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The G-box bike was seen most recently at Eurobike. GT is close to bringing it into production, six years after a demo gear-box bike was displayed at Interbike in Anaheim.
Why G-Box? “It brings the mass of the bike to the centre which means it’s easier to whip around,” said Peterman.
“Internal gear box shifting is much more reliable and durable. Of course you would no longer have derailleurs hanging off the side of the bike to smash into things and get damaged. It stays clean and has shorter cables. Using a gear box in the main frame also give us the opportunity to run the chain up the swing arm and around the main pivot. This eliminates any resistance from pedal feedback. This comes from motorcycle suspension. We are marketing the G-Box around urban downhill. As far as the gear box technology, we feel that this is the next step in the evolution of suspension bikes."
Peterman headed the product team at GT prior to the purchase by Pacific Cycle and was responsible for GT’s I-Drive suspension bikes.
"It’s great to have Mark here," said Russell Merry of Hot Wheels.
"The UK is an important market for GT and who better to have to explain our technology than the head of the team that designed it. The rider feedback will also be great as GT start the development process for 2005."
GT – via Hotwheels – has a stand at Cycle 2003 at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London.
PS
GT isn’t the only company with internal gear box technology, check out Nicolai’s website at http://www.g-boxx.com
