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May 6, 2002--Richard
has posted photos of the new 30th
Anniversary Edition frame on his web site. Here's a
sample--click on the image or the link above to see more photos: |
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May
23, 2002--Another win for a Sachs rider! |
|
June
2002--Richard is back on the road following a long
recuperation from a cycling accident in February! Meanwhile,
here in Davis we have collected most of the items we'll need to
build up the new frameset. Only about 4 months to go! |
Vlad Luskin and his Sachs |
July
2002--We're finding that there's quite a support group out
there among other riders who have endured the wait for their Sachs
frames. Reader Vlad L.
sent this nice message:
|
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July 8, 2002--Richard
has built a new bike for himself (he owns just one bike). Click
here to see what Richard rides. |
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July 8, 2002--Richard
is back on his bike after a long recuperation (a crash in February
sidelined him and destroyed his bike). Here's a recent photo
. . . |
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July
12, 2002--The owner of one of Richard's 25th Anniversary
models is selling his bike on eBay, and posted this photo of the
happy moment when he took delivery of the bike. The auction
ends July 17th--click
here to see the eBay auction page. |
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July 12, 2002--More
photos of in-progress work from the Sachs workshop! Click
here for more photos |
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July 15, 2002--Another
installment in the assembly of a Sachs frame--bottom bracket cable
guides. Check out the amount of work needed for just this
one small task. Click
for more photos |
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July 29, 2002--Here
is a photo of a 30th Anniversary frame, built up in proper fashion
with period Campagnolo components. Very cool, very
retro.
Click for more photos at Richard's web site
|
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August
2, 2002--Watch step-by-step as Richard attaches dropouts to
the fork blades. |
Signature and 30th Anniversary
frames |
August
18, 2002--Cycle
Disciple visited Richard's workshop in Connecticut and
came away in awe of his craftsmanship. Click
here to read the CD article A sample:
"After my interview with
Sachs in his workshop in Connecticut, he casually asked me if I'd
like to take his bike for a quick ride. Despite the fact that I
had on sneakers and that the bike was a little short for me, I
jumped at the chance to try it out. I'm going to skip the frilly
language about how supple the frame was and how it handled.
Instead, I'll just say this. As I rolled back into Sachs' driveway
I shouted, "Man, you just sold me a BIKE!"" |
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August
27, 2002--Although Joe Bell does the amazing paint work for
Richard's bikes, here is Richard doing a little touchup. (Click on the image to see
some of Richard's
customers eagerly awaiting their frames) |
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September
12, 2002--Let's take a real close look at another feature on
Richards' frames--water bottle bosses. Richard doesn't use
fancy reinforcements, just really clean brazing. (Photos are
of Richard's personal bike) |
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September
20, 2002--Richard sent along this bit of news:
"I started your frame" !!!
We're heading for the home
stretch! Check back for photos of the raw materials, and
watch as our frame takes shape. |
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September 23, 2002--Richard
dashed off a photo of the bottom bracket that will grace the Campy
Only Sachs. Watch for upcoming features as our frame takes
shape, and watch the amazing transformation from raw lugs and
tubes to finished product! |
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September 26, 2002--We
are proud to announce that Joe Bell, the painter who lays down the
extraordinary colors on Richard's frames, is joining Campy Only as
a sponsor. Click
here for info on Joe Bell |
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October
1, 2002--Now
that Richard has started on our frame, we've started obsessively
re-reading the rider testimonials on Richard's site . . . Only a
few weeks to go! Click
here to read what Sachs owners have to say about their bikes |
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October 1, 2002--More
good news! Photos of the Campy Only frame starting to take
shape! Check
out this unique look behind the scenes at the master's workbench. |
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October 3, 2002--Rumors
are floating around about a three-year wait for one of Richard's
frames . . . the actual wait is about 12-14 months, says Sachs. |
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October 3, 2002--Richard
Sachs announced his sponsorship of a Cyclocross team for the
2002/2003 season.
Click here to read Richard's press release
|
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October 4, 2002--More
photos of our frame . . . the front triangle has taken shape, and
Richard has been busy working his magic with the file. |
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October 4, 2002--Still
more photos, this time of the seatstays. |
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Forks start to
take shape, and the stays are attached in this
installment We're almost ready for final brazing on
the frame! |
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October 8, 2002--The
bottom bracket receives more work today. |
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October 8, 2002--Seatstays
are attached to the rear dropouts. It is now a full week
since Richard began work--hand craftsmanship is not a quick and
easy process! |
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October 9, 2002--The
brake bridge is coming together, and Richard has brazed the
chainstays to the seat lug. |
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October 10, 2002--Our
frame is complete! In this installment of photos, we see the
last step--checking the alignment to make sure everything is
perfect. Last step will be assembling the fork--watch for
more photos! |
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October 14, 2002--Last
step in the framebuilding process is the assembly of the forks.
Next stop is the painting shop of Joe
Bell--watch for photos as JB works his magic with the
paint gun. |
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October 15, 2002--Final
photos of the fork assembly process. Next step: Box it up
and ship it to Joe Bell! |
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Next Step--Our
frame flies cross country to Spring Valley near San Diego, the
home of Joe Bell. |
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October 16, 2002: . .
. And It's Off! Our frame is beginning a 9,000-mile
odyssey: A 3,000-mile flight from Chester, Connecticut, to Spring
Valley, California; another 3,000-mile flight back to Chester; and
a final, 3,000-mile flight from Richard's shop to Campy Only
headquarters here in Davis, California. (Do we get to count
those miles on our annual cycling mileage log?)
|
|
October
21,
2002--Our frame has arrived at Joe Bell's shop!
Click here to see
detailed, step-by-step photos of JB's painting process
|
 October 27, 2002--JB
will begin work on our frame this week, starting with prep
work. |
 November 1, 2002--JB
has sandblasted and primed our frame. Hand-sanding of the
primer is the next
step |
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November 4, 2002--Luke
van Iwaarden sent this photo of his Richard Sachs from
Amsterdam in the Netherlands--it's a 25th Anniversary Edition, equipped with Record
parts and Nucleon wheels.
Another reader sent these thoughts
today . . . "I especially love your photo essay of the
Richard Sachs project! I know Richard personally and I've
visited his shop on a number of occasions, and boy, are you in for
a treat when you get your bike! He builds great frames and
you're going to be very happy!"
|
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November 6, 2002--Sanding
of the primer is complete, and color could start going on
tomorrow! Click
here for a description of this step in the painting process.
Click here for detailed,
step-by-step photos of the entire process |
|
November 8, 2002--JB
is getting ready with the first color step: painting the
panels. After that comes masking, sanding, then
colors. "There are many more steps than most people
think," says JB. |
| November 11, 2002--Color
goes on this week! We're still looking at delivery by
Thanksgiving, JB assures us. |
 November 12, 2002--JB
reports, "It is RED. Decals
and cutout work today" |
| November 13, 2002--The
first coat of clear is on--now comes more hand-sanding, more color
in the lug cutouts, and three more coats of clear. Click
here for more step-by-step info from JB |
|
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November 18, 2002--JB
reports that final detail work will be finished today, and the last
coats of clear will be applied today or tomorrow--it's getting
close! |
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November 20, 2002--The
final clear coat went on yesterday. Today, JB does a final check,
takes off the masking tape, and declares it done. JB wrote
to us: "The frame looks PUSS! I'm very happy with it." |
| "Welcome
to the WORST WEEK OF YOUR LIFE!" |
Reader Dwight
Moore, of Redlands, CA, who has had his Sachs for four years wrote to us about this
last phase in the long wait:
"Welcome to the worst
week of your life. I've had my Richard Sachs for just over 4
years now - got it at the beginning of October, 1998. Mine's
the signature version with the Anniversary paint, pearl white with
flamboyant red panels. It started full Record 9, but is now
full Record 10. Completely current components, except the
wheels are last year's Nucleons and the crank isn't carbon.
¶ I have an assortment of nice bikes - Richard Sachs, Brian
Baylis, Bill Holland, Ciocc, Litespeed Ultimate, Specialized E5
(racer). But the Sachs remains my #1, and it's the
bike I rode today in 90 degree weather
back down here in Redlands.
¶ You're going to love that bike!!!"
Compare that with reader Steve,
who wrote:
"Damn you!!! I'm about a month behind you in the Sachs
build queue. I get to listen to you gloat while I wait another 2
months!!!!!"
Sorry, Steve . . . think of the
other guys out there gloating who got in line ahead of me!
|
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November 21, 2002--Our
frame is on its way back to Connecticut! When it arrives,
Richard will perform final checks, box it up, and ship it to
us.
|
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November 25, 2002--It's back
in Richard's hands! Tracking results from
UPS . . .
| Status: |
|
Delivered |
| Delivered
on: |
|
Nov
25, 2002 2:06 P.M. |
| Signed
by: |
|
SACHS |
|
|
November 26, 2002--Our
frame is back on its way to California--this time, it's coming to Campy
Only headquarters! Richard installed a headset and
bottom bracket (both Record) for us, boxed it up carefully, and
shipped it out. Scheduled deliver date: November
27--just in time for Thanksgiving! |
![ct02sachs1[1].jpg (70985 bytes)](../images/richardsachs/ct02sachs11_small.jpg) |
November 27, 2002--Richard
doesn't just build 'em, he rides, too. Here he is on
his way to a silver medal in the Connecticut State Cyclocross
Championships in Farmington, CT. Congrats, Richard! |
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November 27, 2002--Eight
months of waiting have ended! Our frame arrived today via
UPS. Click
here for first photos, and check back for more pics as we
build and ride it. |
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November 28, 2002--We
took the better part of the day carefully building and then riding
our new Sachs! Click
here for photos from the building process |
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November 30, 2002--Thanks
to Richard for this shot of the season's first snowfall in
Chester, Connecticut |
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December 15, 2002--Riding
on a rain-drenched weekend in the Napa Valley, two members of the Richard
Sachs cyclocross team took home top spots at the Cyclocross
Nationals. Jonathan Page won the Elite Men's title; Alicia
Genest placed 3rd in the Under 23 Women's division. For more info:
http://www.galeforce.org/cx2002.htm
For more info on Jonathon: http://www.richardsachs.com/articles/cybcjpeuro.html
We here at Campy Only applaud the
Sachs team's exploits, but we still ask, How can you take those
gorgeous bikes out in the mud and muck and get them all scratched
and dirty?! |
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January 16, 2003--The
online magazine Bike.com published a great article on
Richard's national championship-winning cyclocross frame. Click
here to read the article |
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January 23, 2003--Photos
of the finished bike are now online! Click
here for the photos |
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March
14, 2003--Richard has announced the release of a new line of
framebuilding lugs. Check out news at http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/?id=2003/news/mar07
More photos online at http://tinyurl.com/6pga
(bookmark the page once you get there) |
  |
March 14, 2003--Want
to put together your own Sachs? How about trying this out .
. . you put together the pieces. |
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March 14, 2003--(Yeah,
we've been busy . . . ) How about a trip down memory lane to
the days when Richard Sachs was one guy working alone in a small
workshop in Chester, Connecticut? Well, OK, he's still
one guy working alone in Chester, but here's a chance to see some
samples of Sachs promo literature and photos from the 70s and 80s.
Click here to see all
the scans |
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March 20, 2003--Road
test results are now online! See what it's like to ride the
world's best frameset! Click
here to read our road test results |
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March 21, 2003--We're
on Richard's web site! Check it out at http://www.richardsachs.com/riders/enorris.html |
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April 9, 2003--Richard
on video? Yep, we've ordered a video that profiles Richard
and fellow framebuilder Peter Weigle. Look for a review
here, or visit the Classic Rendezvous web site for info on
ordering your own copy: http://www.classicrendezvous.com/ClassicPb.htm |
| April 18, 2003--The
video has arrived, and it's obviously a "must have" for
Sachs fans. It's only about 18 minutes long, but you can see
both Richard and Peter at work and hear their thoughts about the
business and aesthetics of framebuilding. Just the thing if
you're waiting for a Sachs frame, or to watch while you're
polishing the Sachs you already have. |
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"I am Richard
Sachs. I have been building bicycles since 1972. And unlike
many of my peers in the trade who may put their names on frames
built by their assistants, or on frames built in Taiwan for them
to sell here, I work alone. On a Richard Sachs frame I
select the geometry, cut and braze the tubes, file the lugs, and
do all the tasks necessary to complete the 8 - 10 frames I build
each month. It has always been this way."
Want more? Click
here for this and other classic Richard Sachs promotional
materials and photos |
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May 17, 2003--We
completed our 20th Davis Double Century on board the Campy Only
Sachs. |
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May 29, 2003--Great
shots of a vintage 1974
Sachs are now online in our Retro
Gallery |
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July 2003--The
Rivendell Reader has published an extensive, 11,000-word interview
with Richard! Click
here for the article |
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September
1, 2003--Several years ago, Richard was interviewed for a
video featuring him and fellow Connecticut framebuilder Peter
Weigel. We captured two clips of Richard, which can be
viewed by clicking on the links below. To see the entire
video, go to http://www.classicrendezvous.com/ClassicPb.htm
and check out the order info there. Clips on this page
shown by permission
Clip
1: Framebuilding and Art?
Clip 2:
Talking About Lugs |
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November 2003--Richard's
sponsorship of a Cyclocross team is profiled in VeloNews--click
here for the article (We ask once again, "How
can they take those gorgeous frames and toss them around in the
mud?!") |
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December 3, 2003--Paeng
Nepomuceno is a world
champion bowler and the proud owner of a 1984 Richard
Sachs. Click here for
more photos. According to Richard, Paeng owns another
Sachs frame which is one of the oldest still in
existence--definitely a connoisseur of the finest things! |
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March 2004--Richard
is building up a period-correct 1970s track racer. Click
here for photos and words |
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July 1, 2004--"Brazed
Alchemy" Bikes built like a Swiss
watch? Check out the profile of Richard Sachs (a
Campy Only sponsor) in "WatchTime" magazine. Two
flavors to choose from:
|
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October 2004--Davis,
CA, resident Chuck uses his Sachs for (gasp!)
commuting! Campy Only caught up with him on the way home from work
and snapped this photo of Chuck and his 1987 Richard Sachs. Still
gorgeous after years of use ... |
![ct02sachs1[1].jpg (70985 bytes)](../images/richardsachs/ct02sachs1[1].jpg)
