Retrotec Beautiful Half Cross.

I first met Retrotec Cycles builder Curtis Inglis two years ago at NAHBS.
Rick Hunter of Hunter Cycles is famously tall—the "#rickistall" hashtag is well-known—but for a smaller guy like me, Curtis is plenty big too. He might look a bit intimidating(?), but once you talk to him, you find he’s a very friendly guy who cares deeply for his wife and parents.

His delicate build work and the color choices born from his exceptional sense of style are admired by other builders, and the fact that he has so many fans among both builders and riders speaks volumes about his character.

I feel like most people who order a Retrotec through our shop don't specify colors down to the last detail; instead, they share their vision and leave it up to his sense of style.

And here is someone who was absolutely struck by that sense of his.
They fell in love at first sight with the Half Top Cross we had in stock and decided to purchase it.

The owner chose this cross bike to patrol the double-track routes and surrounding areas they ride every weekend. We helped select the parts, focusing on a 10-speed drivetrain to ensure compatibility with their existing bike components and to make sure it's a bike they can ride for a long time to come.

In contrast to the beautiful frame geometry of the round top tube, the bike has a surprisingly snappy acceleration that, it goes without saying, immediately captured the owner's heart. It was the moment one more Curtis fan was born.

And this weekend, NAHBS 2014 will be held. This year it's in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Information about this and that is already flying around the World Wide Web, but I still think it's very important to actually go there and meet them in person. I'm hoping to have some great conversations. So, I’ll be heading out tomorrow to go see them. I'm sure I'll have plenty to report back on, so stay tuned.