For my 50th birthday I decided to get myself a very special present—an heirloom bicycle that would give me years of pleasure, be unique, and would last long beyond my riding years.

I knew this bike would have to be steel and would have to be lug welded, reminiscent of the 1978 Puch that had been an important part of my life, serving at various intervals as primary mode of transportation and always object of affection. And so the search began.

I first found out about Richard Sachs in the issue of "Bicycling" that extolled his frame as the best. I read the description avidly, immediately saying to myself, "I could never have one of those, it's out of my range." So I continued my search, trolling various websites, seeking advice, but always with that Richard Sachs in mind. One thing was constant throughout my search—whenever I asked what's the best steel frame to own, the consensus response was always, a Richard Sachs.

What had once seemed impossible began to slowly appear inevitable. Finally, I decided to contact Richard to get some details. I had no idea what to expect when I e-mailed him. Would he be aloof, distant, unwilling to open up to someone who was less than a professional or serious bicycle collector? I quickly discovered him to be quite the opposite; warm, engaging, funny and forthcoming with all I needed to know to make a decision.

Richard's studio is only 2 hours from my home. I decided on my birthday I would take off from work, keep my then 14 year old son home from school and together we would go see the workplace of a small vanishing breed; an artisan engaged in the meticulous creation of a product by hand, one at a time. Richard was more than willing to schedule an appointment for us to spend the afternoon as long as we did not conflict with his cyclo-cross schedule. A perfectly reasonable request.

We arrived at the studio on a cold but clear winter day. Richard came out to greet us, brought us inside and spent the next 2 hours giving us the tour, showing not only the workshop but also opening up his bicycling history and philosophy of frame building. When my son and I left the house in the morning I was not 100% certain I would order a bicycle. 10 minutes into the visit I knew. At the end of the tour I handed him a deposit and asked him to make a frame for me.

I brought my current ride with me, which Richard threw on his trainer. He took a series of measurements, then had me got on the trainer to observe how my body reacted to the bike. When he had the information he needed we exchanged "goodbyes" and I drove away thinking "how will I ever get through the wait?" which at the time was approximately 18 months.

Over the next months I researched components, wheels, pedals, saddles—everything but handlebar tape which I knew had to be signature Sachs. I would e-mail Richard periodically, with subject headings like, "9 months to go," "Wait half over" and "3 more months." Richard would respond kindly but firmly. I had the impression he took on my enthusiasm as pressure, the desire on his part to not disappoint.

Then finally, one day, the e-mail I waited for arrived—"your frame is back from the paint shop. I'll be shipping it Monday." As I went to work the day the frame was to arrive I left my wife with one explicit instruction to call when it arrived. Around 3:00 I received her call and those long anticipated words, "it's here."

I can't begin to describe what it was like opening the shipping box. Those long months of waiting culminating in holding the frame, watching the light play on the exquisite finish, scouring the tubes for the nuanced detail Richard crafts into his work.

The following day I brought the frame into my LBS to be built. I had long since ordered components (Campy, of course) and combined with Joe Young built wheels (Mavic OP's with Hugi 240 Hubs), I felt I had not compromised anywhere.

Then came the big day. Around 10A on a Saturday morning I took the bike for the first ride. I was very nervous. Having waited so long I was afraid I would be disappointed. Could the ride possibly live up to my expectations? I had to find out.

The pedal system I decided upon was new to me, so I spent the first couple seconds on the bike getting engaged as my Sachs and I rolled forward. Before I knew it, I realized I was heading down the hill in front of my house, a hill I've ridden down many times before, but this time with an amazing feeling. I'd never felt a ride so smooth. My apprehension quickly dissolved into a feeling of elation. I knew at that moment the bike would not meet my expectations— it would blow them away.

I guess the best word to describe the ride is "explosive." The bike feels like it wants to take off from under you. I found myself accelerating and reaching the limits of my own physical ability while the machine under me was craving more speed. The pedal to wheel transfer of power is awesome. The frame absorbs the road amazingly, whether going over RR tracks, manhole covers or just regular road. I was also astonished at how secure the cornering felt and how steady the front is going at a fast clip down steep hills.

I cannot say too much about the bike's comfort and fit. I am still waiting for spring to push some real distance, but after rides of 40+ miles I get out of the saddle feeling none of the aches and stiffness I felt on my prior bike. I can hardly wait to do centuries and more on my Sachs.

In the end, I feel I got all I wanted and more. Everything about getting a Richard Sachs frame is an experience, one I will always remember. The waiting is the hardest part, but well worth it when the most accurate description of the riding experience is "Wow."