Koen from Poco Loco came by to show me the titanium version they are developing to complement the Sandman range. This was only the prototype (#2 of 5) of a titanium Gobi but the build quality was excellent. Sandman uses the same titanium welder than Hilset used to do - the Chinese Chian Chang Da factory - but the Chinese have evolved a lot since the Hilset years. They have refined their craftmanship even more and just looking at the finish of the welds gives you a confident feeling they are really on top of this craft.
So after a good chat about titanium with Koen - who was leaving for China tomorrow to finalize a deal for 100 frames and wanted some background information on the art of titanium bikes - and some picture taking I was ready for a ride with my Hilset when darkness was falling.

I went for a relaxed ride along easy roads and it was raining very lightly throughout the entire ride. Seeing the Sandman Gobi and talking about titanium frames and craftmanship made me long even more for the buildup of the Litespeed Vortex I acquired last december. Filip Sport is waiting for delivery of a Seven/Reynolds carbon fork to start the buildup. I can hardly wait to have it finished and having a titanium roadbike for the spring and summer.
But for now my trusty Hilset lead me along the wet and dirty roads passing through Nethen, Pecrot, Eerken and Sint Agatha Rode. Then towards Sint Joris Weert and the Zoete Waters to finish my ride with a little bit more kilometers than yesterday. 

Ride Stats : 29K and 185/220 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h18mins

86/705