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J.D. Buchanan Bicycles
My name is Jeff Buchanan of J.D. Buchanan Bicycles. I suppose my story isn’t much different than most of you. My love affair with the bicycle started as a youngster riding BMX bikes near Antioch, California. It was my first experience of freedom and I enjoyed the speed, jumps, and ability to ride for miles without a care in the world. My first quality bike was a Webco BMX in royal blue with red decals. Over time I upgraded the bike with a chrome Redline fork and red Tuff wheels. I thought it was the coolest bike on the block. Around 1980 my father was transferred back to Maryland, we settled in a small town named Middletown. About 3 years later my prized Webco was stolen from the local mall, I was crushed, but was ready to get my driver’s license so the disappointment didn’t last too long. As a teenager, I enjoyed playing sports, mechanical things, cars, working with my hands, etc. After high school I enlisted in the Army for 4 years as a diesel mechanic. I enjoyed two years in Germany, then was transferred to Ft. Drum, NY. After my 4 years I elected not to reenlist, I missed my freedom and was about to marry my high school sweetheart.
I started shooting target rifles around 1990, competed in benchrest matches, continually practiced and became interested in what made an accurate rifle shoot so well. With G.I. Bill money burning a hole in my pocket, I started at the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School in August of 94. Sixteen months later I graduated and started a 2 year apprenticeship with a shop in Hancock, MD. I worked for the shop 3 years after my mentor retired, however the shop was a general gunsmithing business, and I wanted to specialize in target rifles. I enjoyed the machine work more than general repair, so in 2000, I started my own business. The business was called Buchanan Precision. I was fortunate to have an established customer base, enjoyed the work, invested countless hours in the business, and was successful professionally. I built rimfire and centerfire match rifles for a few accomplished competitors. All told there were ( 6 ) IR 50/50 and International Benchrest Shooters Association world records established with rifles I produced as well as many state, regional, and (1) 6-gun national championship. Unfortunately, the money was short and I had an opportunity to start with my local county as a paid firefighter/EMT. With a wife, two young children and a mortgage, the decision was an easy one. I couldn’t afford to pass on a regular paycheck, benefits, and pension. Now I have 11 years of service and haven’t looked back.
In 2003 I rode the Tour De Friends charity ride, a 340-mile ride from North Carolina to Washington, D.C. At the time I had a steel hybrid that weighed about 30 pounds. Trek provided mechanical support as well as demo bikes. On the 3rd day of the ride I tried a Trek 5200. That’s when cycling changed for me. I had no idea bikes were that fast, handled that well, or riding the road could be so much fun. Later that summer I purchased a new titanium Lemond Victoire. I’ve ridden on a regular basis since then.
In 2010 I went to NAHBS in Richmond. I had planned to look for a builder for my first custom frame. I was unprepared for the level of beauty and craftsmanship I experienced. After spending 8 hours at the show on Friday, I had only made it through less than half of the booths. I returned Sunday to finish out the show. While there, I spoke with the guys from Henry James and Nova Cycling Supply. On the drive back home Sunday evening my thoughts had changed from looking for a builder to actually attempting to build a frame for myself. Within a few weeks I had ordered all the frame components, drawn plans, and started work on my first frame. I still had my lathe and milling machine from my gunsmithing days, so making fixtures, tools, and cutting miters were all possible. I stopped documenting my time after spending 100 hours on the front triangle. For the first frame I wanted to do the fabrication and paint. So I ended up buying an inexpensive spray gun and finished off the project. Then a good friend asked me to build one for his wife, my 12-year old son was next, then a local bike shop owner. As of now I’ve completed 15 framesets and painted the last 5. I build with lugs and have completed road, touring, cyclocross, and a single speed. As of now I always complete a full scale drawing for the frame design. I feel the frames are getting better all the time with improved heat control, repeatable and consistent results, and improved efficiency. I’m finally to the point where I don’t feel as if I’m fighting with the tubes any longer. I feel like I have a better understanding of frame geometry and design and the ability to work within the angles prescribed by the castings. When I first started building in 2010, I wasn’t sure if it would turn into a business or a hobby. I wasn’t in a hurry to promote a product or sell frames. I wanted to practice building, hit my marks, insure quality control and receive feedback from riders. I’ve had positive feedback, my frames are being ridden hard, and I enjoy the process more with each frame. So last month I purchased liability insurance. I’m in the process of establishing a price list and plan to develop a website soon. I hope to display as a new builder at NAHBS in Charlotte in 2014.
Thanks to all the builders for the generous exchange of information and to Richard and Jonathan for inviting me to get Smoked Out. Any questions, fire away!
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Originally Posted by ron l edmiston
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