My passion for bicycle wheels came to life some 20 years ago. Simply put, I just wasn't happy with the wheels I was riding, so I figured rather than complaining or spending my life's savings on a good wheelset, I'd build my own. I was working as an aircraft mechanic at the time, and a bunch of us at the airline were riding buddies. Before long, I was building wheels for my co-workers, a couple of whom were local amateur racers. After awhile, I found myself with a small, but dedicated "following" among friends and fellow bike club members.

About 15 years ago, I took up fully-loaded, multi-day touring, which has become my riding passion. This experience has brought home to me the importance of strong, durable wheels.

I took early retirement from the airline job in '02, and had the incredible good fortune to get a part-time job working for Rivendell Bicycle Works, in Walnut Creek, CA. About two years ago, I became Rivendell's in-house wheelbuilder, working on Atlantis, Rambouillet and Rivendell Custom wheels, as well as filling orders for "specialty" wheels. Recently, I've built the revived 650B wheels for Rivendell's Glorius, Wilbury and Saluki bicycles, as well. I also build racing wheels for Mark Abele and Robert Kurosawa, Rivendell's cyclocross racers.

My main focus as a wheelbuilder is strong, long-lasting wheels built to take punishment and carry heavy loads. I've found over time that, while the market trend towards ever-diminishing spoke counts, new and exciting spoke, rim and hub materials, radial lacing and lighter and lighter weights continues, most riders eventually return to stronger, longer-lasting "regular" bicycle wheels. As a wheel specialist, building hundreds of wheels, I bring an expertise and focus to a craft that is fast becoming a "lost art." There are a few "classic" wheelbuilders around -- I am proud to consider myself one of them.