Ryan rides a lot.  I met him on the road, obviously much different than meeting someone at a Motorcycle show.  Here is the story plus more from a long time past.  Link is below. http://flyinshoes.blogspot.jp/2011/01/supertip-3.html

Max Schaff's invited builders bike.  Born Free Four, Oak Canyon Ranch California June 2012

Hands

Justin and Shelly.  Born Free Four, Oak Canyon Ranch June 2012.  

Painter Man, Painter Man

Pic 1: Two painters,  Gen (LOVE EAR ART) and Harpoon (FMA) Pic2,3,4: "Chicago" Will's born free 4 bike parked behind his house at his BBQ, painted by Gen, June 2012. Pic5,6: Gen's booth at Mooneyes Yokohama 2010, where I first crossed paths with him. 

Cowboys and ....

speed metal

I blew it by not getting a picture of Dave at born free, but here is Justin enjoying himself.  Plenty of pictures of Dave and some backstory on their build here.    
SpeedMetal Thanks for letting me use your shop in my time of need and your time of stress.  You guys rule. Sturgis next year?  Maybe Robbie will have is whip back together! Eh Robbie?

Message to friends, acquaintances, and strangers

EMAIL ME.  Its like being pen-pals in the 20th century (pre instagram, pre vimeotube, pre-blog, post u.s. mail).  Seriously, I have things to tell you that you may want to hear.  I know you are all busy making chops, photos, videos, magazines, blogs and what not, and I fully encourage these endeavors,  but lets take time to be friends.
love, Brandon
 smithwrench@gmail.com

Nippon

Crazy to post this before posting anything else that has happened this summer.  Been busy getting here.  Will be in Japan for a year. and will not be using tools very much so perhaps the keyboard and camera will keep me busy in their stead.  
Captions: Pic 1: Okayama Castle
Pic 2: First meal at Haneda Airport Pic 3: Fruit mascots.  Okayama (where we live) is famous for peaches and grapes, both which are better than any others I have tasted anywhere. おいし！

California

A bit more story.  Shawn Donahue  and Scott Craig were gracious to let Warren and I crash at their shop (Bronsonville which doesn't have a web page but info about them is here: http://www.chopcult.com/news/articles/bronsonville-of-pomona-california.html ) when we arrived in California at 11pm on Thursday night.  Invited builders had to report to the Born Free 4 show location to turn in bikes and Shawn was in the midst of pulling an all-nighter working on the Bronsonville genny shovelhead, but still found time to enjoy the company and extent his hospitality. We wheren't the only people there because Shawn draws a crowd with his good looks and humor.  John Tubbs (Dixie Goods) extended his hospitality at his home for the rest of my stay there as I crashed with my crew from Birmingham in Long Beach.  Thanks again John! Born Free 4 post next. 

Warren and Me ride to Born Free

By the time I took the first photo (which is the first one you see below) I had made it from Alabama to Denver.  I broke the seatpost of my frame in Kansas and rode 400 more miles until 3:30a.m. mountain time to get to Robbie's house with a ratchet strap holding my frame together.  With the help of Warren, Kendall and the hospitality of Dave, Justin, Daves Dad (SPEEDMETAL), and Robbie, we made the road by 5pm the next day.  Warren's welds held the whole way to California. The story will be written.  For now a few photos.  

Taj and Jesse Ed Davis