artizin

Well my 1999ish GT steel road frame just needed to be rewelded where the seatstays hit the top tube, and while my local welder/frame repair/ mechanic took a look at while he was fixing it... was like
"whoa! where did you get this? I've seen alot of GT frames but none that have looked like this" he told me it was handbuilt and had really nice welds minus the ones needing repair. He says it was probably built special for someone back in the day. Even the Chopper builder / powdercoater was impressed with the welding. so here she is.


Does anyone know where or who could have built this? Did GT ever have a handbuilt production steele road frame like this? I found a bike data base and couldn't find this bike anywhere on it. the years didn't match up even going 2 years older and 2 years younger than the said frame year. She came with a Dura-ace bottom bracket and a Dura-ace threaded headset.

urbanknight

I can't see your pic from the work filter, but I remember trying to buy a Steel GT Edge road frame back in 1995 because they were actually lighter than the aliminum version (couldn't find a steel one in my size so I ended up on aluminum). I didn't expect them to be handbuilt, but I knew they were very nice. They also might have handbuilt some in the mid 90's because they were the bike brand for the US Olympic Team in 1996.

nshm

I realize that this is a 5 year old post, but I thought I'd follow up. I just moved to west virginia from Portland a few months ago (crazy, I know) and saw one of these float up on craigslist. It seems stock but is in great shape, only set me back $120 complete with clipless pedals and gatorskins. I was amazed to find out that it was steel, especially at that weight! Magnets don't lie.

Have you found out anything more about this ride? How do you like it? What do you recommend upgrading over stock parts (or did you go frame-up)?


Kind Regards,
Nick

rpenmanparker 

Sorry, but I have never been able to get my head around that seat stay design. I know it is supposed to have some positive effects, but I think it is just hoaky. Those who like it, more power to you. It is just not for me.

halfspeed

BoSoxYacht

I could be completely wrong, but I think I remember that Yamaguchi built some old GT bikes for the US national/Olympic team.

Does anyone here know more about this?

RaleighSport

Google has all the answers.
https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/yamagu...m-pursuit-8410
Sorry that wasn't DB enough,

Still can't figure out how to work that google contraption eh?

sced

stiffens the seat stays by shortening them and probably also reduces flex in the front triangle.

RaleighSport

Not to mention it looks very nice to those of us that like the look.

BoSoxYacht

Your 1st comment was constructive, but the 2nd one was very DB.

Lets not talk about anything on this forum other than " will this carbon wheelset from China assplode, or SRAM vs Shimano vs Campagnolo".

The thread about presta valve lengths is great too. Let's have more threads like that one.

RaleighSport

I have a better idea, you get back on topic or perhaps contribute to the thread rather than calling someone who does contribute a DB. FYI, abbreviated name calling to avoid the censor.. not great taste IMO.


OP I am extremely jealous that is a very nice bike, I've lusted after a road GT for a long time now but it's just not in the cards I don't think. BSY there despite not checking is right, Yamaguchi did make some frames for GT as prototypes for olympics or superbikes by the sounds of it. I'd be fairly curious to see what else turns up. Oh, here's a simple google search about the Yamaguchi GT's there's definitely some info there, don't know if it's relevant to you though. https://www.google.com/search?q=Yama...m=122&ie=UTF-8

BoSoxYacht

I was right on topic with my reply, and you were the one that started with the use of "DB".

RaleighSport

Speculating that perhaps Yamaguchi manufactured GT bikes at one time without knowing anything doesn't exactly move things along does it? Where as speculating, checking, confirming then posting wouldn't that be a better course of action? On the side note I was really just hoping you'd show me you're not the jerk that I perceived from our last go round when I made a joke of the term you arbitrarily used in the last one in this current incident.

rpenmanparker 

That's the advertised shtick, but to me it is not worth the ugly. Not necessarily true, but I am persuaded if there were anything really there, the market penetration would have been greater. Also the imitation by competitors would have been greater. Just a curiosity, and not a very good looking one at that.

BoSoxYacht

Small men hold a grudge, so I let our last mix-up pass.

It would be nice if you could be big enough to let it pass too.

BoSoxYacht

It's not really a GT design to begin with.

San Rensho used the design, before GT ever made anything close to it.

RaleighSport

Actually, the design is called Hellenic stays, named after the originator I think it was the early 1920's and the guys name was Fred Hellens (could be wrong on that but it's what I recall).

Edit: Confirmed name, and it was 1923. Also notable, Shogun used hellenic stays for a while too.

BoSoxYacht

Thanks for the useful information.

I'm glad you have the time to do the research for others.

Soil_Sampler

GT Longmont custom frame shop.

It could have been built by Mark Nobilette.



"Mark took a job at GT Bicycles, which turned into a contract building GT team frames in his own shop."

RaleighSport

Thanks for the backhanded compliment I thought someone should throw in the correct origins since you weren't going to, so why not me? I happen to know that as I am into C&V bikes and simply confirmed the name/date.

Edit: It's now closing time and I shall be riding home now, you shall have to find someone else to troll. Until the next thread.

BoSoxYacht

My compliment was nothing but genuine.

I'm so glad we have people like you on this forum. I don't know everything about bicycle history, but I'm glad that people like you have the time to keep us all well informed.

bres dad

They didn't just use that design on their road bikes. I recently did a tune up on a friend's GT mountain bike (early, mid-90's) and it uses the same design in the frame, the 'triple triangle.' Don't have a picture, can try to get one when I see him this weekend if anyone is interested.

Ghost Ryder

I've always liked the triple triangle frames, owned a GT MTB for a bit in my teen years too.
Had a chance at this same frameset for $80, but missed it. I had/have a few projects on the go so I wasn't really motivated enouhj to add to the workload even though the price was alright.
If I see another I might bite.