In the spring of 2003 I had the priviledge of taking Ryan Connolly's bicycle framebuilding course at Stanford. An avid mountain biker with no need for another off-road machine, I chose to tackle the creation of my first road bike. I spent weeks doing "research" at local bike shops, many of which I had previously been employed by as a professional wrench, to decide exactly what geometry I wanted for my custom steed and settle on a design aesthetic.

The design is a classically-styled steel frame with some subtle updates to modernize the look. The bike's front triangle is TIG-welded and features a classic level top-tube but sports an aerodynamic tear-drop shaped downtube. The rear end is fillet-brazed and sports the sexy curves of S-bend stays flowing into custom dropouts I designed and CNC-machined out of steel billet. I avoided aluminum because: (1) it fatigues and eventually breaks, something I never wanted to happen to my handbuilt-by-me frame, (2) I like the compliant ride of steel, and (3) steel is much more forgiving for the frame welding novice. Anyhow, if you really want to discuss the finer points of framebuilding let's do so over beers or on a ride.

After 200 hours of careful handiwork my frame was complete. Powdercoated metallic midnight blue under a translucent navy coat, finished with silver graphics, and skillfully hand assembled, my new ride was finally born. It's called the Libertas Perpetua by Evans Frameworks (clearly not a real company) and I flat-out love it. It has become my primary form of transportation as the wheels of my daily commute to work, short jaunts to the grocery store, and epic weekend rides. I figure The LP has logged well over 3000 miles and I add 100-200 more every week.

I take immense satisfaction in regularly using the things I create, never undertaking projects for their own sake and discarding them. Rather I pour every bit of skill I have into the design, engineering, and craftsmanship of physically manifesting my work. No other project of mine has yet brought as much personal satisfaction, adulation from peers, and sheer frequency use as the Libertas Perpetua.

Perpetual Freedom handcrafted from steel for over 200 hours, time to spin up the LP.