Jez Avery
Name:
Jez Avery
Nicknames
JEZZAAAA ; jumpin j ; Half man half bunny; Airtime Avery; Trevor Veeeeeery Looooge story..
Year you joined Team GT:
1995 / 1996
Favourite GT year & model:
My 1995 LTS Tricked out with all sponsors and my 1995 Blue Zaskar tricked out again.
Favourite Rider:
Karen van Meerbeck and I’m Still in love with Kerry Bason…
Favourite year team kit:
All black team kit with red stripe with NIKE sponsor as i still ride with flat pedals…
I still have my NIKE Gray Baggy shorts i wore in GETA-GRIP Video 1995.
If you had to ride a descent on a GT Quatrefoil (Tandem) with someone from your time at GT would you have with you & why?
Rich Warner, that lad is a sandwich short of a picnic and a fast talented rider too. I’d just pedal and hang on for the ride…
Have you ever pulled a prank on someone or had one pulled on you while working at GT?
I was involved in taking Steve Peats wheels off his old skool Skoda at a race one time. No jokes done to me …
Can you tell us about your experience racing or riding mountain bikes for GT Bicycles in the 90’s?
Two times stick out in my mind riding for GT in that year. Jason McRoy hadn’t been gone long at the time and I did a photoshoot set up by MBUK with his dad Jim. It was such a great day riding the LTS and ZASKAR as it was the biggest and smoothest jumps I’ve ever done in my career on Mountain Bikes.
What was your favourite event or race that you competed in during that time period and why?
I didn’t race at a lot of bigger events, time off work was taking its toll. Malvern’s 1989 with TEAM HOT PIES Paul. It was the start of bigger things to come, from 1990 to 1998 I never missed one. I also got my first front cover of MBUK there. My 2nd only cover was on the blue Zaskar with the article JEZ DO-IT write up. We also filmed GETA-GRIP while we were out there…. Happy days.
Can you share a memorable moment or story from your time racing or riding for GT Bicycles?
All the times filming GETA-GRIP or stunting on the LTS and Zaskar…
How did you first get involved with GT Bicycles, and what made you choose to race or ride for the brand?
My 2nd BMX AT 14 years old was a GT frame n forks, lightweight and strong. I learnt to jump big and bunnyhop on that. I could only clear a tennis court net the only one in our park was 33 inches. At my first bunny hop comp with John Dight on my Daihatsu Pro-flex I cleared 33 inches on a 26 inch wheel ATB… Being on a Pro-flex for 5 years on the trot MBUK thought I wasn’t approachable because they thought i was on big money. Eventually they asked me on a photoshoot if I would be able to ride for the Magazine. And i did…
What was the mountain bike racing or riding scene like in the 90’s compared to today?
Late 80s and all of the 90s races were Fuckin Mint! With just bike tools, a helmet, two days of clothing and a sleeping bag in someones knackered tent. A bag full of pop and jam donuts for food or a visit to Wilf’s cafe selling veggie burgers for £1.50 with a can of Coke. No tooth paste, towel, hair brush or tooth brush, just a lads weekend away meeting like minded lads from every corner of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (boyo..). No girls allowed, a right fuckin laugh for the whole 2 & half days away…
Can you describe the technology and equipment used for mountain biking during the 90’s, and how it has changed over time?
Everyone was getting a few more millimetres of travel every month, or lighter bars, pedals or wheels. I just rode what i was given, had my tyres at 60 psi and my rear LTS suspension harder than the front. It would slide out when i cornered as quick as the other riders but I didn’t put a foot down. I just let it drift or pedal out of the corner quicker than them. And of course I jumped everything on the course where others slowed down to ride over them…
I have ridden a £6500 Santa Cruz down Bike Park Wales. Fuck me it was easy to ride those courses on that type of full suss bike and the tyre grip was fuckin mentally good so thats my comparison.
How did you see the sport of mountain biking evolving during the 90’s, and how did GT Bicycles play a role in that evolution?
Through the 90s was the main priority was “get it lighter and stronger and as go as fast as they could”. sssshh…I did break the head tube on my LTS twice and snapped the rear swing arm in half where the brake bosses were….. but no one saw, and we never told the mags…
Can you tell us about some of the biggest achievements or milestones in your racing or riding career while with GT Bicycles?
My 1st year with GT was the 1st of 3 years in a row winning the British dual slalom championships 1995-96-97, one of which was at the Malverns.
What was it like to be a part of the GT Bicycles racing or riding team in the 90’s, and how did the team dynamics influence your performance?
I’d seen loads of riders come and go in that one year riding for GT UK. Bunnyhopper man, Mark Batt, had opened my eyes to their bikes, but it would be 5 years before i had my chance. Seeing today that Hans Ray still rides for them is amazing for GT, Hans too. in my opinion they the best bike brand that money can buy.
How do you think you’re time racing or riding for GT Bicycles in the 90’s has impacted your life and career, and what advice would you give to aspiring mountain bikers today?
Because i got to perform my stunt show at the Malvern’s comeback in 2018, it was the icing on my already cherry topped cake. Clive Gosling kindly sorted me out a 2019 Zaskar alloy comp to use at the 2019 Malvern’s which sadly got rained off. I still ride it in my shows today. Young riders today can achieve their goals, if you ride small to larger stuff then stay active and fit and never ride beyond your limits. Thats worked for me…
What made the biggest impact on you while at GT Bicycles which you rely on today?
The biggest impact was the quality of the builds, welding and fabrication etc. I still think that but today they are expensive but they are still selling like other brands, I just cant afford one myself.