John Grunzke
Grunzke Cycles

Pettigrew, Arkansas

My speciality is building silver brazed lugged frame sets for the long distance cyclist.

I graduated from Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN with a degree in Industrial Arts. I worked as a mechanic and machinist for a few years, then became involved in seasonal forestry contracts and started bicycling cross-country during the mid-80's. Three summers I toured the United States and Eastern Canada. Then I toured a couple of summers in Europe and trained in the French Alps and Pyrenees. Since then I completed Boston-Montreal-Boston, 1991 & 1995 Paris-Brest-Paris, and cycled 441 miles in the 1998 U.M.C.A. 24 Hour Championships last August.

I became interested in frame building and learned the basics of lugged frame construction at the United Bicycle Institute in 1993. Since completing the course I've constructed a workshop and bought the tools needed to do very good work.

The frame sets I've constructed used Henry James lugs, shells, dropouts and fork crowns. The seat stays are capped concave, and I've added brake bridge stiffeners. Three bottle braze-ons, and braze-ons for a rear rack are other options. Someone else does the finish work so I can focus on the structural details. The least expensive finish would be a single color powder coat. The last frame I built has a red powder coat base with white Imron rear triangle and accented lugs. It looks very nice, but adds about $100 to the cost. I can also build the frame and spec it to a carbon fork.

Expect prices to start at about $900. I'll be ready to begin after I get back from Paris-Brest-Paris 1999.