Originally Posted by
sillygolem
Keith Brontager was a mountain bike pioneer, starting in motorcycle racing, then adapting what he learned from motocross to bike frames and wheels. He eventually spread out to components and did engineering work for Trek on the side. Trek bought out Brontager in '95.
He also became known for making the first lightweight but strong MTB rims by cutting down 40-hole Mavic MA-2s to create a 32-hole 26" rim. Bontrager went on designing lightweight rims, manufactured by Weinmann. Several were introduced but never went into high production as the plant suffered a fire. In ~1995 (or '96?), he was bought out by Trek.
He also designed + patented the composite fork crown that was used by RockShox, and his own Switchblade rigid MTB fork. As an aside, those Switchblades were insanely strong. I crashed using one and the wheel was completely taco-ed, and the frame buckled bending the top tube and down tube. The fork was completely straight. The frame was a Tange Prestige Specialized Stumpjumper...