In 1978 Bontrager became attracted to cycling and in 1979 built his first road bike. With his motocross background he was attracted to mountain bike cycling. In 1980 he built his first mountain bike frame and founded Bontrager Cycles in Sunnyvale, California.

In 1984 he cut 700C (ISO 622) 36-hole Mavic MA-2 tandem rims to the circumference of a 26" rim, re-rolling them to create a 32-hole 26" rim

1987

March 1987 Composite fork:

1988

1988 Bicycle Guide Upgrades Article:

1990

August 1990 Bontrager/Tange composite fork:

October 1990 Bicycle Guide Bontrager interview:

1990 Bontrager Composite fork owner's manual:

Bontrager Race Lite review from the April Bicycle Guide magazine:

Bontrager Race Lite review Bicycling magazine:

1993 Accessory Catalog:

May 1994 Bicycling magazine interview and Race Lite review

1995 Catalog (Bikes and Components)

January 1995 Fat Chance/Yeti/Bontrager road bike comparison:

July 1995 Bontrager/Trek article: