GT Peace single speed review
You can see many more photos of the GT Peace here at Flickr
Messing around with parts
I’ve now ridden the new GT Peace a few times since I picked it up just under a week ago. It has seen daily commutes and a few rides at Bottlelake forest. Also during the past week I’ve slowly swapped over a few parts from the last singlespeed. The stock ratio of 32/18 was just ridiculous so it had to go, and running a 32/14 is now perfect for road blasts as well as Bottlelake and Mcleans Island. Swapping the stock cabled disk brake “things” (which were infact GREAT little stoppers) to the Juicy 5’s has obvious positives of decreasing a bit of weight. Wheel wise the stock GT hubs laced to WTB speed disks were swapped over to a set of Bontrager Race rims and DT hubs that show the Bonty logo. This wheel set is not a fantastically light set (1800ish+ g I think), but with no cassette and some lightish rubber, they are damn fine spinners. Since these wheels have done alot of KM’s the bearings are like butter so seem to coast forever, which work fantastically on a singlespeed. The bonty riser bars replaced the stock EA50’s for no other reason other than I could not be bothered to take the grips or brakes off each set of bars :) As for the cranks and bottom bracket, I’m still to move these over due to a workshop problem :/
The ride
Thursdays night ride with Brent was the bikes maiden dirt voyage and it did not disappoint. Initially it felt a little odd with some extra weight evident while climbing little pitches and while accelerating out of turns. But after about 10days off the dirt due to terrible weather and also a shocking head cold, I’m sure that this also contributed to a “strange” feeling bike underneath me. After about 20 minutes things started to settle as I got used to the bike. Once home and some further changes to stem height, seat position etc it is now feeling pretty damn sweet. I’ve also bitten the bullet and binned the rear tyre ( a very worn Continental Supersonic) as I’ve punctured at least 4 times in a week, two of which were on Thursdays night ride :/
Anyway, today, with the sun shining and the sky blue, I headed back solo to Bottlelake to give it a real ride. With iPod pumping I was not aiming for a social spin today and on arrival I hit the single track with speed. Instantly I knew that I’d become quite familiar with the bike already as I started to chuck it around below me over roots and sharp turns. It just felt right in the mud and wet. The geometry of this bike is bloody fantastic and with the added weight and steel tube set felt balanced and planted on the trail. My body weight always felt like it was in the right spot too, and with little effort the front of the bike could be under weighted on sections that required the bike to be little lighter, such as muddy or sandy sections. Of course the correct top tube length and stem length/ height helped, but the fork length and aggressive top tube angle made it easier.
What I really noticed today though was how much more I could sit or ride over the rougher stuff compared to the old aluminum single speed. The fork is quite springy like the frame and they seem to make a great pair. Interestingly, compared to the Cove, it is alot softer at the rear when sat down.
Conclusion
What else can I say really? It rides super nice, has that characteristic “twang” that only steel provides and it moves well :) As for the new Schwalbe Little Albert it was just fantastic as usual… grippy, rolled well and more importantly it never punctured.
So are there any negatives? Well, the damn seat post would not stop slipping no matter how many times I cranked it down! I just gave up in the end and simply stood up more :) I’ve experienced this before on the Cove Handjob and seems quite common with aluminum seat posts and steel frames. Simply cleaning all grease from the post and frame and cranking the seatclamp in over the next few rides should fix it. Also the weight of the frame and huge bottom bracket can be felt…. but at this price point… who cares :D
UPDATE 28/08/08.
One thing that I’ve noticed after a few months riding is how long the rear stays seem to be and how they effect the ability to pull the front end up over obstacles/ holes etc. If you ride alot of technical trails, this might be an issue.
Overall, the GT peace is a fantastic frame and fork set that makes me smile alot :) Highly recommended.
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15 Responses to “GT Peace single speed review”
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Ciao, complimenti per il tuo test bike.
Mi faresti sapere il peso della Gt dopo i tuoi
cambiamenti.
Grazie
Hey,
I just translated your message via babble fish to read:
“Hello, it compliments for your test bike. You would make to know the weight me of the Gt after your changes. Thanks”
No problem. I’ll mail a weight once I’ve weighed it over the weekend.
Cheers! and thanks for posting.
Just out of curiosity how tall are you and what size are you running? I have been thinking about buying one of these but I am somewhat confused with the sizing as the geo numbers given out by GT indicate that the top tube measurement is loooong.
Happy trails,
Tuomas
Hey Tuomas,
It’s the small and I’m 5ft 5″. Top tube is 22.5 inches.
I’ve measured from center of head tube “along the top tube” to the center of seat post tube. The figures given by GT are very confusing as they measure the top tube from the center of the head tube “directly along” to where the seat post intercepts which come in quite long.
Running the short 75mm stem seems to be ok- but a 90mm would most likely provide a comfier fit for tucking downwards or climbing. Seeing as it is being ridden mostly on single track with “pitches” rather than climbs- its fine. Fortunately, the length of the top tube is the same as both my Cove and Lynskey…. so the reach is very familiar.
I’d recommend going to a store with a tape measure and an idea of what you want…. I was just as confused as you when I checked their website. Luckily I had an idea of what length top tube I was after.
Cheers for stopping by.
Happy trails.
[...] See my review here [...]
I was shocked that you switched all the componets and then did the review. So this is more like a frame review, but wait you can’t buy the frame seperate.
Hey Sammy, I’m hearing you :D
It’s worth noting though that the handling and geometry of the bike are the same even with a different wheelset. Talking of the wheelset, they are a similar weight to the original GT hoops that came with the bike. As for the brakes- they stop the bike- just like the originals- which by the way stop very well as my Wife discovered when I put them on her commuter.
All the wheel/ brake swap has done is decrease the weight a little.
For $1000 it is a steal!
[...] trends or what the KoolKidZ are riding. Personally I’m partial to riding my single speed (Gt Peace) fully rigid as I love the way it rides and the simplicity and pure power forward it offers. If I [...]
Hey Paul
Nice Bike! Keen for one myself to start my SS experience.
Do you know whether you can add front Suspension Forks such as an 80mm or 100mm Fox or Rockshox Fork?
Hey :) I’m sure that a 80mm or 100mm fork would be just fine, in fact I’ve been thinking of throwing on my REBAS for sometime now- but I’ve recently setup a XC bike (the Cove) with these so they already have a home. I’ve also heard that the current forks on the GT will allow a 29r wheel- which would be really interesting!
I have a large frame 26″ that I have changed the front ring to a 36 for 2/1 as the original gearing is way too “spinny”. I also had trouble keeping the seat post from moving so just removed the quick release lever, cut off the extra bolt length and cranked it up with an allen key…solved!
This bike rocks and is just soo much fun for the price, the componentry is not flash but seems reliable and it works.
@ Jim. Yes the 32 x 18 is way to spinny for anything other than hills or rocky terrain. As for the seatpost problem, what a pain eh! but good to see that adding a bolt instead of a QR solved the issues ;) There is nothing more annoying than a post slipping!
I fully agree about the cost vs fun factor…..its brilliant for the cash! If GT released a version of this bike with a gear hanger and pannier bolts- I’d be ready for it to add to my stable for some XC/ touring duties as I love the Geometry so much!
Fun bike ;)
[...] ride and forget bike with some great geometry to boot, and quite affordable too. I’ve done a review of the GT Peace, if your [...]
I own a GT Peace and love it.
Lots of fun and reliable.
Who needs gears.
Hey Kabous. Correct- a great bike!