Pillow frame

GT INTRODUCES THE XIZAnG FRame.

What: The most coveted, revered XC race frame of the Nineties. With more NORBA and Grundig World Cup wins than other frame of that decade (Furtado, Green, Grewal, Randolph, Zadrobilek) the Xizang holds a mystical place in the hearts and minds of veteran MTB riders the world over. We found one of our original frame fabricators that is renowned for Titanium fabrication (no small feat as they must use an Argon shielded tungsten inert welding tip with a very special Titanium weld rod) and asked them to re-create the legend. Not only did they recreate it, they out did the original. With multiple hydroformed tubes (which is next to impossible to pull off in Titanium as it really likes its original shape), machined, forged, and investment cast frame components, the new Xizang is not only state of the art, is the state of the craft.

Why: With the discovery of the source for the frame we knew in our hearts that the Xizang had to come back.

When the Re-Issue of the American made Zaskar happened in 2007 the number one question from our passionate brand fans was “ When is the Xizang !!”. We knew the demand was there and with this new source available we knew we could deliver the kind of frame that people hoped for. The Xizang is more than just a frame for the GT brand.

It represents an era of the brand that evokes the excitement and passion of MTB in the nineties. It represents the original roots of our racing heritage and frame craftsmanship.

It represents in a frame set everything that GT stood for in the world of MTB. When: Available March 2012.

2012 Specification Material: Tubeset: Aerospace grade 9, 3/2.5 titanium, hydroformed, butted, and machined Dropouts: Laser cut, grade 5, 6/4 plate with CNC post machining Disc brake mount: grade 5, 6/4 investment cast Weight: 29’’ medium, 1720 grams with hanger.

Features: Headtube: Tapered 1.125 to 1.5 w internal machined bearing seat Downtube: Hydroformed and butted Top Tube: Hydroformed taper with investment cast end cap, pierced Seat Stays/Chain Stays: Hydroformed and butted.

GT INTRODUCES THE XIZAnG FRame.

History 1989 The initial Xizang was a complete bike model. Its position was at the very top of the 1989 model year range of the GT All Terra line. It featured a Tange prestige fillet brazed frame made in Japan and the revolutionary yet ultimately doomed Browning automatic transmission. This model, while featured in the 1989 catalog, never made it to production due to the non delivery of the Browning transmission.

1990 The complete bike was scrapped and development started with Maurice LaVoie in Canada. La Voie had close ties with Sandvik tubing. 20 years ago very few Ti frame fabricators existed for the simple reason that no Titanium mfg made tubesets specifically for cycling. Existing off the shelf tubing had to be adapted to the use making sourcing very difficult. LaVoie has experience and ties with Sandvik enabling him to source the small amount of tubing needed and to weld them.

1991 Production The original Xizang came in two different models. The Xizang LE and the Xizang. The initial production came from a Canadian frame builder by the name of Maurice LaVoie. The Xizang was a Titanium main frame with a cro mo steel rear triangle bolted on. It is the only frame every designed this way. The LE was full Titanium for the race team only.

Sports Marketing The LE, famous for its full yellow decal set, was ridden to a silver medal at the 1991 World Championships by Gerhard Zadrobilek ( one of the very first Red Bull sponsored athletes in cycling) and to silver medal by Julie Furtado.

1992 Production Xizang production still by LaVoie. Only one model sourced.

The full titanium Xizang LE. Frame weight was at 3 pounds 4 ounces ( 1.52 KG) for the size Medium.

Sports marketing The team used this frame exclusively. Grewal, Furtado, Zadrobilek, Killen, Kite and Daucort raced XC on this. Hans Rey used the Zaskar LE. Juile Furtado won a silver medal at WC on the Xizang LE.

1993 -1995 Production Frame production moves to Sandvik proper. Pilot Production initiated in Southern Calif GT facilty.

Sports Marketing Julie Furtado wins 93,94,95 WC XC on Xizang, Wins 93 94 Grundig WC.

1996 – 2001 Production Moves to the Longmont Colorado Facility, GT R and D headquarters. Uses investment cast dropouts instead of plate cut.

Sports Marketing Multiple wins in WC racing by Greg Randolph, Roland Green and Allison Dunlap