Dirt

GT Bicycles, a division of Dorel Industries, is an American manufacturer of road and mountain bikes and BMXs. It was founded in 1979 by welding engineer Gary Turner and bike shop owner Richard Long, and has since gone on to become one of mountain biking’s market leaders, with an extensive range of products and a number of successful pro teams.

The current range of GT mountain bikes features gravity, MTBMX, all-mountain, trail full-suspension, trail hardtail, XC and recreational hardtail models. Many of its hardtails can be easily spotted by their distinctive ‘triple triangle’ frame design. There is also a full range of parts and components, including bottom brackets, freewheels, pedals, saddles and tyres.

The company’s mountain bike team is divided into two parts – Factory Racing features downhillers Gee and Rachel Atherton, Marc Beaumont and Taylor Vernon, plus enduro riders Dan Atherton and Martin Maes, while the ‘Wingmen’ are made up of Kenny Belaey, Tyler McCaul, Hans Rey, Kyle Strait and Lars Tribus. There are also a number of regional teams competing in cross-country, downhill and enduro events.

GT’s collaboration with the Athertons has been particularly successful, winning a World Championship, overall World Series in Downhill and Enduro, two British National Championships and two British Series Championships. And it looked like the success would continue into 2014, as Rachel won the first round of the Shimano British Downhill Series at Antur Stiniog.