I was riding a Schwinn Paramount 20 plus years ago and thought I had the zoot wheels.  I also thought that a bike was a bike and most people bought the expensive, custom jobs due to having the cash and wanting to show others that they had it (the cash).  I was aware of the Richard Sachs name through an older bike shop owner (Everett Stedman) here in Rhode Island, but thought it (the frame) was kind of plain and old fashioned (mustard yellow as I remember), a bit frumpy and certainly the product of an old frame maker.

I was very new to racing—and knew nothing about bicycles other than you got on, balanced, pedaled, shifted and braked—and was in the process of feeding my vanity with a new bicycle when I saw Richard racing in Newport. This struck me as odd, that he was young enough to race and actually did. When the race finished I took a close look at the bike.  Much to my surprise it was bright red and white and very cool.

I called Richard the next day.  We spoke in trivialities (due to my limited understanding of bicycles in general and frames in particular) ... and I asked him to send me some info.

Several days later I received a copy of a hand written price list ... kind of old worldish, but of certain artistic quality.  I soon realized that his frame wasn't that much more expensive than the Colnago I was drooling over in the latest cycling magazine ... and I could actually have Richard "measure" me, make a frame expressly for me.  I would get have the pleasure of getting to know the person who made the frame—something you can't do with the Italian iron.  This sort of attracted my dormant hippie instincts of value, craftsmanship, trust and supporting the local artists who created the sport that I've come to love.

So, I bought my own red and white piece of art...and immediately realized why people buy these types of custom, hand made frames.  It rode as though I was lying in bed...straight, comfortable, steady (brave, thrifty, clean, reverent, etc.), corners like you're on rails, light, responsive ...

After racing it for several years, I got it re-painted—green and yellow to break out of the strict red/white Richard look!  Several years after that l bought a second one—red and white to atone for my rebellious period ... then a few years later, bought a 'cross frame—one of Richard's first ... red and white again).

I now not only own the largest collection of Richard Sachs frames east (and probably north, south and west) of Chester, CT, but run a very successful 'cross team all riding on Richard Sachs frames that has won (4) national titles in as many years.

"Hello, my name is David and I'm an addict".