January 2025 marks 20 years since I picked up a hacksaw and file in the old Vanilla workshop in SE Portland to start building my first bicycle frame. I had used a torch to add some small braze-ons to a few old steel frames before making my own frame but this step marked a new direction for me in my bicycle career which I lept into in 1994 in Iowa. I had no idea I would be here today having carved my way in this weird cycling world for two decades. Like a crankset turning over and over, I lost track of each pedal stroke and have always tried not to focus on the big picture too much. Being lost in the moment with appreciation and attempting to do my best has been my goal. This also means I have struggled with many things such as making systems and standard specs to follow. Ha. I love where I am now and it feels good to be able to look back on my footsteps as they trail to the horizon. Always forward with careful and deliberate intention. What do I want to make in the world? How do my actions make the world a better place? Why do I do this work?
The world feels wild and crazy right now and I am making new steps away from some social media that doesn’t align with my community. It will be hard and it may be a bad decision but I feel strongly that we not only vote with our wallets but we now also vote with our clicks and eyeballs. I am taking the initiative and making more content here. You can find updated photos on my Flickr page.
Thanks for coming along on this trip and stay tuned for more.