After surviving the new millennium, I was at a friend's house one evening and noticed a magazine that I had not seen before. Cigar Aficionado does not seem like a likely place for such a story to begin. I noticed on the cover there is an article on world-class racing bicycles featured in this issue. Little did I know that this would begin the journey to my ultimate biking experience.

At the same time that I stumbled onto this article, a longtime biking friend was looking for his dream bike. I opened to the article and was immediately drawn to a bike that I thought was most beautiful bike I had ever seen. It was unlike a typical racing bike. It was not made of lightweight aluminum or any other exotic material. It was crafted with lightweight steel tubing and brazed lugs. The detail in these handcrafted lugs was of days gone by. My friend Mark had described this exact frame as his dream frame but he had not yet found his bike.

I went to a bookstore and picked up this issue so I could show it to Mark. I called Mark and asked him to meet me at my office. I was working late on x-rays when Mark showed up. I brought out a magazine and showed it to Mark. "What do I want to look at this for," he asked. Just open up to the page that I have marked. When he opened the article his mouth dropped. "That is incredible," Mark muttered and all I could do was smile. Mark and I enjoy spending other people's money. I knew there was a great possibility I was helping him to spend some of his money right now! I also knew that this was a bike I too wanted to own someday. Mark did order his bike and when it arrived it was more than either of us had ever dreamed. The lug-work and detailed inserts on Mark's bike were flawless. Joe Bell's paint job looked as if it was still wet and some of the most precise work either of us had ever seen. When I saw his bike I knew I would someday own one of Richards pieces of artwork.

September of 2002 rolls around and Mark has been gracious enough to allow me to ride his backup bike for a couple of years. I finally got the means together to place an order with Richard and planning began. March of 2003, Mark and I jumped in the car after full day at the office leaving Wausau, Wisconsin at 8:30 PM. We showed up at Richards shop in Chester, Connecticut around 2:30 the following afternoon. After half-hour of Mark talking to Richard and me standing with my mouth hanging wide-open looking at all of Richard's bikes and memorabilia, Richard asked me if I had any questions. Due to road-lag I did not have much to ask Richard but had him size me and I asked to see some of the colors available. I already knew in the back my mind the team colors were what I was looking for. I recommend anybody buying a bike from Richard if possible to spend some time with this humble man. It gave me greater appreciation for the man and his work.

The bike arrived at my office December 2003. I was like a little kid at Christmas.

Let me tell you, Richard knows how to pack! Reminds of that uncle we all have that makes you work to open your gifts after he wraps them with every stitch of tape he can find. I saw a bike in the team color paint scheme while at his shop, but when it's yours, it's special. I could hardly wait to build it up. The buildup did not begin until May. My build-up was primarily Campy Record components with the exception of the wheels. A custom bike should have custom wheels. I chose a great set of wheels built by Joe Young. The first ride was just a short shake-down 10 miler but what a bike. It just feels good. Now after a nearly 1000 miles the bike is feeling like its part of me. I get back from a ride for the first time in my life without back-pain, big thing when you are a chiropractor! They are built for us and they should feel like no other bike production bike does, Richard delivers. This bike is tight, responsive, a joy to ride. This process re-instills the fact that all good things are worth the wait!