Guardians of the Flame

Guardians of the Flame

The introduction of methods that industrialized bicycle manufacture inevitably led to a reduction in hand-crafted production especially for competition models with proven success. Industrialization and the increase in the number of bikes produced forced many famous...

Sachs Appeal

Nestled in the small hamlet of Chester, Connecticut, among artists’ studios, restaurants, and Colonial era homes, is a bicycle factory. This factory is operated by Richard Sachs, a craftsman bicycle frame builder. Sachs has been building bicycle frames since...

Richard Sachs, Bicycle Builder

On one side of the small basement shop on Main Street there lies short pieces of steel tubing. On the other side, shiney new two-wheeled racing machines. In the middle are a lathe, torch, and other tools of master craftsman Richard Sachs. Using a technique called...

A Stickler for the Perfect Bicycle

CHESTER—The façade of Richard Sachs’ workplace on Spring Street is unremarkable. What’s going on inside is not. In a small grey garage tucked away from the center, Sachs toils everyday building bicycles. Not just any bicycles. Contenders in the Olympics...

Handmade

“Handmade.” A fast disappearing word in these assembly-line times. Handmade brings back memories of bygone days, fine workmanship, and lasting quality. The end product becomes an expression of the maker’s personality transmitted through the tools to...