I live in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, surrounded by great countryside and a lot of very good riding.
I started building bicycle frames for two main reasons.
The first bikes I built on my own were touring bikes and the first two were seen together at the Folder Forum in Weymouth in 1997.
The first fixed-gear was built pretty much to ride on the rollers, although I liked riding on the velodrome at Manchester so much I rode this first trackie there a lot.
But I wasn't quite happy with the riding position (too upright) and I thought I could do a better job.
The better job came with the white track bike, again in 35mm Columbus tubing.
A longer toptube made the position less upright and the handling on the banking was better.
I rode this bike at the World Track Masters in 2004 (although I'm not a racer) but mainly I simply ride round with my friends.
I visited the European Handmade Bicycle Expo in 2010 and took this bicycle, by train.
I hated that bike box by the end of the trip.
I didn't exhibit the bike but used it to get about and ride the Saturday "early bird" ride.
This is currently my regular bike when I'm out for a ride with friends. However due the the hilly nature of North Yorkshire I tend to suffer on the long descents. although uphill is fine.
In an attempt to my downhill experience an easier one I built the blue and white Zona-framed roadbike.
As Zona doesn't have a 32mm seattube I've had to use Decacciai for the flowed-in look I wanted.
All rounded out with Campagnolo Athena 11 speed compact in alloy.
And of course a steel fork.