Background:
When I get a new customer on the phone…they usually ask me to tell them about my experience. After I tell them a few lines about my recent experience, the conversation usually turns to when can I get the job done and how much…

So that I can weld more and spend less time on the phone, I thought it would be a good idea to share a little of my story online.

A Love Affair with Metal:
My love affair with metal started in school with a specialty class called “Trades and Industry.” It was taught by a welding veteran of 35 years who challenged us to take on monstrous projects out of aluminum, stainless steel, and other standard metals. That's where it all began and...

Today I enjoy riding my own bikes and delivering quality products for my customers.

Prior to starting my own custom bike manufacturing business, I spent time honing my skills at the following stops-

Aerospace:
I worked in a fabrication shop at S&S Welding, a contractor for Boeing, where I got State Certified for Aluminum (all positions) and Steel (all positions). I had a lot of fun there for 8 months after which I was recruited to my first job in the bike industry.

Control Tech:
Is a Seattle based company which became an industry giant …just three of us welders making stems and bar-ends eventually turned into 17. For eight years we built these items but also found ourselves doing some prototyping and small production runs. These companies included: Redline, Diamondback, Schwinn, Ibis, Alpine Star, Mantis, Nishiki...and others.

My love of cycling:
Two weeks before joining Control Tech, I got my first mountain bike... and within two weeks of riding, I did my first race, sponsored by Control Tech, as an amature racer in cycle cross, mountain, road racing and single speed. I have many cycling stories one claiming to be the only one silly enough to climb mount Evans (14,264 ft) on a single speed.

Over the Edge:
After riding the trails for a while, I heard about a crazy place called Fruita, Colorado and visited during the Fat Tire festival there. After a few months, I decided that living there would be a fun break and worked at Over the Edge Sports in retail. It was there that I was introduced to the owner of Titus and went to work for him a few months later in Tempe AZ.

Titus:
I worked for Titus for 2 ½ years, making titanium (Ti) and aluminum (Al) road and mountain bikes (suspension and hard tails).

Strong Frames:
My introduction to independent work occurred by simultaneously working at Strong Frames, building Edge Cycles and contracting for Yeti where I built 99 aluminum bikes in less than 2 weeks (which included all steps in between and including cutting, fixturing, tacking, welding, straightening, and heat treatment).

El Camino:
El Camino is currently located in Emeryville, CA. Emeryville is also the home of Jericho Cycles, Peet’s Coffee, Freddy Rodriguez, Pixar, Chiron, Siebel, Sherwin Williams and many craftsman and artists who exile to burning man once a year. The weather here is always perfect for a bike ride or a cup of coffee.