This morning I was out for a ride before work and a friend asked how long I've had my Richard Sachs.

I answered "I finished building up about 6 months ago".

The real answer is I bought my bike as a present to myself for 30 years of cycling, a handsome bonus, it's uniqueness and EVERYTHING I read said best ride and craftsmanship available. My Richard Sachs was to be my first new bike in 15 years. After a reasonable wait my frame arrived. I rode it and loved! The fit was perfect, beautiful paint, new Campagnolo 10 speed group, my new bicycle was magnificent!

Two months later I forgot my bike was on top of my car and drove it into my garage crumpling the top tube and and down tube. I put on a brave face and only shed a couple of tears. Tears of disappointment because I knew I would be back on my 1986 Eddy Merkx for a while. I felt so guilty about a having to have my bike rebuilt I put it in a travel case for about a year.

When I was finally ready to send the frame to Richard for repair, I opened my travel box and was amazed at how beautiful the frame was even with bent tubes.

Richard felt sorry for me and got me back on the road quickly. He did seem amazed I had broken the shop record for carelessly destroying one of his frames. I think a racing accident would have made him feel better.

Now 3 1/2 years after starting the process I'm riding my Richard Sachs, hopefully forever.

Would I do all this again? In a second! Maybe not the destroying part but certainly the rest.

What were the highlights of the building process? Conversations with Richard about my frame, getting a note as things progressed, opening the box and finding the most beautiful bicycle frame I had ever seen and finally getting to ride a Richard Sachs everyday!

To steal the Team Discovery expression, "Riding my Richard Sachs makes everyday a no chain day."