7 weeks and 600 miles in I love this GT

avalanche_expert

After loosing interest in riding back the late 90's, these last 12 months I've really gotten back into MTB riding. I thought I'd treat myself to GT's top of the range 2015 hard tail, the Avalanche Expert as I'm doing between 70 - 90 trail miles per week.

Had this for about 7 weeks now and I love it!

The day it arrived...
















I have fitted some colour coordinated matching extras, such as black cable ends, GT bottle cage, GT saddle bag, Mucky Nutz mud guards as well as some additional (white) 'GT' and (yellow) 'Rockshox' stickers...





Ignore the red bracket under the seat above, that was for my old bag from my old bike. This is what is fitted now...




Lastly I've fitted these Renthal lock on kevlar grips...



I did fit some bar ends at first, but I've noticed that no one seems to have them fitted to the wider riser bars on bikes now. I guess I was showing my 90's era by fitting bar ends, after riding 38 miles without them I didn't miss them. The Renthal grips are very comfy!


Now over 600 miles in and after a clean, also ditched the wheel reflectors...






Sorry for so many photos I do get carried away :oops:

Overall I'm really pleased with this bike it is worlds apart from my 1996 GT Talera and has as much spec as I could ever want. I think the only thing I'll change will be the tyres, but I'll wear these ones out first

The Rookie

Nice, just add mud!

Time to ditch the 'rookie ring' behind the cassette as well!

Yes wider bars have rendered bar ends obsolete!

avalanche_expert

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19633807#p19633807]The Rookie[/url] wrote:

Nice, just add mud!

Time to ditch the 'rookie ring' behind the cassette as well!

Yes wider bars have rendered bar ends obsolete!

Ha, ha! I added some mud on a 42 mile XC ride this morning! Got the week off work this week, so I've been making the most of some free time

I have been meaning to remove the plastic guard behind the cassette, just haven't gotten around to doing it. The one on my last bike was there until it literally fell off!

MrBikerPanda

Nice Bike !!

avalanche_expert

Thanks!


Here are a few muddy pics after last weeks riding, clocked up over 700 miles now. Thunder storms have stopped this evenings plans...

Chunkers1980

That's better.

avalanche_expert

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19638408#p19638408]Chunkers1980[/url] wrote:

That's better.

avalanche_expert

Just fitted new Mavic Crossride wheels, Deore XT rotors/discs and fitted the Schwalbe's as tubeless with a Stans kit...

Thought I'd just post pics here instead of starting a new thread...

avalanche_expert

Added some bling in the form of valve caps and cable ends and also added some mud this week...

avalanche_expert

Update!

Now just over 12 months old, over 3000 miles covered.

I've went through... 4 chains, 3 sets of tyres, 3 sets of brake pads, 2 bottom brackets, a set of head set bearings and added the upgraded Mavics here are some recent pics...



Added some gold bling and Wellgo pedals...

mike hunts alpine

Still looks brand new, must have some maintenance schedule set up.

rockmonkeysc

It looks too clean to have been properly enjoyed. Do you ride it off road?

avalanche_expert

I only ever ride it off road and in all kinds of weather conditions.

Yes it gets covered in mud and it wears a lot of stone chips underneath. The latest pics were taken after an intensive wheels off, cranks off clean and a new chain were fitted. I use a car detailing spray to protect the paintwork on the frame and as a result mud very easily washes off. I use a chain cleaning device on the chain and also a degreaser and various brushes to clean the derraliers, cassette, levers, shifters, hubs, calipers, etc... etc...

I have an eye for detail and every so often it gets a through cleaning. I'm the the same with my cars, I have engine bays you could eat your dinner off on 12 and 10 year old cars. That's just the way I am, I do most definitely ride my bike and enjoy it come sun, wind, rain or snow! Dry dusty trails or muddy bogs it sees it all!

avalanche_expert

Just to prove the bike does get used as it should these were taken this evening...
































It hasn't been particularly wet here so it's not caked on thick grime, but it is dirty

mike hunts alpine

Oooh that's better.

Briggo

Whats with all the close up pics, take something more interesting like a good scenic shot while out on a ride.

Anyone can throw a bit of mud on a bike in a back yard and claim to have ridden it.

Rigga

Nice bike mate , I would lose the saddle bag and rear mudguard though and just use a camelbak and an asssaver.

rockmonkeysc

That's not muddy, you can still see what colour it is!

avalanche_expert

RockmonkeySC wrote:

That's not muddy, you can still see what colour it is!

Ha ha! It only gets that bad if it's been particularly wet. Just the odd shower lately and the trails are drying quickly! Even it is properly dirty I don't leave it that way for long, it gets cleaned regularly