In early 2004 I started putting together a plan to have a touring bicycle custom made for me. I wanted it to be special, 100% unique, beautiful, extremely functional and 100% built from the bottom up.

I pieced together a rough geometry that was based on me and my needs as well as time tested designs with regard to touring (but with some surprises too). I knew I wanted comfort... all day long riding comfort. I knew I wanted steel. And I knew I wanted lugs. I wanted, One Of A Kind.

I wanted a cycle that I could grow old with.

A cycle that could be handed down through generations in my family.

A cycle that could return from a trip through the Darien Gap in Central/South America, be unloaded and go on errands and day rides.

A cycle on which I could train for and then ride Paris Brest Paris (which is a personal goal).

This is a pictorial of just that bicycle. My bicycle.

I then had to set out to find the person to accomplish this task. A builder that could put into reality what only existed in my head, in my heart and in my dreams.

Enter Bob Brown.

Bob has the goods period. He rides, he tours, he's an engineer, he knows geometry, he builds and rides tandems (which to me is crucial for building solo tourers in my estimate). He knows the In's and Out's of steel and other materials. He knows and understands fire... he welds, he brazes. He also paints. I wanted a One Man Operation including paint... and Bob is it.

Lastly and perhaps most importantly, Bob fabricates. What doesn't exist Bob makes. What cannot be bought or sought, Bob invents (look at my fork for instance!).

Most importantly-Bob is a perfectionist (just like me). So everything about Bob, me and this cycle were Destiny in my estimate.

Bob is 1 part great human being, 1 part athlete, 1 part Tweed-wearing scientist and 1 part shop rat... precisely the guy I wanted building my cycle. By the way, he's a drummer so you know he's gotta be cool too!!

What follows is the story of my cycle from Day 1 to Day whatever...

...in real time. As I get photos I post them.

Enjoy!!