Bontrager ‘96 Privateer comp resto
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- Start date
I’m itching to ride my Bontrager, so to that end I have have made some progress over the last few days and it’s starting to look like a proper bicycle again.
I’m trying to use as many bits as possible from the original find as it was probably built up with those parts by the original owner back in ‘96/97 and I feel it’s nice to do that.
It has M600 V brakes and levers so for the time being I will use those as they were probably original in period and work really well, however, the frame and fork have cantilever hangers so eventually I’ll get some nice cantis as personally I like them more and enjoy the pure frustration of setting them up.
The Bontrager black anodised Race 5 degree handlebars aren’t going back on for now as the brake and shifters have been overclamped and quite significantly deformed the bar which I don’t like the look of, also they are super scruffy.
I’m on the look out for some Bontrager BCX wheels with system hubs but in the meantime I have some WTB rims on Ritchey hubs which will do the job nicely
I’ve rebuilt the 739 XT rapidfire shifters and the 737 Rear mech with bits from my stash of parts, the top pull LX front mech is ok so that’s going back on too.
I’ve used a mint Altus A10 110 bcd chainset which is an odd choice, they have steel rings which I like for durability albeit at a small weight penalty over the 4 bolt 94 bcd STX that was on there.
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for a 5 bolt compact XT or LX as that would be ideal
Anyway, enough chuffling, photos!
Cables and brakes tomorrow hopefully
I’m trying to use as many bits as possible from the original find as it was probably built up with those parts by the original owner back in ‘96/97 and I feel it’s nice to do that.
It has M600 V brakes and levers so for the time being I will use those as they were probably original in period and work really well, however, the frame and fork have cantilever hangers so eventually I’ll get some nice cantis as personally I like them more and enjoy the pure frustration of setting them up.
The Bontrager black anodised Race 5 degree handlebars aren’t going back on for now as the brake and shifters have been overclamped and quite significantly deformed the bar which I don’t like the look of, also they are super scruffy.
I’m on the look out for some Bontrager BCX wheels with system hubs but in the meantime I have some WTB rims on Ritchey hubs which will do the job nicely
I’ve rebuilt the 739 XT rapidfire shifters and the 737 Rear mech with bits from my stash of parts, the top pull LX front mech is ok so that’s going back on too.
I’ve used a mint Altus A10 110 bcd chainset which is an odd choice, they have steel rings which I like for durability albeit at a small weight penalty over the 4 bolt 94 bcd STX that was on there.
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for a 5 bolt compact XT or LX as that would be ideal
Anyway, enough chuffling, photos!
Cables and brakes tomorrow hopefully
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27.0 on Privateers I had thought. Might clamp down to 26.8 I 'spose depending on different brands.
That’s really kind, unfortunately I’m out of the country for a while after the 22nd but I’m patient if you want to hold onto it until you are next over this way?
Interesting, I thought the cheapo 26.8 was a bit loose.
Just had a quick check and the 96 dealer catalogue versus the 96 customer catalogue show 26.8 and 27.0 respectively, seems the latter is correct.
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which is just bizarre, as my '96 privateer fitted a thomson 26.8 post fine and those are notoriously undersized. So I guess the real answer to what size post a privateer takes is "it depends"
