Since I live vicariously through Danielle’s stories about her trip to the Independent Fabrication factory, I want to fill you in on a bike that she left out of her post. The bike pictured is a very special XS. It will be on display at the North American Hand Built Bicycle Show on March 2-4 in California. The frame’s titanium lugs were first polished to a mirror sheen and then coated with Titanium Nitride (that’s the same stuff they coat high end drill bits with). This process leaves an extremely tough finish on the bike and a strikingly unique and beautiful golden tone. This bike represents IF’s first frame to receive this finish option. The carbon fiber tubes were finished with a harlequin clear coat which rounds out the bike. Oh yeah… and that head badge is made of real gold!