Driven by a passion for GT Bicycles
About Vintage GT
The concept of Vintage GT was something that was mentioned years ago when GT Mar approached Tim, but with busy lives and jobs the timing just wasn’t right. Fast forward to Malvern 2022 and Tom now firmly established on the scene and the idea was revisited with a renewed vigour. Plans were started and the scale of the task was soon realised! The plan was to create a single point of reference for the GT community covering full bike archive with build specs, high res catalogues and as much additional information relating to the tech, the team and company that we can track down. Whilst GT Mar and Tom have a wealth of knowledge covering the late 80’s to 2000 we have also looked to other key GT fans and collectors in the community so we can bring you the most precise and useful guide possible. We also hope to build a supportive online community of GT fans and collectors on social media so if you haven’t popped by already then be sure to visit.
The Vintage GT Team
GT Mar
GT Retro Tech Shop
GT Tom
GT Retro Tom
Tim B
GT Reto TimOmar - GT Retro Tech Shop
So… Name is Omar and I’m Half Irish Half Syrian… Wasn’t expecting that huh lol.
Describe yourself in 10 words or less… Go!
Guinness, Falafel, Foodie, Geek, Collector, Perfectionist, Dry, Prankster, Loyal, Dad
What made you start collecting Retro cycling kit and how long have you been doing it for?
I had had my 1st GT in 1995 but started collecting in 2009. I was in the middle of refurbishing a restaurant and visited a suppliers work shop to sign off some work he was carrying out. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a 90’s Ti Ibis. Ended up speaking about work for 10mins and then an hour about the Retro lol. So I went home that evening and looked on Ebay… To my surprise an exact Nos 16” Ink Blue Zaskar was up for auction… It was like an Omen. Boom I was hooked.
Any particular area or company you concentrate on?
90s GT MTBs are my thing… Love the History behind the brand. When you speak to ex GT employees you can still feel the energy and the love they have for that era. Sense of Family, positivity and creativity. You can feel the nostalgia when they tell you about that time.
What is your favourite piece of your collection?
Very hard to as but it would have to be either the 95 Ink Blue Zaskar or a 1st Gen 95 Team LTS. Love the Ti Rear Linkage and the Ball Burnished Alloy. I do have a Hans Rey Proto Type Trials Bike Which my wife managed to get from the man himself. Super cool guy and even more Super Cool Wife!
What’s the best deal you’ve picked up over the years?
Oh man that’s a tough one… Has to be a 93 Ano Black Zaskar I found on Craig’s List
in Texas “Barn Find” with very Little fade. Now that took persistence. It was listed on CG for months and when i asked the seller to ship to a buddy’s house he flat out said no. 4 months later it arrived in Pasadena where I collected it a few months later and brought it back to London with me.
Who is your favourite rider from the past and from the present?
So many! Nico, Hans, Peaty, Rob Warner, Palmer, King, Missy, Furtado and of course McCroy.
(You can name more than 1…)
What are you currently looking for or have your eye on?
Pfff depends on the build really. I might me collecting specific parts for one and the next day I’ll find find parts for another so it’s hard to focus on one build. Builds are always jumping the cue. Im currently looking for STM parts. Very rare! They now make high end Clutches for Super Bikes. Very interesting company that started of in Robotics which then went into MTB components and then into High end Motor Bike clutches and parts.
I have a Bi-Metal Xizang which GT only produced for one year in 91. This particular frame was a prototype which was destroyed (I have a GT employees confirmation at the time). They used to crush the rear triangles with a fork lift and chuck them in the bin. Anyway I first saw this frame in Germany and shared a link to another collector who had it for a while but didn’t get around to restoring it. So I later managed to get from him. The rear triangle needs to be rebuilt and the good thing is that this model the rear was bolted on. Anyone know a bad ass frame builder in the uk that could help?
Favourite old school component?
Hmmm Would have to be Chain Devices… So many to choose from. AC, STM, DCD and A-mazing Toys
Favourite old school bike?
Would have to be my 1996 1st Gen LTS Thermoplastic. The father of the STS and STS Lobo.
Favourite bike product of all time?
Not GT related but I do love a Chris King Headset… Who Doesn’t?!
What bike are you currently riding most?
To be honest I’m fairly bad about getting out on my bikes… Between work and Baby I don’t get the chance. I used to train 6 days a week but living in central London it’s hard to get out but when I do it’s a Ball Burnished Zaskar.
What is your Favourite place to ride?
Back home in Ireland where I grew up. This year I’m bringing some of the bikes back with me so will Defo get some riding in. #Nostalgia That’s the RetroBike Drug/Poison isn’t it?
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Don’t Shite on your own doorstop”. Makes sense. Quote from me Ma lol
What things do you always carry with you?
Phone, Wallet and a Pen (Always the same one) to sign stuff… Boring huh… Oh and recently my 4months Old baba.
Do you have any other extravagances?
Hmmmm Definitely my car! It’s one thing I always treat my self to (That and the bikes obv). These two things keep me out of trouble…
What makes you angry?
Now that’s a very long list… People with no common sense has to be one of the top ones or having Specialised on a GT… #ShootMeNow
What makes you happy?
Seeing the people I love happy. It’s important to have positivity around you and to have people that understand you. Family is a top priority. Oh and finding a part I thought I’d never be able to find lol. #EurekaMoment
Tom - GT Retro Tom
Well my IG account kinda gives that away but for the record it’s Tom and I’m from the Black Country, Wolverhampton to be precise.
Describe yourself in 10 words or less… Go!
Lover of Music, Old BMW’s, Food, Beer, Family and GT’s.
What made you start collecting Retro cycling kit and how long have you been doing it for?
My Dad was heavily involved in Cycling throughout the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s so it’s kinda in my DNA but the mountain biking thing actually started for me in 95ish after I injured myself Skateboarding which was my first love. I’ve owned everything from Airborne to YETI over the years, but GT’s have always been top of my list and tbh as a youth I was captivated by the early 90’s paint finishes as they reminded me of the graffiti that I was also obsessed with as a youth. An opportunity came my way a few years back to buy a few choice GT’s from a collector in Wales so that saw me clear out all the other brands that I had in my collection and focus my OCD solely on them!
Any particular area or company you concentrate on?
My interest and collection is almost exclusively centred on late 80’s and 90’s hard tails although I do have some nice early Millennial stuff too including some of the wacky Thermo Sus stuff that they were producing like the STS XcR1000. The bikes that really get me stoked though are the early 90’s ones like the Team Avalanches and 1st GEN Anno Zaskars.
What is your favourite piece of your collection?
I’ve owned over 200 GT’s so It’s too hard to call just 1 I’m afraid so I’ll give my top 3 in no particular order!
1. 20” Wheel “Kids Zaskar” dripping In 3DV & M900.
2. Rob Warners 1993 Aqua Anno Team Zaskar Bike which he sold after leaving GT.
3. 1999 Team Colours Ti Xizang with 1st Gen SIDS, CrossMax and full M950.
What’s the best deal you’ve picked up over the years?
Ah that’s an easy one! My 1994 Team Scream Psyclone which found me in 2019 and that I took to the 2022 Malverns to showcase the GT 50th Anniversary Homage colourway Team bikes. A very rare frame in the lovely Electric Blue Team Scream livery that unbelievably cost me less than £200!
Who is your favourite rider from the past and from the present?
It’s got to be Hans for both past and present! Not sure that there has ever been a more important team rider in MTB history! A Humble Hero for sure! 🤙
I’m lucky enough to have found most of the bikes that I had on my wish list but my grail bike is the 1989 Fillet Brazed Steel Xizang with amazing Spider Web Paint. I only know the location of one and that’s safely tucked away in Australia in the GT Vaults amazing collection! Maybe someday Daimon might take pity on me and sell me it! 😂
Is there a project that you are currently working on now?
I’m currently rebuilding one of my 2 Team Trials (1994) and after that I’ll be rebuilding Rob Warners old Team Zaskar back to its original spec and taking it to the 2023 Malverns if I can get it turned-around in time?
Favourite old school component?
I don’t think you can beat the original M900 XTR so take your pick from that groupset! Iconic looking and still 100% bulletproof!
Favourite old school bike?
Most of my bikes are Old School 😂 so if you want another then it’s the 1991 Team Avalanche in GT’s best ever colourway “Midnight Aurora”.
Favourite bike product of all time?
X-Lite’s Kevlar PSS Saddles. Super hardwearing, Comfy, Killer Silhouette and available in all the Kevlar colours you could need to finish off that awesome looking build!
What bike are you currently riding most?
Over the years I’ve ridden most GT’s but always come back to my Barn-door 20” period spec 1991 Karakoram Elite although I do also have a 10 year old Karakoram 29er if I fancy a more modern feeling hack down the cut?
What is your Favourite place to ride?
Anywhere with the Family.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Drive Carefully, there’s no Heaven.”
What things do you always carry with you?
My IPhone and since working as a Sound Engineer in the early 90’s my Leatherman, also useful when picking up GT’s!
Do you have any other extravagances?
A number of old BMW’s which amazingly seem to cost me less to run than the GT’s!
What makes you angry?
Modern Tan Wall Tyres on an otherwise period 90’s MTB oh and poor timekeeping! 😂
What makes you happy?
Omar’s food and being surrounded by other happy people!
Where can we find you on social media?
@gtretrotom 🤙
Tim - GT Retro Tim
I’m Tim and from the middle of nowhere on the Suffolk / Norfolk border. I wouldn’t say I’m a hermit but rural life suits me…..
Describe yourself in 10 words or less… Go!
Easily distracted…..
What made you start collecting Retro cycling kit and how long have you been doing it for?
I’ve always had so many fond memories for 90’s MTB but in 2017 I started Bike Ninja which enabled me to properly look at all the brands and equipment that I used to gaze at endlessly in MBUK adverts and start to collect a few bits for “business research”….. I’ve also been lucky enough to work with loads of key brands from that era producing ranges of merch celebrating the heritage. GT was always a part of that and after years of trying I was able to have a licensed range of GT merch on Bike Ninja. From that I started collecting GT jerseys which I know have probably all the key ones
Any particular area or company you concentrate on?
When I started biking it meant everything and even though I don’t ride much it’s still does and so much of my life now is from some part of cycling. Those teenage years were so much fun and the kit and the brands that were about were so good and inventive. In those days the bikes that were in your LBS were a big part of what you had. for me it was Freewheel in Norwich so I started on Ridgebacks though my first bike was a Claude Butler Sprit from about 92 I think. It soon became clear that whilst these were great there weren’t really what I wanted but all I could afford. I remember a mate getting a 1992 GT Pantera AL and it was such a thing of beauty. I always (and still have) had a thing for that raw looking finish so for me the bikes that I wanted from back then were GT Zaskar (Ball burnished obviously) and also a Pace RC200. I think from that point on both Pace and GT have always been the ones I’ve been drawn to.
What is your favourite piece of your collection?
I’m still in very early days of collecting but I think it would have to be the 94 GT Zaskar BB I have. It’s everything I always wanted and also my favourite decals and makes me smile as much now when I look at it as I would have done back in the 90’s.
What’s the best deal you’ve picked up over the years?
Probably the Zaskar from above or maybe the Pace RC200 that I have. I’ve been very lucky to have made some amazing friends since getting into the Retro MTB scene since starting Bike Ninja and those friends have been very good to me along the way for which I’m massively grateful.
Who is your favourite rider from the past and from the present?
The posters on my bedroom wall as a teenager were McRoy, Hemming and Hans. I’d say I pretty much got it nailed back then.
(You can name more than 1…)
Lots of looking…..I’m good at that. Since working on the Vintage GT site its actually changed my thinking on some of my builds. With spending so much time looking at original build spec its made me want to go back and put my Zaskar back to stock spec but then maybe look for another that I can go crazy and blind people with so much 3DV. Other than that probably more Zaskars and also a matching early RTS-1 to keep my most prized Zaskar company.
Is there a project that you are currently working on now?
Getting more bikes in the workshop without my wife realising….
Favourite old school component?
I loved the DCD, it was retro cool and also was made for Dave Hemming so ticked all the boxes for me.
Favourite old school bike?
GT 94 Zaskar in Ball Burnished finish.
Favourite bike product of all time?
Not GT related but might have to be the Flite titanium saddle.
What bike are you currently riding most?
Getting out on the bike is pretty rare these days and I’m mostly scanning 30 year old GT documents…. I did recently get a Pace hardtail which is quite a jump forward in tech and geometry since my last MTB.
What is your Favourite place to ride?
I’d be happy in most places as its so rare to actually get out!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“create the problem” or “never wait for the right time”. I think sometimes in life we are too careful. Sometimes you just get stuff done by cracking on. In my experience the right time never comes but you always make it work if its the right thing to do.
What things do you always carry with you?
As little as possibly really, probably just my phone.
Do you have any other extravagances?
Skateboards….. I was always a crap skater but turns out I’m a pro at hanging them on the wall. I’m a designer by trade so for me they are just pieces of art. I have more decks than bikes tbh…. Mostly some older 90’s brands like Insane and New Deal but more recently I’ve been picking up Santa Cruz reissues of some of the classics that I used to look at in Rad magazine.
What makes you angry?
I’m pretty relaxed these days though picking up my kids from school and seeing some of the parents driving and parking can make flip very quickly….
What makes you happy?
Going to the beach with my family and remembering how nice it is to just relax and not be infront of a computer.