Marcelo Gutierrez Celebrates 10 Years on Giant with a Custom Painted "Chiva" Glory

Nov 16, 2022
by Marcelo Gutierrez  

Words: Marcelo Gutierrez

After being inspired by Reece Wallace on his special projects, it's been a while that I have been thinking about how to integrate a Chiva on a bike. It was quite tricky since these vehicles have way too much detail on them so to simplify I knew it was a challenge. But, this challenge was accepted and with a team behind we managed to make it happen and with the best reason possible, celebrate a decade with you guys.

Let me first say what a Chiva is. A Chiva (Spanish for goat) or escalera (Spanish for ladder and stairs) is an artisan rustic bus used in rural Colombia. Chivas are adapted to rural public transport, especially considering the mountainous geography of the Andean region of these countries.

photo

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Why a Chiva? I have always been too proud of my country and my culture. It would be way too obvious to have a bike with the Colombian colors, in fact, I have had it already, that was my last year's bike with the team to race world champs. But this project was going beyond, was getting deeper into the country and as I said, after seeing what Reece has done, I needed to make this dream come true.

Glory Chiva 10 years

photo

This bicycle for sure reminds me all my history of racing, now as you know I enjoy the bike in a different way, but who knows, will see what brings the future for me!

photo

Cheers!
–Marcelo

Regions in Article
Colombia

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Videos Bike Checks DH Bikes Giant Giant Glory Marcelo Gutierrez


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67 Comments
  • 68 0
 so awesome. i really miss seeing him at the world cups.
  • 11 7
 Yo tan bien.
  • 3 0
 Same here, powerful legs
  • 69 1
 Giant celebrates No Updates on the Glory for 10 years
  • 7 69
flag carlwheezer69 (Nov 16, 2022 at 13:56) (Below Threshold)
 So what, you just do something for 10 years and suddenly its PB article worthy? I've been wearing the same pair of bib-tights for over a decade, and you don't see an article being written about me. I'll take my calloused sit bones elsewhere pal. #staywokepal #staycallousedpal
  • 9 1
 @carlwheezer69: I've been wearing the same shammy for over a decade. It's disgusting.
  • 1 14
flag carlwheezer69 (Nov 16, 2022 at 15:06) (Below Threshold)
 @pistol2ne: Let me see. Proof or it didn't happen. @100percent
  • 6 2
 Here you go Marcelo have an outdated carbon glory custom painted from us for all your hard word.
  • 3 0
 @racecase: You have a nice tan?
  • 5 2
 @carlwheezer69: go start a blog all about yourself and be gone with your cringe
  • 4 0
 @MOBrules: his Spanish ... well, has some room for improvement
  • 2 0
 @mininhi: why fix what ain't broke!!
  • 29 0
 You really couldn't give us a nice drive side pic to look at all the art work? Dope looking paint job I want to see more of it!
  • 17 0
 No kidding, what an awesome in-focus shot of that cable guide
  • 5 0
 @therealmancub: don’t forget about the zip tie too.
  • 8 0
 Last time a custom Glory was posted I yelled at Giant to release the new one and they responded with "Soon." That was ages ago so I am yelling again... GET IN HERE GIANT! SHOW YOURSELF! Give the people what they want!!
  • 3 0
 2023 is the year...stay tuned
  • 4 0
 @TIZZASPAIN: 2023 is the year they announce the 2024 model, hitting stores late 2025…
  • 1 0
 those externally routed cables look like a thing from the future, what a time to be alive!!!
  • 7 0
 I dont Care about the Giant Glory not having updates for 10 years.... it's an amazing bike, it rides really well with a super smooth suspension , so , it still a great DH machine in 2022 .
  • 4 0
 Maestro always is a pleasure, but a bike with modern reach etc. would be great!
  • 3 0
 Felicitaziones por 10 años Marcelo! Que bici tan vacana, me alegra ver mi tierra representada de una manera tan bonita! Mucho respeto para Giant por suportar Marcelo y ciclomontañismo Colombiano to este tiempo!
  • 4 0
 So funny Giant still sponsors non E+ Riders since the last Glory Update should be nearly from the time the Saint was launched....
  • 8 1
 But this bike just works for years now.
  • 1 0
 No need to update it ... it is just perfect !
  • 5 0
 A beautiful bike for a beautiful country
  • 4 0
 Best custom bike to date. Que authentico.
  • 4 0
 That bike was born to have oil slick pedals...super cool looking bike!!
  • 1 0
 I thought Capra was Spanish for goat. At least that's what they told when they first released the bike (with Lacondeguy in the ad). Advertisements are really bad for learning a new language.
  • 1 0
 Cabra in Spanish, Capra in Italian and Latin I think. :-)
  • 1 0
 I just remember the mythical chupacabra (goat sucker). Chupa Chup lollipops means 'suck suck', so the cabra must be the goat.
  • 1 0
 @mexicanoportugal: you're right Wink
  • 3 0
 That is a fantastic paint job.
  • 3 0
 External cable routing - awesome!
  • 2 0
 Absolutely beautiful. Can we please get more shots of this beauty @GUT1ERREZ ?
  • 2 0
 This is the most beautiful bike I have ever seen. Everyone involved should be so proud!
  • 2 0
 Oh my God !!! That is awesome .... I am reminded of the chivas that go up from Bogota to La Calera Smile
  • 2 0
 I have been riding Giant for 20 years in 2023. I expect to see Giant Team Blue brought back for me.
  • 1 0
 I'm with you ... first Giant was Box Two in 1998 ... never had other bikes than Giant (now i ride my 10th Giant)
  • 3 0
 Glorious
  • 2 0
 Marcelo get back to WC races!!
  • 2 0
 muy chingona la bici manolo!
  • 3 0
 #updatetheglory
  • 1 1
 NO !!!!
  • 1 0
 That thing looks brilliant, better than anything people show up on for the worlds. The painter is super talented.
  • 4 7
 I’ll bet they warranty his frames if his bottom bracket cracks, or a rock kicks up and breaks his downtube. Makes me wonder if Giant’s gravity pros get a couple extra plies of carbon to beef up their frames. A lot of companies used to do that for their pro road sprinters. I haven’t seen a current carbon Giant trail/enduro/DH frame that hasn’t cracked within a season or 2 of normal use.
  • 2 0
 Must be a recent thing, I had a 2015 carbon Trance for 3 hard ridden years without any problems other than a creaking bb that wouldn't stfu no matter what I did.
  • 4 0
 Weird? Finishing up season 3 of punishing my Reign 29 composite and no issues at all.
  • 5 0
 Ive BB cased 40fts on my trance and shes still going strong after 2 seasons carbon aswell
  • 2 1
 @DizzyNinja: I cracked a 2017 Trance rear end-bad weld. GF had a longitudinal crack of the top tube on a 2017 Trance Advanced. Both were warrantied with no issues. I get that bikes can break-it’s the now stingy warranty that bugs me. If it’s not a crash and it cracks or breaks, I’d call it a defect (in engineering if not construction).
  • 4 0
 My 2015 Reign (first of the new shape) has been taking a beating for years. This year she's been stripped and alu-polished to a chrome finish to make her a pure uplift/Alps bike, Singlespeed, the lot. They are an amazing brand, building great frames, and their warranty dept ( in the UK anyway) is amazing.
  • 2 1
 @tmeyer: Frame one, stress cracks from pedaling torque-Giant did a "Composite Care" replacement-should have been a warranty. A frame should put up okay with a two years of putting watts to pedals. Frame two-a small rock kicked up off the front wheel (on a mellow blue trail), blew out the downtube through the rubber frame protector. That frame had less than 500 miles, no particularly hard rides on it. Giant just says their frames don't break due to defects. I beg to differ. Of the 6 or so Reigns sold by the LBS, 4 or 5 have been replaced (once) already. None as warranty claims-so Giant WILL give you a frame, but then you're SOL on the replacement-which WILL also break.
  • 1 0
 @zachprattis: dang, I’ve rode if 6” curbs and so far it’s 4 revolt frames, 1 glory advance and 1 anthem. Local shop took care of me but will never own another Giant.
  • 2 0
 I love this guy!!
  • 1 0
 Dissector front Assegai rear!? Can someone explain why you would do this?
  • 1 0
 I was wondering the same... maybe it's a different tire on the front?
  • 1 0
 Perhaps he needs more help slowing down then he does cornering/looking for grip
  • 1 0
 Remember when everyone puts a Minion DHF rear and the DHR front? For more grip on the front wheel?? Same here...
  • 1 0
 I want a "Dia de los Muertos" paint job
  • 1 0
 ok... so go get one done?
  • 1 0
 Looks like the bike I got! lol
  • 1 0
 The bike's nice... but the bus - wowzers!
  • 1 0
 A Free custom bike is nothing to complain about.
  • 1 0
 nice bike ,,, belle couleur...
  • 1 0
 Congrats Marcelo!! Always a class act. Keep shredding bro!!
  • 1 0
 Marcelo, since you stopped racing I have no one to root for!
  • 1 0
 For those who dont know what a Chiva is Smile youtu.be/EwFlzZpMW94







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