20th Anniversary.
This month marks a bit of a milestone in my framebuilding career as it’s been 20 years since I started working as a professional framebuilder. It was late October in 1989 that I went to work with Ben Serotta in Greenfield Center N.Y. and I’ve been building ever since.
When I sat down to think about this post and what deep and insightful things I may write in this space I came up short in all honesty. I thought of telling you all the valuable lessons I’ve learned over the past twenty years or about some of the bikes that stick out in my mind as being special in some way or maybe even something about how framebuilding has changed for the better/worse over this time. But you know, I don’t know that any of this matters. What matters to me is the building itself and just how fortunate I am to call this my job.
I love almost anything with wheels that goes fast – from skateboards to cars, I love them all. But bikes hold the most special place for me due to their simple beauty. The idea that someone like myself can make a living fussing over these simple machines just flat out kicks ass and I am a very fortunate man indeed to have spent the last 20 years doing what I love, and what I do best.
It’s funny……. I have a neighbor a few doors down from me who drives by on his way into work in the morning and sees me standing in my shop and we wave to each other. Same thing in the afternoon, he goes by in the other direction and waves at me while I’m standing in my shop. One afternoon he pulled into the driveway on his motorcycle on the way home. He flipped up his visor as I walked over the greet him. We BS’d about the weather and then he got to the point. “What do you do all day in there?” I told him that I was a bicycle framebuilder. He responded with a “Ok, but what do you DO?” So I told him in more detail what I do.”And you pay the bills doing this?” as he shook his head in disbelief. I responded with “hard to believe isn’t it?” He rode away shaking his head and I felt much the same way after looking at it thought his eyes. It’s sometimes hard to believe that this has all worked out. But it has and I consider myself very fortunate to do what I love for a living in one of the most beautiful little towns I’ve ever seen. I’m truly fortunate and I have Karin and you all to thank for this. So thank you for letting me live my own little dream.
Tomorrow starts the next 20 years of my career and hope it takes it’s sweet time and doesn’t pass too quickly. I want to enjoy this ride as long as it lasts.
Thanks for reading.
Dave
Share this Article:
Well, gosh Dave. You’re quite welcome. It really is an unfair trade: we give you a few lousy sheckels, and you give us a beautiful beautiful ride. Yrs, E
Dave, congratulations on your 20th anniversary as a frame builder! I’m visiting here in Freiburg where most
everyone of all ages and sizes ride bikes everywhere in this Green city. I think that you have something very special to offer, and I feel very lucky to have a Kirk!
Joan
Keep up the good work!!!
I’m very happy for you Dave. Here’s hoping that you and Karen have many more good years of good fortune. You both deserve it!
Parris