Jonathan Greene Cycles

[Shinomaster]

I really enjoyed that Jonathan. Thanks for sharing.

[junior2189]

will you ever down tube route my shifter cables on my cx bikes?
will you ever build a compact road frame with a carbon fork?
it has been amazing to learn form you and race your bikes.
JUNIOR

[zetroc]

Jonathan, thanks for sharing your trip so far.

You mentioned not being familiar with the extras that are required on a touring bike. Have you had to refer a customer away, or simply refuse to build them a bike because you weren't confident about your ability to match their expectations (touring, downhill, recumbent, etc) with your product? Do you consider yourself a specialized builder, or have plans to branch out at all?

steve

[ron l edmiston]

jonathan -
here are two words i reserve for my closest pals, and am pleased to use them on you atmo:
don't change.

"knight...."

[Jonathan]

will you ever down tube route my shifter cables on my cx bikes?
will you ever build a compact road frame with a carbon fork?
it has been amazing to learn form you and race your bikes.
JUNIOR

thanks JP, i knew you'd show up. it's been cool watching you get faster.

I'm not a fan of routing the cables on the DT. The shifting is better, yes, but I like everything up top.

I'd love to build a sloping top tube bike. The problem I see is I always build the fork first. No fork, no frame. So....to get a frame it must include the fork I build.

[Jonathan]

Jonathan, thanks for sharing your trip so far.

You mentioned not being familiar with the extras that are required on a touring bike. Have you had to refer a customer away, or simply refuse to build them a bike because you weren't confident about your ability to match their expectations (touring, downhill, recumbent, etc) with your product? Do you consider yourself a specialized builder, or have plans to branch out at all?

steve

Thanks Steve,
I actually have referred a customer somewhere else. This guy was almost 7 foot and wanted a standard road frame. I didn't feel comfortable in any part of that.

I don't consider myself a specialist, or anything really. I just know and use race bikes. I would like to build some mountain bikes.

Thanks for the questions.

[junior2189]

mtb 26 or 29er
JUNIOR

[zank]

Mitering, huh? Cool. In that case when you come up in August, I'm not going to let you use the Bridgeport and Anvil MTMS.

Here's a tough one...just cuz I love ya.

All of us framebuilders make choices in what tubing, castings, dropouts, and odds and ends we use. Sometimes, other builders will openly say that some of the parts you might use are not to their liking. Not about you in particular, but about a part or style of part you use. Well, I guess the first question is has that ever happened to you? If so, what reaction do you have when you read those types of comments?

[Jonathan]

Mitering, huh? Cool. In that case when you come up in August, I'm not going to let you use the Bridgeport and Anvil MTMS.

Here's a tough one...just cuz I love ya.

All of us framebuilders make choices in what tubing, castings, dropouts, and odds and ends we use. Sometimes, other builders will openly say that some of the parts you might use are not to their liking. Not about you in particular, but about a part or style of part you use. Well, I guess the first question is has that ever happened to you? If so, what reaction do you have when you read those types of comments?

I like machines too mike! My comment really was geared to me being a noob. I can mitre a bunch of tubes by hand or waste time trying to figure out how not too. The choice seems obvious to me. I think it's also one of those skills that helps everywhere. I would love to have a mill one day.

Your second question is interesting. I have had that happen to me, mostly in my day career and once or twice that I'm aware of with frames. If you or I were to look over any random investment portfolio we'd likely find investments we'd question owning. Even if that advisor was at the top among his peers. The reason is that we'd not know the background why certain choices were made like age of the client, tollerance for risk, tax considerations or some sentimental reason. I think a frame is like that to a smaller degree. Unless you know more it's hard to critique on more than aesthetics. Sure it hits a soft spot, but I have to move on.

I spent a lot of time among the vintage guys. They usually view the frame as something like art. I don't see nice bikes as being strictly like that. I think frames are built to a purpose. My cross bikes use plug in drops and straight forks(stolen from you). I've taken some critique for that. If I can build two frames to be raced on in the time it takes to build one otherwise I'll do it. To me the beauty is what happens when it's raced, not how many file strokes it took. I do use the articulated drops to so I can match the seat stay angle so it always looks perfect. With all that said, I do think dropouts and seatstays are two of the best places to leave a signature. Guys like Sachs and Wages really inspire me to do more. They make the drops unique without having the features cnc'd in and I think that's cool. I also love how Dave Kirk does seatstays. So smooth and clean. I know that's a bunch of rambling, I hope I answered the question in there.

[ron l edmiston]

I like machines too mike! My comment really was geared to me being a noob. I can mitre a bunch of tubes by hand or waste time trying to figure out how not too. The choice seems obvious to me. I think it's also one of those skills that helps everywhere. I would love to have a mill one day.

Your second question is interesting. I have had that happen to me, mostly in my day career and once or twice that I'm aware of with frames. If you or I were to look over any random investment portfolio we'd likely find investments we'd question owning. Even if that advisor was at the top among his peers. The reason is that we'd not know the background why certain choices were made like age of the client, tollerance for risk, tax considerations or some sentimental reason. I think a frame is like that to a smaller degree. Unless you know more it's hard to critique on more than aesthetics. Sure it hits a soft spot, but I have to move on.

I spent a lot of time among the vintage guys. They usually view the frame as something like art. I don't see nice bikes as being strictly like that. I think frames are built to a purpose. My cross bikes use plug in drops and straight forks(stolen from you). I've taken some critique for that. If I can build two frames to be raced on in the time it takes to build one otherwise I'll do it. To me the beauty is what happens when it's raced, not how many file strokes it took. I do use the articulated drops to so I can match the seat stay angle so it always looks perfect. With all that said, I do think dropouts and seatstays are two of the best places to leave a signature. Guys like Sachs and Wages really inspire me to do more. They make the drops unique without having the features cnc'd in and I think that's cool. I also love how Dave Kirk does seatstays. So smooth and clean. I know that's a bunch of rambling, I hope I answered the question in there.

2 of these and 1 of those....
respect yo response...

thank ya velo --- smoke out is kinda a "learn out & chill out..."

ronnie

[Craig Ryan]

Jonathan, it appears you've focused on the regional racing scene as a way of getting exposure for your work. I think this is great, and it was a great way to go given the opp. Are you marketing your work any other way? You mention your team will take up all your production for the coming year, and maybe that answers the question. Is there a website being developed? Are you open to business outside of your race team? Are you doing anything to prepare for the expected growth and demand? Even if you are limiting your growth, it may be good will for the team to get your name out there.

[Jonathan]

Jonathan, it appears you've focused on the regional racing scene as a way of getting exposure for your work. I think this is great, and it was a great way to go given the opp. Are you marketing your work any other way? You mention your team will take up all your production for the coming year, and maybe that answers the question. Is there a website being developed? Are you open to business outside of your race team? Are you doing anything to prepare for the expected growth and demand? Even if you are limiting your growth, it may be good will for the team to get your name out there.

Craig, I'll build 3-4 team bikes this year so there are a few frames left to build, but I don't have a years worth of production lined up. I don't have a website as of now but use facebook to post updates or pics. I am very sensitive to putting the cart before the horse. I think you commented on this too. I don't want to appear more than what I am. I'd very much like to spread out though, maybe I'll make nahbs in Austin if it makes sense. The racing does give some legitamacy though and I like that. FL has a very young cross series and I've been around since close to the beginning. I can be a big fish in a small pond down here. Thanks for the question, it's nice to have a peer thinking about the same things that I am.

[steve garro]

. As the builder of the frame I know if filler has gone from one end of the joint to the other, I know what condition the flux was in before I soaked it off, and I know how the wheels slide in the drops perfectly centered with no fuss. That bike did all that and it happened without much thought. I just built a frame and that was the result, as it should be. And to top it off when he got the bike he looked perfect on it. No extra spacers, the saddle was centered on the rails. It was a-z exactly what I was shooting for.

you get it. people ask when they are "ready" and i never really have the awnser, but here it is. Ron Sutphin told me something very similar once - Garro.

[Jonathan]

you get it. people ask when they are "ready" and i never really have the awnser, but here it is. Ron Sutphin told me something very similar once - Garro.

Thanks Steve, I feel sheepish about typing some of this do it's nice getting confirmation from the people I respect. There is still so much to learn.

[ssjimbo]

I was impressed with JP's frame Jonathan. Your work looks good. I'm a steel fan myself and look forward to seeing more of your bikes at the races around Florida. No question really, I've enjoyed reading your answers and look forward to seeing you out on the race courses again. We missed having you out there last year.

Jimbo

[Too Tall]

Brotherman, you don't have to answer any of this. But I hope you do.

Name three essential things that made a difference for you learning the skills necessary to build complete frames.

XXOO, J.G. Fanboy.

[Jonathan]

I was impressed with JP's frame Jonathan. Your work looks good. I'm a steel fan myself and look forward to seeing more of your bikes at the races around Florida. No question really, I've enjoyed reading your answers and look forward to seeing you out on the race courses again. We missed having you out there last year.

Jimbo

thanks Jim! I missed the race weekends too. Congrats on the bambino btw.

[Jonathan]

Brotherman, you don't have to answer any of this. But I hope you do.

Name three essential things that made a difference for you learning the skills necessary to build complete frames.

XXOO, J.G. Fanboy.

my wife, determination and some problem solving skills. I'll explain...There is nothing about building a basic frame that is hard. It's not like hitting a 105mph fastball, calculating the mass of stars 100's of light years away or staying happily married. Those things take skill. It does take knowledge and practice and since every frame could be different the ability to solve problems as they come up is important too. I think problem solving is the biggie. But it's not hard. They build frames in china by the millions by people being paid peacemeal who have no connection to bikes other than they pedaled to work. I am also fortunate that I've been encouraged to pursue this, I count those blessings daily. To get to the level of abedford,goodrich,kirk, wages, weigle or a sachs I think it's some god given aptitude, vision and putting in the time at the bench. Time will tell if I have those skills and I'm looking for that bridge to get there.

[DCT]

J-

any thought into custom dropouts? isp? lugs?


so many builders trying to differentiate from one another. whats your thought?

[Curt Goodrich]

Yo JG,

Let's talk paint. What's the one quart of paint you wish you never owned? What part of painting do you dig the most? Masking- are you a tape guy or liquid latex? Final clears- reduced or straight up? Installing decals- piece of cake or necessary evil? Masked head tubes- bottom of the lug edge, top of the lug edge or split the middle? Base coat or single single stage?