Bring Out the Bonty!

With the new taste of Spring wafting in the air, so emerges the Bonty from temporary retirement. Late last season, I put 'er away early as I tried to hone in on making the new Trek a ridable rig. Since I am still trying to get the Trek all settled in, I've decided to head out with my tried and true Bontrager... loud rear cassette clicking away and all... I'm sure to the dismay of my fellow riders. I plan on taking 'er for a ride tonight to shake out the cobwebs for a great (shared) season of riding!

My Bonty was originally purchased in 1996. This was the transition year for the Bontrager bikes. It was not yet known publicly that Trek had purchased the Santa Cruz, CA shop, Kieth and all. My Bonty was one of the few that rolled out of the Santa Cruz shop with the updated, one-piece seat stays before it all went over to Trek's Wisconsin facility.

The bike was originally purchased from the now defunct Highwheeler Bike Shop. Mike, now at Velo City Cycles in Holland, MI was happy to hear I had finally bought a bike from them after being an accessories patron for such a long time. Right off the bat, my Bonty was re-fitted and upgraded. I chose to get a set of those new-fangled V-Brakes, they had just come out. The shop also happily re-shod the wheels with a set of red Ritchey Alpha and Omega-Bites. Those things were sticky! Over the years, it has gone through a lot op upgrading trying to keep up with the times. Everything from a 9-speed drivetrain to an awesome Syncros Ti ProPost to the Englund TotalAir equipped 1998 Judy XC with the special Bontrager crown to a great Bontrager RaceLite wheelset. Even the set of XTR V-Brakes are worthy of the bike.

Anyway, that bike has seen more trails than any bike I own. It took the trip out to Moab and hung with those Trek Y-Bikes (heheh). It has travelled all over this region... Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania. It has even ridden both sides of Michigan from Poto to Yankee to Pontiac Lake to Cannonsburg to Holdridge to Robinettes. What can I say? This is a great ride!

If you ever get a chance to ride one of these vintage gems, do it! The classic ride of steel is one that has to be felt to be appreciated.