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About Us

Torch and File

1535 SW 17th Avenue
Portland, OR US

(503) 224-1215
[email protected]

Torch and File is an offshoot of Strawberry Bicycle founded in 1971 by Andy Newlands and Mark DiNucci with the purpose of constructing road and track racing bicycles. After graduating from Civil Engineering School at the University of Washington in 1970, Andy took a year off to tour and race his bicycle around England. He caught the bicycle framebuilding bug after visiting several English bicycle framebuilding shops including Hetchins in London.

In the summer of 1970, Andy lived in the Cotswolds near Bulls Cross,  Stroud, England a few miles from Gloucester.  Once a week he rode in a massed start road race in the Bristol area and during one of the train trips down to Bristol he learned of a road race across the English/Scottish border in the Cheviot Hills held the week before the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.  This sounded like an adventure, so he headed north on the train with his new Bob Jackson bicycle.  The road race included national team members and it was no sooner apparent that he was out of his depth than he was desperately off the back of the pack touring the Scottish Highlands in the pouring August rain.  Returning south he stopped in Birmingham for a visit to the Reynolds factory and enjoyed a nice lunch with Terry Bill, Reynolds Sales Manager at the time.  Today both Strawberry bicycle frame fabrication and Torch and File frame building supply distribution are located in a 1948 poured concrete warehouse in Goose Hollow, Portland, Oregon which his wife and he purchased in 2002.  It is good to celebrate 50 years in the cycling business and he is very pleased to be working with the Reynolds Technology Ltd. crew handling distribution of steel and stainless steel cycle tubing in the USA and internationally.
 
Starting from scratch without the bicycle framebuilding suppliers in existence today in the US and around the world was slow, especially without the internet! Andy's friend, Gary McKenzie had started McKenzie Tool Grinding Service in Portland, OR and the collaboration between Strawberry and McKenzie began. Tube mitre cutters for bicycle production were the first tools to be produced and then a lug vise, bottom bracket tappers, head tube mills, etc. were added.

The one man - three dog corporation, Terra Nova Cycles LLC (Newlands in Latin and backwards) produces a very limited number of Strawberry bicycles every year.  Andy is head machinist, brazer and order taker/box packer.  Winnie, our Lab/Newfy mix is Chief Negotiator,  Alba, our Spinone Italiano is Minister of Enthusiasm and the newest canine member is two year old bad boy Fausto, a male Spinone who holds the dog bed down out in the shop but so far has shown no particular affinity for doing any real work.
 
Today a complete range of Italian tools and framebuilding supplies from the renowned firm, SILVA, are imported and distributed throughout USA. In addition to framebuilding tools, Reynolds tubing, and supplies, T&F distributes Strawberry designed investment cast fork crowns, rear triangle wishbones and other castings from the Taiwanese firm Long Shen. The passion for cycling by the T&F owner, Andy Newlands, ensures quality service and attention to the numerous requests of the most demanding customers. Hope you enjoy browsing. 

Please contact us if you need help or don't like placing orders over the Internet.

Thanks for shopping with us!
                                                                         

                
Yours truly 1965 on Shoreline Highway 1. Photo Taken by Peter Stoel 

         
Shop view of the Torch and File/ Strawberry world headquarters, Portland OR