GT bikes have always stood out from the gray mass of other products. And the matter is not only in the special design of the frame, but also in the quality of assembly of such products. The range of bicycles of this company is quite wide and is improved from year to year, delighting its fans with newer groups of spare parts, technologies and, of course, design. One of the most popular model lines is the GT Avalanche Sport.
General impressions
At first glance, the bicycle urges you to take it and rather rush to the mountains, make steep jumps on the ledges and fly along the narrow forest paths between the pines. But what does he really represent? To find out, let's review the GT Avalanche Sport.
With the look of the bike, everything is fine. Bright colors, proprietary frame design, spare parts of the latest generations have added a drop of aggression to the design. Now the bicycle equipment in the form of a helmet and a jersey, together with the bike, will look even more stylish than before. Enlarged wheels immediately catch my eye - 27.5 with studded tires and silver transmission elements.
Design
A classic hardtail with a good margin of safety and a frame made of standard 6061 T6 aluminum alloy. GT at all times cooked excellent frames of different classes, levels, shapes. This model was no exception. Using proprietary technology of the triple rear triangle, the frames are stronger, tougher and more responsive, while not adding weight, as in the classic design.
The GT Avalanche Sport has a Santour XCT-HLO 100 mm spring-oil fork with hydraulic lockout, which is popular for this level of bikes. It handles large irregularities well, but it does a little worse with vibration damping. A reasonable decision would be to purchase gloves with helium inserts. Due to the use of a spring mechanism, part of the fork still remains steel, and this adds a few grams of excess weight.
Transmission
Here, not everything is as simple as with geometry. The layout of the transmission itself is not entirely clear. The Alivio rear derailleur is intertwined with the front Altus class. And the connecting rods are all from All-Terra V-401 with a set of teeth 44/32 / 22T. Although the group turned out to be quite responsive in combination with the Sunrace CS-M90 cassette, unfortunately, it is impossible to call it ideal. At the output, we get the standard gear ratios for the cross-country bike.
The transmission system on the GT Avalanche Sport includes 27 speeds, and this will be enough for any style of riding. You don’t have to worry that the chain will tighten under the cassette during hard shaking or jam the deiler. By the way, the ergonomic Shimano SL-M370 trigger shifters, which fit quite organically into the big picture, contribute to comfortable switching. Steering wheel, stem, saddle, seatpost and clamp - also produces All-Terra. But studded metal pedals, oddly enough, from the GT.
Due to some transmission flaws, flying on hard trails on this model is not a good idea.
Wheels and brakes
The wilset is assembled on unrivaled amateur bushings with bulk bearings. They do not have additional protection against water and dirt, but with proper care they will be able to show a stable good run for a long time. On both wheels there is a classic set of 32 spokes.
The GT Avalanche Sport has two-layer aluminum rims and 2.1 ”wide tires with All-Terra markings. This should be enough for trips outside the city, and at maximum pressure (about 4 bar) and with a locked fork, it will be possible to comfortably gain speed on flat areas. Tektro hydraulics on the rotors (160 mm) are responsible for braking. Since the bike is quite light, this diameter is quite enough for an effective stop even on sharp descents.
With all this, the weight of a bare bike is about 14.5 kg, depending on the size of the frame, and it pleases. With such a weight, it will be comfortable to climb the hill and gain speed on flat sections of the road.
What is its purpose?
The full potential of the GT Avalanche Sport bike can be revealed by those people who already feel confident on two wheels and are able to keep control in difficult situations. The bike will forgive many mistakes and will do part of the work for you. On it, and the city can be driven, and cross-country (forest, soil dregs, light rocky areas). It will be good options for people leading an active lifestyle.
The bike will definitely appeal to those who like to take care of it on their own. The bike is perfect for upgrading in any parts, starting from the nipples of the needles and ending with the fork.
conclusions
A similar model turned out to be a good, widely directed, average bike, like the entire GT Avalanche Sport line. Owner reviews confirm this. The bike will allow you to ride, especially not bothering with complex settings and constant ride control. It will be an ideal option for amateur cross-country, and can be used by both adults and adolescents with a concept of skiing and cycling in general.
The service also will not get you the last money for constant upgrades and repairs of already worn parts. It will be enough to undergo light maintenance 1-2 times a season or canning for the winter, and the bike will last more than one year.