6 July, 2003

Hi Brent and Katryn,

Now that I've put a few hundred miles on my Signature frame, I feel qualified to write a review of it. Now let me tell ya, this thing is simply amazing! I can't say enough accolades about it. It's everything I expected it would be and then some.

Comfort, handling and awesome power transfer are it's top attributes. What more could there be?

The Ouzo fork up front is a perfect match with the stays in the back. Both features work in concert to "suspend" the main triangle giving the rider a sense of vertical compliance. I've cruised over dirt fire roads on it like never before. It sucks up the rough stuff like it has suspension. It must be due to it's pedigree, being a cousin of the Steelman Cross bikes.

The front triangle is torsionally and laterally as stiff as anything and the bottom bracket is truly unwavering. Explosive sprints and out-of-the-saddle hammering are what this baby is all about. She climbs like a dream, and when descending it tracks like it's on rail. I've never felt so confident and safe at speeds above 40mph before. I know I'll set new personal limits on this machine, 50, 60 who knows?

It weighs 18.4 complete. Not bad considering it is huge and built like a tank.

The paint job is sexy and cool, universally acknowledged by all who see it. The workmanship and precision with which this frame was assembled is second to none.

In conclusion I gotta tell ya, I'm a Steelman fan for life. I can't imagine a better bicycle than my Signature.

Steve