This bicycle has bee updated - click here for the latest photos

Hello again Jim and all my fellow readers,

I have been inspired by the various bikes on your website for several months that I finally decided to build my own classic. I need a long distance bike. I went through the internet to gather ideas. I came across numerous websites that were very helpful - the best of which I think is the "Bike Geometry Project" http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/dirtbag-bikes/geometry-project.html. I copied the geometries of some of the classic tourers - Miyata, Mercian, Waterford, Heron, Rivendell among others. Next, I got a custom framebuilder overseas - a guy named Maldea from the Philippines. He is the best builder there and since I was going to travel to Asia, I made an appointment with him. He uses a Henry James Jig, so I went to the Henry James website and ordered my tubes and lugs (they are very helpful). I bought tools and built the bike myself. I think it turned out great. What do you think?

Components Used:

Various True Temper Chromemoly Tubes Tubes, Henry James Lugs painted Yellowish Molteni Orange Shimano Dura Ace 9 speed Shifters, Headset, Hubs, Triple Cranksets, Bottom Bracket and Front derraileur Shimano BR 550 Canti Brakes, Shimano Road Brake Levers, Ultegra seatpost; XTR rear rapid rise derraileur; XT 12-32 cassette 3TTT Stem and Handlebar with Specialized Gel Handlebar wrap (soon to be Brooks Honey Brown Wrap) Mavic Open Pro with butted Wheelsmith Spokes, Panaracer Pasela Tourguard 700 x 28c tires Brooks Swift Honey Brown Saddle

Vince

Fresno, CA

P.S. Any plans of selling a classic "cyclofiend jersey"? I just ordered a T-shirt. Keep it up, look forward to your wesbite daily.

vincerunner@yahoo.com