Feb 12, 2026
Ten Years With; Ross Trimmer AKA Sure Hand Signs.
Words: Braden Govoni Photographs: James Wainscott
We really started talking around 2003,... in that wild screen printing class we were all in at VCU that,...
Braden: So, how long have we known each other?
Ross: Man it’s wild to think that I guess we’ve known each other roughly 30 years. I know both our crappy high school bands played together a couple times haha. We really started talking around 03 though I think, in that wild screen printing class we were all in at VCU that kind of turned into a free for all of making whatever we wanted. Still probably my favorite part of art school.
I was totally wrong and it was real hard for a while, until it wasn’t haha.
How did you get into sign painting?
I kind of started painting signs by accident honestly. I had been tattooing full time for about 8 years, and saw some signs a painter had made for another shop via instagram, and decided I wanted to try and learn how to do that in my downtime. I came from a bit of a graffiti background as well as working as a graphic designer for a couple years, so it seemed like it wouldn’t be too tough. I was totally wrong and it was real hard for a while, until it wasn’t haha.
In Richmond I got real lucky and did a couple jobs for friends here and there which just kind of snowballed to the point I had to decide between signs and tattooing. Now it’s been over a decade of doing this full time and I’ve never looked back.
I grew up riding road and track bikes and never even considered the concept of owning a mountain bike.
You played a big role in developing the original Outpost logo and painted the signage on the Forest Hill spot. That was 10 years ago, what has changed for you as a bike rider.
Yeah, working with yall in the early days was so much fun. I feel like the biggest change as far as riding from that point to now, for me at least, was discovering how much fun there was to be had off the roads. I grew up riding road and track bikes and never even considered the concept of owning a mountain bike. Actually that original logo work we did in trade for my Fairdale Weekender which I still ride all over the place. My favorite thing about bikes is how easily you can cover distance and explore new places, and shifting that into being able to explore pirate trails, and power lines and train tracks just make bikes so much more fun.
I was just in Pittsburgh with another sign painting pal and we did a 30ish mile rock around tour of just old ghosts (signs).
I know you have a special interest in "ghost signs". I'm betting that your relationship with bikes has played a role in keeping you at the ideal travel speed to spot new ones.
Haha for sure, it’s funny because I bring bikes with me on jobs a lot as a way to get around and explore, especially in bigger cities. I was just in Pittsburgh with another sign painting pal and we did a 30ish mile rock around tour of just old ghosts. One of my favorite trips!
If I remember correctly, you completed our big dumb ride trifecta the second year we put it on. What were some of your favorite parts?
I did! Man, all those rides were a blast. My personal favorite was suffering through the West Point ride alone. I left outpost at 4am in the rain to get through the east end before traffic and spent most of the day in a steady rain. It really felt like an accomplishment at the end haha!
Right now infrastructure on that far edge of the city is awful and my strip of hull is notorious for,...
You settled in Chesterfield for both your home and studio. How excited are you for the Fall Line Trail and other bike infrastructure projects that are coming to the southside?
I did! The shop is actually still in city limits and super close to where the trail will cross Hull. I’m super excited for the link from my shop to the city and also south. Right now infrastructure on that far edge of the city is awful and my strip of hull is notorious for pedestrians being killed by drivers, so the fall line and the added infrastructure being put in all around it are super welcome.
