In 1981 I returned from a 12 week bicycle trip with a focus on providing Madison Wisconsin with a high quality service shop. In 1993 Desperado Cycles was born out of that shop (more in my introduction) and to this day I have specialized in silver fillet brazing. This work has provided me over 100,000 miles of riding my own steeds, and my first frame that I ever built – the Queen of Hearts – is still in service. My S-3 True Temper silver fillet “Touring” frame regularly hauls 45lbs of packs to and from Antigo Wisconsin on a 70 mile ride and has logged over 36,000 miles since the day it was “born”in 1990. This spring it is getting an Avid 11A ELXRCR disc front and Magura hydraulic cantilevers in the back. My first built silver brazed “Joker” Metax frame has never failed me with over 17,000 miles on it In the world of production bicycles, you still have an “artisan” to go to. Enjoy the editorials, especially the “Low Down On Tubing”. It may help clear up any misconceptions of metallurgy questions you have. Ride hard, live long and stay young! For the bicycle is truly the “fountain of youth”!