It all started back in ‘Ebay and Market Watch’ thread (October 2008)

Gravymonster had spotted it on Ebay and posted it up for fellow retro bikers to see. There seemed to be lots of interest but not a lot of bids, seemed like an opportunity not to be missed so I quickly sold off lots of bits in the ’For Sale’ thread to finance a bid. I was thinking it would go for well in excess of £700, but to my surprise when it came to bid with a few seconds remaining it was at just £252. The auction ended and as the screen refreshed the final total was revealed £362! I could not believe my luck.

Research (October/November 2008)

The bike had been tinkered with over the years as parts wore out or broke. With a 1993 Grundig bike there was only one thing to do with it in my opinion, return it to it’s original specification. So where would you find its’ original spec, you ask the lads at retrobike and that’s what I did!

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The first Old World Mountain Bike Championships are to be held in Bergen (NH), 40 minutes north of Amsterdam, Holland, this September.

A group of vintage mountain bike enthusiasts have come together to organise a weekend of retro bike activities, designed to crown the first Old World Mountain Bike Champions. All racers will have to use mountain bikes built before 1995, with extra points gained for original features including cantilever brakes and skinwall tyres!

As committed restorers and riders of classic machinery including Klein, Fat Chance, Overbury’s and Orange, the group recognised that, despite the growth of interest in such historic and important brands, there were no activities or races dedicated to the early days of mountain biking.

The organisers will deliver a challenging cross country course that won’t damage those precious bikes, a crazy retro bike fashion show, along with a novel twist on trials riding for all participants – strong interest is expected from across the globe to crown the first Old World champions – so get your old school bike dusted down pronto and head for Holland!

Check http://www.owmtbc.org for more details.

Second in the retrobike 20 questions series is a man who will need no introduction, Keith Bontrager. If you really need one check out his entry in the MTB Hall of Fame.

Keith building in the garage 1980

Retrobike: How’s life?

Keith Bontrager: Life is pretty good, though complicated sometimes. Nothing
surprising I guess.

RB: Keith, what is the mtb holy grail?

KB: This is one for Gary F. He’s best at that kind of question.

RB: And what is the mtb holy fail?

KB: Getting too carried away with the mtb holy grail.

RB: Desert Island Discs Scenario – one luxury. Bike or corkscrew? Or
something else?

KB: Bike, as long as there isn’t too much sand. I have lots of ways to
get a cork out of a bottle besides a corkscrew.

RB: Wine. Bike. Love. Pick two?

KB: Bike & love. You didn’t say anything about beer and tequila so
I’ll improvise accordingly.

RB: You’ve always been seen about over this side of the pond. What is it
about the UK that has had you racing up wet English mountains on a cx
bike or trudging the innevitable mudfest conveyor belt that is Mountain
Mayhem 24hr each year (but we love it), when you’ve got such a lovely
array of nature over there?

KB: I get bored laying around on the beach in the sun and I have all
these nice warm clothes I never get to wear when I am here. Plus, I
really like falling over in the mud.

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A fine victory in the February e-stay special BoTM for Hairstream’s Yei Ultimate.