Daniel Barriga, right, and his son, Daniel Barriga Jr., build and restore classic bicycles as part of their auto body and detailing shop on Houston Lane in Lodi. (Marc Lutz/News-Sentinel)

Riding in style

Lodi's Daniel Barriga restores, builds classic bikes

Sunlight glints off sparkling red, brilliant blue and fiery orange. The details of finely embroidered brown leather accents the classic curves and design of yesteryear. A sense of pride is found in every aspect of these expertly restored bicycles.

Daniel Barriga, who owns Touch of Class in Lodi, has found a passion in taking neglected bikes and giving them a new lease on life.

Since he was a teenager growing up in Woodbridge, Barriga has enjoyed taking bicycles, stripping them down and updating their paint jobs. He also taught himself how to build bicycles. Now, as an adult, he has integrated the restoration work into his current business on Houston Lane.

For seven years Touch of Class has detailed cars and done custom body and paint work. When they aren't busy with automotive work, they focus on the bikes.

"We call it our winter business," Barriga said at his shop. His son, Daniel Barriga Jr., 19, has been working with his father to learn the business, and will create lettering and various design aspects of the bikes.

Though they get older bikes, like beach cruisers or street bikes, they will also completely revamp new bikes.

"We'll get customers that buy brand new bikes, but they don't like the paint or style," Barriga said. One such bike was brought to Touch of Class, but the customer didn't want just another paint job. He opted for a theme bike.

After the bike underwent cosmetic surgery by the capable hands of Barriga and son, it emerged in the silver and blue colors of the Dallas Cowboys — the customer's favorite football team — with designs painted throughout the framework.

They've also turned out an Harley-Davidson-themed bicycle and they're working on one revolving around the Oakland Raiders football team.

Theme bikes are popular, but when it comes down to it, the majority of clients prefer candy colors, Barriga said. However it's not always as simple as that.

"Sometimes picking out a color is the most difficult for a customer," Barriga said. He stated that some customers want the bike's original color, so Touch of Class will remove the head badge (the metal logo plate located on the head tube that the handlebars fit into) and reveal the bike's true first color. They will then take the bike into a paint store to get an exact match on the color before beginning the painting process.

Depending on the complexity of the restoration, a job can take anywhere from one to two months, Barriga said. Costs start at $350 and go up from there.

"The most expensive restoration we did was on a '51 Schwinn. It cost $1,800," Barriga said. The job was a complete restoration process and when it was done the bike's owner entered it into a competition and won first place. They've also built a custom three-wheeler bicycle that won first place in the Fresno State Championship.

Barriga's work speaks for itself. In his seven years in business, he hasn't advertised. Most of his work has come from people approaching him and his family as they ride their custom bikes around town. People will ask where they got their bikes, and Barriga will tell them about their business.

But for Barriga, it's not a job.

"It's actually fun. I enjoy doing them," he said.

Contact Business Editor Marc Lutz at marcl@lodinews.com.