rumpfy
BoTY Winner
I picked this Bontrager frame up from Velo Cult. Started out as an innocent enough project...all the Bontragers I'd previously tried (Race, Race Lite, TiLite) I found forgettable. In fact I found their ride to be displeasing (especially at speed). But they are an iconic bike with a great cult following and I always liked the earlier versions of this bike with the riveted cable guildes. Not to mention they yield from Santa Cruz, my favorite place to ride. I figured I was missing something.
So I set out to build one using my go to kit. Maybe a bit dull, but tried and true. And more importantly, predictable. I've found multiple bikes with like (or similar) set ups allow for great comparison between different frames or forks. I can't say for sure why, but my experience on this first gen 'production' OR was a pleasant one. I even held a Strava KOM on a short quick twisty section on my local shake down trail for quite some time using this bike. It was built as a work horse. A beater.
Then I got an email from Joe Breeze looking for bikes for the SFO Museum Exhibit. I passed on some leads for a few bikes, but also offered this Bontrager as a possible option.
As luck would have it, the bike was selected for display. A week ago, I was thrashing it down the side of a mountain...and now it was going to be on display for thousands (hundreds of thousands?) to see. As a collector and vrc advocate (and resident forum slut/asshole), I needed to make sure the bike was something I could be proud of and accurately represented Keith's work. With the help of Bontrager experts Hollister and Mr. Orange, they coached me to correct details I would have otherwise missed (eg: the correct seat collar and proper rd cable routing). Changes to Salsa stem and qr's (since Ross and Keith were friends), nice display tires and saddle. And a lot of cleaning.
The end result is a classic looking mountain bike.
A few pics to enjoy as well as the full photoshoot (with new and old pics, full build spec):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rumpfy/set ... 630675237/
As purchased:
As ridden (initial build):
As finished:
On display at the SFO Museum:
In holding:
Last to go in place:
On display (back of Keith's head):
Coming home:
So I set out to build one using my go to kit. Maybe a bit dull, but tried and true. And more importantly, predictable. I've found multiple bikes with like (or similar) set ups allow for great comparison between different frames or forks. I can't say for sure why, but my experience on this first gen 'production' OR was a pleasant one. I even held a Strava KOM on a short quick twisty section on my local shake down trail for quite some time using this bike. It was built as a work horse. A beater.
Then I got an email from Joe Breeze looking for bikes for the SFO Museum Exhibit. I passed on some leads for a few bikes, but also offered this Bontrager as a possible option.
As luck would have it, the bike was selected for display. A week ago, I was thrashing it down the side of a mountain...and now it was going to be on display for thousands (hundreds of thousands?) to see. As a collector and vrc advocate (and resident forum slut/asshole), I needed to make sure the bike was something I could be proud of and accurately represented Keith's work. With the help of Bontrager experts Hollister and Mr. Orange, they coached me to correct details I would have otherwise missed (eg: the correct seat collar and proper rd cable routing). Changes to Salsa stem and qr's (since Ross and Keith were friends), nice display tires and saddle. And a lot of cleaning.
The end result is a classic looking mountain bike.
A few pics to enjoy as well as the full photoshoot (with new and old pics, full build spec):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rumpfy/set ... 630675237/
As purchased:
As ridden (initial build):
As finished:
On display at the SFO Museum:
In holding:
Last to go in place:
On display (back of Keith's head):
Coming home:
