathletes) will probably snicker behind your back (or in front of you) if they ask if you've done an ironman and you say no.

That said, a tattoo is very personal and if you don't care what other people think and it has significant meaning to you, then go for it.

I would definitely talk to a tattoo artist to brainstorm a bit. Some are really talented and can draw some wicked designs.

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Khyron

2009-07-23 10:21 PM

in reply to: #2305045

Master

1440

Calgary, AB

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

Don't do the M it means one thing and one thing only. But there's tons of neat s/b/r tattoos out there.

(SwimBikeRunTattoo2.jpg)

(sbr1.jpg)

Attachments
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SwimBikeRunTattoo2.jpg (27KB - 32 downloads)
sbr1.jpg (63KB - 43 downloads)

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jtaddei

2009-07-23 11:12 PM

in reply to: #2305045

Veteran

298

Des Moines, IA

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

see my avatar.

it's not tri specific but he'll have his friends join him over the years. The next will be robo jogger w/ cape and headband.

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GreyhoundGuy

2009-07-23 11:23 PM

in reply to: #2305064

Extreme Veteran

483

Austin, TX

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

Cool! The second one shown above is the one I got last October... although that's not actually my tattoo. (My shading is quite as good as this one.) I got it on my right calf. I did a search for "triathlon tattoo" on Google Images, and it was one of the first ones that came up.

It's a year later, and I'm still glad I got it... and I love the fact that it's not your everyday tattoo. Most people have to ask what it means, which leads into fun conversation.

-Joel

PS - I agree in NOT getting the M-DOT tattoo.

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antlimon166

2009-07-23 11:28 PM

in reply to: #2305045

Extreme Veteran

787

The Woodlands/Magnolia, TX.

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

i like the waves idea. maybe a swim cap or a race number somewhere in it. or some goggles. or a pic of the finish line with the big finish thing you run through. or a tri bike pic, a pic of a two crank arms with the big ring in the middle. maybe a sun at the peak of your shoulder shining down on all the rest of it. the digital timer at the finish would be cool. or the number you got on your first race on your tricept, you know, like with a sharpie when you get marked in the morning! maybe a stick of body glide in there somewhere. don't know what you could use to portray running?

just don't do the mdot if you haven't done an IM. at least i wouldn't.

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annicola

2009-07-23 11:31 PM

in reply to: #2305064

Member

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

Awesome! Love your tat Khyron! I love tattoos! My arms are covered but not with anything tri inspired. I'm still new.... to triathlons, not to tattoos. I have a friend who has an IM tattoo but she has done 2 and is training for another! I would never get one without having actually finished one. But that's me.

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Khyron

2009-07-24 12:27 AM

in reply to: #2305045

Master

1440

Calgary, AB

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

Oh those aren't mine - I'm naked. But I just did my first IM a few weeks ago so now I'm all embroiled in the whole "should I get one" hence having all the pre-posted ones at hand.

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annicola

2009-07-24 12:53 AM

in reply to: #2305127

Member

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

If you finished an IM you should definitely get one! If I ever do an IM, I will undoubtedly mark it on my body for life! LOL!

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JC5066

2009-07-24 4:59 AM

in reply to: #2305045

New user

476

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

DO NOT PUT AN IRON MAN SYMBOL ON YOUR BODY!

The Iron Man M is a right of passage you need to earn, you shouldn't just slap it on your body. I also wonder why you are even getting a tattoo. You want the symbol because it's recognizable. A tattoo should be a personal statement. The tattoo should be something that you want, not just a piece of decorations for other people to see.

PinkPrincess

2009-07-24 6:23 AM

in reply to: #2305045

Extreme Veteran

887

Lake Placid, NY

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

I know I'm a total noob, but I love tattoos and also know a ton of IronMen, living in Lake Placid. My thoughts:

Find a tattoo artist you trust and tell them exactly the same things you told us. If he knows his stuff he should be able to come up with a wicked design for you off of that. (Hence why I say you should trust him - give him freedom to work his artist ways. :-) )

Secondly, I haven't even done a triathlon yet, but I happen to know a lot of IM because of where I live and getting the "M" tattoo is definitely definitely definitely something you don't do if you haven't completed one. Maybe leave a space for it in your tattoo - that'll give you incentive to do it someday, then add it in.

Just a newbie's thoughts. YMMV, of course.

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goisles26

2009-07-24 7:51 AM

in reply to: #2305210

Regular

102

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

PinkPrincess - 2009-07-24 6:23 AM

Maybe leave a space for it in your tattoo - that'll give you incentive to do it someday, then add it in.

My thoughts exactly, if you hope to do one in the future. I'd leave a huge hole right in the central of the tattoo for it if it was me.

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JAYCT

2009-07-24 7:53 AM

in reply to: #2305045

Master

1927

Guilford, CT

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

I only have one tat right now and had considered getting more many times (got one when I was 18 and have friends with sleeves and such). If you get one, get something original. Basically, if I ever saw a picture of it on this or another website, I wouldn't get it. I'd find the best artist in the area, bring together some SBR images to show as brainstorming ideas and have him/her design it for you based on where you want it on your body and how big. It will be much cooler and you'll be the only one with it. If you do it that way you will end up happier with it.
my opinion...

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Pector55

2009-07-24 8:15 AM

in reply to: #2305092

Champion

5376

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

jtaddei - 2009-07-24 12:12 AM see my avatar.

it's not tri specific but he'll have his friends join him over the years. The next will be robo jogger w/ cape and headband.

OMG, I never looked at that closely. I saw it before and honestly thought it was that little guy from Spongebob named Plankton.

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jtaddei

2009-07-24 8:40 AM

in reply to: #2305379

Veteran

298

Des Moines, IA

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

Pector55 - 2009-07-24 8:15 AM

jtaddei - 2009-07-24 12:12 AM see my avatar.

it's not tri specific but he'll have his friends join him over the years. The next will be robo jogger w/ cape and headband.

OMG, I never looked at that closely. I saw it before and honestly thought it was that little guy from Spongebob named Plankton.

it's in my photo album if you'd like to see a super zoomed in version of it. It might be a little blurry.

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Pector55

2009-07-24 8:50 AM

in reply to: #2305430

Champion

5376

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

jtaddei - 2009-07-24 9:40 AM

Pector55 - 2009-07-24 8:15 AM

jtaddei - 2009-07-24 12:12 AM see my avatar.

it's not tri specific but he'll have his friends join him over the years. The next will be robo jogger w/ cape and headband.

OMG, I never looked at that closely. I saw it before and honestly thought it was that little guy from Spongebob named Plankton.

it's in my photo album if you'd like to see a super zoomed in version of it. It might be a little blurry.

It's pretty cool and just to clear up, I definitely wasn't trying to belittle it. To be honest, I like Plankton so I thought it was cool even when I misinterpreted what it was.

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bigguy

2009-07-24 8:55 AM

in reply to: #2305101

Regular

126

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

antlimon166 - 2009-07-24 12:28 AM maybe a sun at the peak of your shoulder shining down on all the rest of it.

Yeah I actually already have a sun on my shoulder so it'll flow nicely with everything else.

KSH

2009-07-24 9:03 AM

in reply to: #2305045

Champion

10471

Dallas, TX

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

Sounds like you have some really nice ideas!

And yes, even though tats are personal. It's still nice when people can look at them and UNDERSTAND what they are looking at.

Unfortunately though, most people, aren't going to probably understand "triathlon" from some images... unless you have the word there or "triathlete".

Gosh, I showed my Ironman tattoo TO TRIATHLETES and they SWORE they couldn't see the M-Dot????

Edited by KSH 2009-07-24 9:05 AM

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kat_astrophe

2009-07-24 9:03 AM

in reply to: #2305333

Extreme Veteran

418

Pittsburgh

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

acumenjay - 2009-07-24 8:53 AM I only have one tat right now and had considered getting more many times (got one when I was 18 and have friends with sleeves and such). If you get one, get something original. Basically, if I ever saw a picture of it on this or another website, I wouldn't get it. I'd find the best artist in the area, bring together some SBR images to show as brainstorming ideas and have him/her design it for you based on where you want it on your body and how big. It will be much cooler and you'll be the only one with it. If you do it that way you will end up happier with it.
my opinion...

x2... getting a copy of someone else's tattoo is sort of frowned-upon in a lot of circles, and can be offensive to the artist who designed it and to the person whose tattoo it is. (Personally, if someone copied one of my tattoos I really wouldn't care -- imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all -- but some people see things differently.) IMO, getting flash art for a tattoo or copying someone else's design takes a bit away from the specialness of the tattoo to you -- it's like the difference between buying a complete bike and riding it vs. building a bike to the exact specs you want. The flash art or the mass-produced bike both have their place, and suit a lot of people fine for what they want. But for me, things that I am going to live with forever are going to be designed exactly the way I want them.

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mindymin21

2009-07-24 9:35 AM

in reply to: #2305175

Extreme Veteran

339

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

JC5066 - 2009-07-24 4:59 AM DO NOT PUT AN IRON MAN SYMBOL ON YOUR BODY!

The Iron Man M is a right of passage you need to earn, you shouldn't just slap it on your body. I also wonder why you are even getting a tattoo. You want the symbol because it's recognizable. A tattoo should be a personal statement. The tattoo should be something that you want, not just a piece of decorations for other people to see.

I have to somewhat disagree with you on this. I think you’re 100% right about the fact that a tattoo should be something for yourself but I also think that most people get tattoos because of the fact that they want people to see them. I love my tattoos and I love showing them off but one thing is for sure they are all symbols of who I am.

I also understand what you mean by not getting the Ironman M tattoo. I think you are right it’s something you should have to earn, kind of like a military tat. I know one thing’s for sure if I get into this sport and truly love it as much as most of the people on here do I will most definitely design a tattoo of my own to show off at the world. Being a tri athlete is one thing you should be very proud of I know I would be and that is exactly why I would get a tattoo to represent it (like I said I would design it myself, though).

Bigguy I think that is great you are getting a sleeve but also think JC5066 is right on the money about needed to earn the M tattoo, like PinkPrincess said you could always leave a spot for it and add it once you have completed an Ironman.

Pector55

2009-07-24 9:42 AM

in reply to: #2305482

Champion

5376

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

In all honesty, to me, the M-Dot looks more like a corporate logo than an indicator of the grueling event and background hard work in which it represents. That is just my opinion though.

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Mrdaner

2009-07-24 9:51 AM

in reply to: #2305609

Regular

187

Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Subject: RE: Tattoo Ideas

Pector55 - 2009-07-24 10:42 AM
In all honesty, to me, the M-Dot looks more like a corporate logo than an indicator of the grueling event and background hard work in which it represents. That is just my opinion though.

Good point there. Is it actually trademarked/copyrighted/owned by an organization?

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trishie

2009-07-24 9:54 AM

in reply to: #2305609