General Questions
Is your shop open to the public, can I stop by and visit?
Sure! You're more than welcome to stop by. I'm generally someone around between 10am and 6pm
on weekdays, but its best to call or e-mail first and let me know your coming as I'm not always
around or often busy with someone else.
Are you hiring or looking for an assistant?
Probably not since I like having my one man operation, but if you want to be persistent and
have some experience you feel would be useful to the shop send me an e-mail my way, it doesn't
hurt to ask.
How did you get started building frames?
You can find some detailed answers to that question here:
cog mag
madison.com
curb
I want to learn how to build frame and/or start my own business, how should I go about it?
This is a vague question, but it's repeated quite often. With a bit of research and looking
at the archives, photos, and wealth of information listed here you should be able to find just
about everything you need to know:
frameforum.net
Framebuilders - Amateur and professional bicycle frame building
and even better search the archives for everything you want to know - bikelist.org
timpaterek.com
richardsachs.com
If you don't find your questions answered there send me a specific question and I'll try to help.
Before you order type questions
How do I order a frame?
Go here jonnycycles.com or just give me a call or e-mail
How long is your current waiting list?
11 months
Can I pay extra to get my frame quicker?
No. The only way I could build your frame quicker would be to work nights and weekends and
my social life prevents me from doing so.
Can I specify a specific type of steel?
With the exception of Reynolds 953 (if you want an all stainless steel paint free frame) the
answer is no. Steel is steel and if all dimensions are the same (but lengths, wall thickness,
and diameter) the frame will ride exactly the same wither its made out of plain 4130 cro-mo,
Columbus, Reynolds, Dedacciai, etc. In most cases specifying a specific type of steel would
get you a frame that's more expensive than it needs to be and not quite as nice because I
couldn't use the tubing I really wanted to use.
What type of steel do you use?
I generally use a mix if Dedacciai, Columbus, and True Tempers steel in my frames. Dedacciai
is nice because their US supplier is on Ohio which makes it quick for me to get, but they
don't have very many options. I use Dedacciai chain stays, seat stays, and seat tubes almost
exclusively.
True Temper is of excellent quality and is made in the USA as an added bonus. True Temper
also has a greater selection than any other manufacture so I can always get exactly what I want
which makes them a great choice for the main tubes (top tube, down tube, and seat tube).
Columbus makes excellent fork blades which I use on most of my frames. I used to use Dedacciai
but they stopped making the ones I really liked and the True Temper ones have this weird crease
on the sides that me and my painters don't like.
What about Reynolds? Its nice stuff, but with the exception of their stainless steel tubing
I can get everything I need from the other manufactures I have listed so why go though the
hassle of ordering from the UK?
After you order type questions
How do I go about choosing a paint color?
Paint info
How do choose lug style?
Lug styles
Is my frame ready yet?
If your asking, you probably know the answer is no but I do try to keep to my build schedule
as closely as possible. Do feel free to e-mail or call, but be assured that I will contact
you to go over the final details of your frame before I start to build it.