Description
Tim Murphy and I met on the internet. And over the course of some eight months and exchanging dozens of emails, we decided to collaborate. Mr. Murphy is, among many things, a digital artist of renown. At first it wasn’t clear what we could work on but, after a flurry of ideas, we began to focus on his interpretation of the bicycles I make.
This art print is an example of how Tim Murphy saw the beautiful image taken originally by my longtime friend and photographer, Bruno Ratensperger. This bicycle was first shot some eighteen months for the cover of Handcrafted Bicycles, the book by Christine Elliot & David Jablonka.
On offer is the first in a series that we’ll continue over the next few months, or even more – who really knows. (That’s a rhetorical question.) This first art print will be limited to just 28 pieces. Each will be numbered sequentially and signed by me.
I asked Mr. Murphy to write a few words about his inspiration for these works of art:
I discovered Richard Sachs in reverse. Most people find him through cycling through the reverence serious riders have for hand-built steel and legendary craftsmen. I found him through design. Specifically, through one of the most perfectly executed logos I’ve ever encountered: that clean, minimalist RS mark that’s both timeless and instantly recognizable. The logo drew me in, but the frames themselves sealed it. Those bold, fearless color combinations, the precision in every brazed joint and filed finish, the seamless way form and function work together rather than compete—I knew immediately I was looking at something special.
Then I learned the real story. One man. One bench. Fifty years of building every frame by hand, refusing to cut corners or send designs overseas. When I read his recent books, something clicked. His philosophy about craft, the way he talks about his relationship with his materials and tools, those impossibly high standards he refuses to compromise – suddenly I understood why his work commands such respect, why he’s recognized worldwide as an icon in cycling culture.
That’s what hooked me: discovering an American craftsman who lives by the same principles I believe in. Show up every day. Do the work right. Let the quality speak for itself. This collection is my way of honoring that discovery – celebrating not just stunning bicycles, but the mindset of someone who proves that true mastery comes from consistent, uncompromising dedication. Series One captures what fifty years at the bench really means: excellence built one frame, one decision, one day at a time.
