GT signs Kyle Strait

Feb 3, 2012
by Karl Burkat  
GT Bicycles announced today the 2012 roster for the Wingmen team, a collective of riders that redefine mountain biking. Captained by pioneer Hans Rey, new additions and shifts in the team continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible on two wheels.

“The GT Wingmen are a versatile group of free riders that redefine how we compete, communicate, and chronicle mountain biking,” said Mark Peterman, Global General Manager GT Bicycles. “These unique athletes showcase our continued commitment to progressive riders and the mountain biking lifestyle. This year’s roster will continue to push the envelope of what we’ve seen in mountain biking.”

photo

Additions to the Wingmen roster include Kyle Strait and Kenny Belaey. Strait has held top positions at some of the most prestigious freeride events, and has demonstrated his versatility at UCI World Cups around the world. Belaey, the former multi-time Trials World Champion, is an innovator and visionary in the sport. These riders will be joining the team of Hans Rey, Tyler McCaul, Dave Watson, Dave Smutok, and East Coast MTB advocate Lars Tribus.

photo

Kenny Belaey to also rock GT in 2012


The GT Wingmen will be riding the Ruckus DJ, La Bomba, Distortion, and Force. A collection of bikes inspired by the athletes’ riding styles will debut later this year, along with a special project to commemorate Hans Rey’s 25th anniversary with GT.

http://www.gtbicycles.com/

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104 Comments
  • 88 3
 GT are really stepping up their game this year. I cant wait for the season to get into full swing, lots of new teams and new riders. Exciting stuff
  • 15 103
flag Devinallan000x (Feb 3, 2012 at 5:07) (Below Threshold)
 this is b.s
  • 5 1
 They're really upping their game hey! And the most ridden brand this season will be...
  • 15 1
 They got the DH team, now Slopestyle, GT is now podium contender.
  • 13 2
 how the hell in this b.s?
  • 5 0
 "Bull Shit"? yeh really awesome to see GT with the new teams!
  • 12 44
flag nouser (Feb 3, 2012 at 6:50) (Below Threshold)
 GT is sketch
  • 26 4
 GT is as awesome as the moment your parent realized your an idiot.
  • 16 33
flag DIRTESANCHEZ433 (Feb 3, 2012 at 7:43) (Below Threshold)
 MERICA
  • 7 2
 anda? your point?
  • 22 36
flag norcovpsshore (Feb 3, 2012 at 9:01) (Below Threshold)
 Doesnt matter who they have on their team, bike will still look like trash
  • 19 8
 your an idiot^^^^^

its better than your bike. and GT makes a legit bike
  • 4 8
flag jordanreeder69 (Feb 3, 2012 at 9:06) (Below Threshold)
 yaa punk ^
^
  • 10 21
flag norcovpsshore (Feb 3, 2012 at 10:27) (Below Threshold)
 DIRTESANCHEZ433, youve probably never ridden a GT. My point is it looks ugly as hell. Better than my bike? hahahha
  • 11 2
 Actually I rode for gt when I raced bmx. So jokes on you. And it's a great lookIng bike that's for sure. And a gt is way better than your bike
  • 11 0
 Catfight! Meow! GT has a stacked rider list this year, stoked!
  • 2 0
 i smell blood!
  • 4 5
 i love you DIRTESANCHEZ! MERICAN BLOOD
  • 7 0
 Have GT won the lottery or something? How can they afford this? Awesome news tho!
  • 7 5
 People Riding Gay Transformers.... wow.... (neg prop me puss)
  • 9 8
 im jumping on the band wagon and saying the gt is gonna be the greatest and best looking bike because they got big name pros to ride them (pure sarcasm).....i still think they are shit and I will never ride one. i cant wait for the day for schwinn starts making dh bikes and signs some big name riders and watch all the people flock to a pos schwinn and call it an amazing machine.
  • 4 1
 "Haha, you think that's a Schwinn."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUC9hygkhME
  • 6 1
 Does it really matter what your riding and how it looks? The wheels still turn so those guys are all going to shred regardless.
  • 2 1
 you guys take this stuff to close to heart . alot of mix ups this year tho . should be interesting
  • 5 1
 no gt have not won the lottery... they just happen to be one of the biggest bike brands in the world
  • 18 0
 Wow Kyle Stait and The Athertons.. A Powerfull Mix
  • 5 0
 and beaumont !!
  • 2 0
 Mccaul
  • 5 0
 yeah, maybe havin a stacked team will employ more useful feedback for the designers and builders of the frames
  • 6 1
 To those that bash GT.... Have you ridden one? The Idrive pedals very well, its snappy, light, and quiet. The GT haters are the same people that hate on Kona or other traditonal designs without ever riding one; but as soon as Sam Hill or someone that the sheeple all love rides one, they thing the bike is the dopest shizz around. Everyone hated on the demo until Sam got on one. Design makes a difference but geometry is everything. Looks mean nothing. Except you will think you are cooler.
  • 8 1
 So Zink and Strait are both going to be using carbon DH bikes this year. This is kind of blowing my mind a little bit.
  • 3 0
 And Semenuk
  • 3 0
 GT is trying to take over the game again like they did in the 90's. When they had Furtado, Lopes, Peat, Watson just to name a few.
  • 6 2
 they'll need to step up their product line, mediocre at best, I was surprised with the athertons and now straight! well things can only go up for them, I wish them well
  • 2 12
flag hillatoppa (Feb 3, 2012 at 9:31) (Below Threshold)
 Step up their product line??? I don't think Kyle, or the Athertons really care about the product line dude...
  • 5 1
 you can put together as good of a team as you want, but if you don't sell bikes, eventually you'll have no team and no distribution...
  • 3 0
 Im sure all these athletes are working with GT to step up their bikes
  • 4 0
 It's all business- neither the Athertons or Kyle signed with GT because of their product line (so being 'surprised' is pretty naive).
  • 1 0
 Oh I know it's business but the athertons always talk about wanting to ride the best bikes in the world and i feel you need to be on a quality rig to be at the top of the heap and GT isn't bringing that right now, IMO much better rides out there
  • 2 0
 Kenny Belaey is one of the most amazing trials rider's I've ever seen, not just in comps, but has put out some amazing street vids and can rock the mtb too!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioaTIMB8vIg
  • 1 0
 Sounds cool but I still believe that its not all about the bike and more about the rider. I have seen guys riding no name brands and still be competitive I have a bike like this and I am competitive at my level www.2wheelbikes.com/sx40-mountain-bike.html
  • 5 0
 GT is really getting a stacked group of riders this year !
  • 3 0
 Kyle's the man! Great rider, down to earth attitude, and genuine nice guy. Couldn't ask for a better rider to represent your company! Good luck Kyle!!!
  • 4 0
 talk about a dialed team. trek may be in a run for their money this year for who will have the better team
  • 4 0
 GT seems to be working toward world domination again! Hans Rey alone does not a team make :-)

www.bikefat.com
  • 3 2
 Hmm. This is stepping up to be a great team and all, but I still have trouble dealing with the fact that GT and all the other companies collected by Pacific are just funneling our money into China. Back in the day, GT was a grassroots team, with all the owners, designers, and company based out of So-Cal. I lusted after a GT Zaskar when I was in college....all that ball burnished, triple-triangled, MADE IN THE USA goodness. GT is, sadly, a mere shadow of what it was...really only a name, a couple of designers left from the old days, and a giant Wallyworld based conglomerate sucking up all the profits and shooting them overseas. Even if they manage to collect up all of the best pros in the world and take every podium from here to eternity, I would still rather my hard earned scratch go to a smaller company, run by real riders, who reflect and stand by the lifestyle I live. Keep it in the family.
  • 2 1
 real riders and not sell outs still work for GT. Why do so many people think that because its made in china its not going to work. you small minded chat room retards make me laugh. Its your i won't pay that much attitude that made it leave the USA.
  • 1 0
 Actually not made in china, made in taiwan like so many other BIG names bike frames...
  • 3 0
 Massive investment by GT for this year.Lets hope they don't go bust with all the wages they will have to pay !
  • 4 0
 trek and gt ruling gravity............look out for schwinn in 2013
  • 2 0
 That would be the illest comeback ever!!!!
  • 1 0
 I saw a shwinn at canadian tire... doest that pretty much makes it a walmart brand?
  • 1 0
 yeah.. sadly it is so.
  • 4 2
 Look to pick your GT up in Canada at Sport Chek this season. I'm not kidding, the kid who just sold a pair of Crocs is going to assemble your bike.
  • 2 1
 yea, low end GTs. They sell to LBS as well. you wouldn't ba able to find anything $1000+ at sportchek
  • 4 0
 No different than Jamis selling their low end models to Sportschek. Just because its a sporting goods store doesn't automatically mean they cannot hire people who know how to assemble/fix bikes. I know quite a few people who claim to be bike mechanics who work almost exclusively in IBD/LBS shops and who's work I would never trust to be done correctly.
  • 1 0
 Sorry but I was a GT dealer until this year. They're selling the whole line-up at Sport-Chek. They gave us the option of remaining a dealer but you cant compete with Forzani's buying power and pricing.
  • 2 0
 I would also agree deeight.
  • 2 1
 Quite an amazing group of riders they've put together. Feels a little insular as Vancouver hasn't seen or heard much from the GT brand in years. I guess they're doing huge business somewhere!
  • 5 1
 That's because the canadian distributor for many years now, Genesis Cycles... are total morons. They don't bring in the top models of road or XC bikes, they don't bring in many sizes of some things they do bring (Peace 9r bikes in SS and Geared versions were imported in the MEDIUM size only), changing the product spec on models they did bring in because they thought the dealers wouldn't notice and they could line their pockets better (the Avalanche 2.0s a few years ago, a $900 price point bike were getting cranks you saw on $400 bikes). Look at the GT website for the USA and Canada in a couple browser tabs, flip back and forth and you'll quickly see huge holes in the lineup for canada.
  • 2 0
 GT, Cannondale, Iron Horse, Schwinn, Mongoose, and Sport Chek are all owned by the same company: The Pacific Group, which seems to be doing pretty well these days.
  • 3 1
 so what your saying is the Pacific Group has a average line of products at best?....
I couldn't imagine bucking up for any of those products...maybe Cannondale if it was half the MSRP...Nah...
  • 1 0
 You're wrong. They are all owned by Dorel, a huge conglomerate. GT, Cannondale and Mongoose fall under the CSG (Cycling Sports Group) umbrella now, which is a separate, IBD specific group. As far as vondals goes, he's probably nuts for some other "average like of products", like Trek and Specialized, whose marketing better suits his personality. To each their own.
  • 1 0
 actually im still liking your Huffy with the banana seat i stole from you....boo-hoo
  • 2 0
 "Kenny Belaey to also rock GT in 2012" Split infinitive. Ha! Moving on.

Right on, Kyle. Danny Hart has some new competition in the whip department.
  • 1 0
 kyle straight can hardly be described as "new" competition, been around as a pro rider for a lot longer than danny hart...
  • 3 0
 GT's making wise choices, picking the best of the best!
  • 1 0
 you got it mate
  • 1 0
 It seems that GT wants to be riding the wave. It will cost quite a bit because the competition is "yesterday" and today there are more roosters in the henhouse.
  • 1 0
 The future is bright @GT. Having been a fan since the '90s I so wish I could afford a Fury. Have to make do with my ageing but faithful Dhi. Go GT.
  • 3 0
 wingmen team sounds awesome
  • 1 0
 Wow... off Pivot? Just last year they were saying what a great team they made!
Frankly, I see this as a good move. Kyle is tha MAN.
  • 2 0
 kyle was insane at the race busting out some fat whips narly
  • 1 0
 Anyone else think GT's aren't that good looking bikes? Wonder what their roster think about the gear..
  • 3 1
 Damm GT who else are you going to get!
  • 3 1
 me
  • 3 1
 bahahahaha nooooooooo
  • 1 0
 hahahaha. i'm a silly jokester EH?
  • 2 0
 GT is gettin serious now !
  • 3 2
 GT signs with the Athertons.
GT signs with Kyle Strait.
My LBS will focus mainly on GT.

What's up GT? Need for domination?
  • 1 2
 Oh and my best friend rides a GT Force as well now.
  • 2 0
 Awesome crew for Kyle to be with...
  • 2 0
 Dave Watson AND Lars Tribus?!? Cool!
  • 3 2
 I want GT to resign Peaty like the old days, then this year would be complete.
  • 2 0
 GT signs....Everyone! GT world domination!
  • 1 0
 GT has really been saving their money just waiting to jump on some good riders
  • 1 0
 GT is not buying anything, or anyone, Dorel is.
www.dorel.com/product.htm
  • 1 0
 They've got one hell of a team now!
  • 1 0
 2011 GT Ruckus 7.1 frame (NEW)
4 SALE***$1,200 BUCKS
  • 1 0
 Gt going big...Good news!

Edit : Dave watson ???
  • 1 0
 Watson has been on the GT program for a couple seasons now. A legend and a great brand ambassador.

www.hansrey.com/HansReyJordanAdventure.pdf
  • 1 0
 the dude that flew big over roadies head?yeah!
  • 1 0
 Damn!!! What a power house...
  • 2 0
 Wow. What a crew!
  • 2 3
 Thats a smart move for gt. Straight exactly what they need, great all around rider and give them a pressence at slope style events. He serious with the racing also.
  • 10 0
 Slopestyle Tyler McCaul has been on GT for awile.
  • 1 2
 Financial numbers don't add up. Trek and marin doing well doing well. QUICK SIGN ANY MOUNTAIN BIKERS THATS EVER WON SOMETHING
  • 1 0
 I'm stoked to see how this new roster is gonna perform this year.
  • 1 0
 They forgot to mention that they'll be riding the Force.
  • 1 0
 GT us just on fire for 2013
  • 1 0
 dont forget Gee Atherton!
  • 1 0
 one at a time...
  • 1 2
 GT bikes are whack! go with Ibis or Intense!
  • 1 3
 In my opinion, the Athertons don't belong to GT







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