About Bontager~
Bontrager Wheel Owners Manual PDF~The year was 1980. After three concussions, two broken collar bones, two separated shoulders and one broken back, bicycle design expert Keith Bontrager decided to retire from the sports of motocross racing and cross country motorcycling.
It was time to move on to his second career.
Keith began working on two-wheeled objects in 1965 at the age of 12. He built lawnmower-powered mini bikes from scratch.
Four years later he began his motocross career, funding his racing through a newspaper route and repairing motorcycles. He won several national road racing titles in lightweight production and 250GP road racing.
Yet Bontrager was interested in more than just the racing aspect of the sport. From 1975 to 1981 he designed, built and tuned motocross and road racing motorcycles at the national and world championship level. He successfully improved motorcycle engines and suspension during this period.
In 1978, Keith became attracted to a different type of two-wheeled vehicle, the bicycle. A year later he built his first road bike frame and began road racing bicycles in collegiate races. His extensive motocross background naturally drew him to mountain bikes. After building his first mountain bike frame in 1980, Keith was hooked.
“Fat tire bikes made it possible for me to ride on trails, which I liked, without the noise, complexity, cost and environmental impact of motorcycles, all of which I’d grown to dislike over the years.”
That same year he started Bontrager Cycles in Sunnyvale, California. He built custom road, mountain, track and tandem frames and accessories.
After majoring in physics at UCSC, Bontrager was ready to get technical. In 1984, he introduced new “cut down rims” that led the way to modern lightweight off road rims. He published several articles, ranging from the effects of TIG welding to the flaws of sizing methods.
He designed and patented the “composite” fork crown in 1987, which is the most prevalent current suspension design. Keith continued to develop several other unique bicycle components that offer performance benefits for off-road cycling.
In 1992 Bontrager Cycles grew from a one-man custom frame shop to a limited production facility. Trek Bicycle Corporation acquired Bontrager Cycles in 1995 and hired Keith as president. He currently lives with his wife and their three children in Santa Cruz, California.
“For the last ten years or so I’ve tried to improve bicycles, both for myself and for everyone else, by applying my technical skills and experience to equipment and design.
I’ve also committed myself to designing durable, efficient bicycles and parts no matter what material or technology I select. If I have my way I’ll be able to contribute in this way for another 20 years.”
In 2003, Bontrager Wheelworks reached a new milestone that Keith is especially proud of. Bontrager is the official wheel supplier of Lance Armstrong and the United States Postal Service Cycling Team.
Bontrager product is designed to handle the demands of the best cyclists in the world. Keith can now watch the wheels that he has put a lifetime of energy into creating ride the cobbles of Northern Europe and climb the great cols of the Tour de France under the USPS team.
Keith continues to work with his team of Product Managers and Engineers to continually deliver premium wheels and components to Lance and his team. Bontrager is an official sponsor of the Discovery Team.
At the same time Keith remembers his roots in mountain biking and continues to create new technologies for the dirt. In 2004 he invented Tubeless Ready Technology. A revolutionary system that incorporates lightweight tire casings into a tire with a tubeless bead. Utilizing Bontrager sealant allows riders to run low tire pressures on lightweight tires and not have to worry about flat tires.
Today Keith travels year round. Doing 24 Hour mountain bike races, testing his products, and visiting with riders about what they want for their bikes.~~2299~2307~~
Bontrager Aeolus 6.5 Carbon Clinchers~~65mm cross section and toroidal shape gives the optimum height to width ratio for aerodynamic performance (with 22mm tire).
Low spoke count carbon clincher rim based on the proven Race XXX Lite clincher.
14 gauge bladed spokes laced to Swiss made hubs for the ultimate in speed.
Replica of the tubular wheel Bontrager developed with HED Cycling for Discovery's attempt on a record 7th Tour de France win.
US Pat 5,931,544.
Presta valve.
~Aeolus 6.5 Carbon Clincher|Bont.Aeolus.Carbon.Wheels|~2299~2305~~
Bontrager Race Lite Flangeless~~Low profile, eyeletted rim for improved ride characteristics.
Easily convertible between Shimano and Campagnolo.
Sealed cartridge bearing hubs for increased durability.
Bladed, stainless steel spokes with E-coating makes these wheels look great.
Aluminum alloy locking nipples.
US Pat 5,931,544.
Presta valve~Bontrager Race Lite Flangeless|Bont.Race.Lite.Wheels|~2299~2304~~
Bontrager Select~~Front wheel is designed with 20 spokes and a 23mm tall rim to provide over 40% less drag than a standard 32-hole wheel.
Rear wheel has a re-designed rim with an improved Offset Spoke Bed for excellent durability and ride quality.
Same paired spoke technology as used on wheels used by the Discovery Pro Cycling Team.
Brass locking nipples; Presta valve.
US Pat 5,931,544~Bontrager Select|Bont.Select.Wheels|~2299~2311~~