I hate to admit that I've logged more time in traffic jams on Interstate 95—near Richard's home and shop—than on the bike he built for me last fall.  My family spends summers in Cape Cod, and I got to know Richard via broken cell phone calls over the past two years while driving there on weekends.

He always seemed slightly bemused to hear from me.  When he picked up the phone I often felt as if he had just stepped from the shower.  Had I pulled him away from filing a complicated lug? He spoke too softly for the noise of my car.  He seemed distant.  Maybe a touch irritated? As I got to know him it's fairer to say Richard practices economy with words.  He's precise. You see the same judiciousness in his racing—saving the effort for decisive moments‹and certainly in his construction of a fine bicycle.

Our conversations began over the restoration of my '75 Masi GC.  Through the Classic Rendezvous bike list I learned that Richard had restored a couple vintage Masis, and his bikes are gorgeous.  He was the most knowledgeable source I could find and always very generous with his time.  When I emailed him with a question about the proper Campagnolo part for my bike he'd often ask me to call him to discuss the particulars. He also encouraged me to make a short detour to visit his shop in Chester and look at the Masis.  I resolved to make it a double bill, telling him I'd like to be measured for a new frame.  

Richard's shop is mostly a showroom and shrine to cycling history.   It's a marvel he can produce such fine work in the pinched little space he uses for building.  There's not a square corner in the workshop and you have to step sideways between raw pipes and a workbench to find the corner bathroom.  But up front there's a generous paned window that looks to the street and the duck pond beyond.   Warm light from the window illuminates his workbench.  His frame table and jigs are nearby.  Call it good Feng Shui or just good vibes—this idyllic Chester setting is built into every Richard Sachs frame.

We looked over the Masis and Richard showed me the raw Dubois lugs that had been filed into the fine work on my old frame.   What I thought would be an hour visit turned into three hours of talk and frame measurements.  But mostly talk about bikes we loved, New England races and that day's Giro stage (even the UPS man was into Richard's gig as he stopped by to deliver packages and pick up a video of the race).

The wait for the frame was a little longer than planned due to Richard's accident.  I called a few times during the early summer to discuss components and check his progress.  He was apologetic but I encouraged him to take his time‹figuring that crutches wouldn't help the build.

In August I got an email from Richard telling me that the frame had shipped from Joe Bell and he would have it built in a week.  I called him and made plans to visit.  On a whim I asked if he'd join me for the first ride.  He gave me a reluctant "let's see," so I didn't press him.  But a day ahead of my visit I emailed him to confirm and I asked again about a ride.

By 9 am the temperature was already well into the 70s when I pulled into Chester and the humidity was just as high.  Richard greeted me at the door and grinned, "All your bike needs is a good wipe down, which I think I can handle, and we're ready to go."  He finished while I changed and we rolled out for a ride.  I was nervous.   Every new bike takes a few days of fine-tuning and it's best done alone, with jersey full of tools, at slow speeds.  I remembered Richard well from racing years ago, and I was a bit concerned about making an ass of myself.  He looked fit despite his months of recovery.  

But after rolling a hundred yards I relaxed. The bike felt wonderful.  Its fit was spot on (in fact, we rode for forty minutes before stopping to raise the seat a few millimeters).   I'm sure Richard has experienced the nervous excitement of a new owner many times, but this time he was seeing it in force.  I jumped the short climbs, swooped around twisty descents and powered along the flats with no hands while fiddling with a Powerbar wrapper.  It was as if I'd been living with this bike for years.

The short ride turned into well over two hours.  Afterwards, Richard offered me a shower and lunch at The Wheatmarket around the corner.  By all means buy a Richard Sachs, and when you do I highly recommend a visit to Chester.