BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
In the 2006 model year, GT is introducing the largest number of product and platform expansions in its history, said Pacific Cycle CEO Chris Hornung.
Pacific Cycle owns and distributes the GT Bicycles brand globally.
We are emphasizing our investment in the technology, marketing, sales and distribution strategies to support GT, and we feel that the IBD channel is best suited to provide GT and its customers with the highest level of service and knowledge, said Hornung.
We think that by re-dedicating the GT brand to this channel, [IBDs] will find our products exceed their expectations and will be an easy sell with high margins and strong support behind them. We will focus on growing our dealer base significantly.
For the 2006 model year GT will introduce a 7-inch freeride bike, a carbon fibre road frameset, and what GT describes as the world’s lightest production DH bike.
GTs extensive use of cutting-edge, proprietary technology such as i-Drive and the iT1s internal gear box and high-end materials and specs lend themselves to the IBD customer, said Mark Peterman, director of product development at GT.
GT has historically enjoyed a very strong bond with the IBD channel and I feel that this will enable many of our former customers to feel good about re-establishing a relationship with Pacific Cycle and GT.
