Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Bontrager road bike

I am wondering if anyone has any info on this particular bike. It is mine now and don't know much more than what I was told, it does not have decals. I looked up Keith Bontrager and know a little about him, but not to much about his road bikes.

What I was told when I purchased it was that it was a custom Bontrager, hand-built Frame/Fork by Tommy Clarke "who worked for Keith B ~1994 in Santa Cruz".

Components are:
Handlebars - Cinelli Giro d'italia
Brake Calipers - Campy Nuovo Record
Brake Levers - Campy Nuovo Record
Crank/Freewheel - Campy Nuovo Record (177.5mm) and unknown 7 speed freewheel
Wheels - Campy Nuovo Record to ma-2 and g-40 rims
Tires - Ritchey Slicks, 700cx25mm
Headset - Campy Nuovo Record
Bottom Bracket - Campy Nuovo Record

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/8050/4673806480124ab44afeb.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/4673806480124ab44afeb.jpg/)

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A bump.
Also, if no one knows anything about the frame, would anyone care to comment on the components?

nice looking bike but I don't quite understand a few things. the frame was custom built by a Bontrager employee in 1994? but the purchaser put Nouvo Record group on it?

have you contacted Bontrager for info? I am a littel unsure just when, but didn't trek buy out Bontrager about this time? too bad you did not get a signed receipt (not that any of us get that)

From what I understand, The original owner had the frame custom built and used it for racing (apparently won a race, forget which one). I think the frame was purchased without any components and the owner put his own on. The welds look good and there are the extra things the tubes sit in as well. I can post a pic if anyone wants but I can't explain it any better.

I did read about Trek buying out Bontrager around this time. But as far as I know, he had a shop in Santa Cruz where he built frames up until that point. Most info on Bontrager is about mountain bikes, and I can't really seem to find much on road bikes.

If there is nothing anyone knows about the frame, could you please appraise the group on it. Thank you.

I've had few Bontrager MTB and Road Lite's over the past years. Great bikes and excellent value! All steel frame with optional front suspensions and weighed out like the current high end crop. That's about 2years a go, now the values have dropped like Wall Street. I've copied a review from MTBR website which has lots of information and some history about Keith Bontrager, who still is active in the cycling industry.

MTBR:

"Here's a quick overview:

Race Lite vs Race - The headtube on Race Lites are milled out to save weight, and Race models are not. If you look at the front of the bike where the Bontrager "dot" is on the head tube, you will see an obvious line where material was removed form the head tube on Race Lites. There are other differences, but this is the easiest too see visually. Both bikes use 26.8 seat tubes, and all Race and Race Lites (and Road Lites) were made in Santa Cruz.

Privateers - Privateers should look like the Race model, but will use a 27.0 seat post. The Privateers were made in Wisconsin by Trek.

Pre vs Post Trek - Trek took over Bontrager in late '95 or early '96. All '96 and later Race and Race Lites were made in Santa Cruz, but after Trek owned Bontrager. Prior to Trek, Bontrager could not aquire single piece rear stays from True Temper and had to make their own. After Trek came in, Bontrager was able to get the tube that they wanted. Pre-Trek Bontragers have a weld in the seat stays just below the brake mounts. Post-Trek models have a one piece stay with no welds.

Stickers - There were two styles of stickers. The older style has squared off ends, and the newer ones come to a point and have sloping edges. I don't know exactly when the switch was made."

Here's a website for some history:

http://bontrager.com/history

Hope this will help, gioscinelli

Thanks for the info gioscinelli. The head tube does look like it has a spot milled out. Regarding the seat stays, I don't quite understand. Is the little piece that goes between the two seat stays (where the brake mounts to the frame) the additional weld in pre-Trek frames? or is the seat stay itself welded somewhere between the seat post and rear wheel? Thanks for the help!