BRAND BIBLEMMXIV

CONTENTS

4 OUR PROMISE

8 OUR HISTORY BRAND TIMELINE

14 WHO WE ARE

17 LOGOS & TYPE ADD’L BRAND LOGOS

LOGO DONT’S

TYPOGRAPHY

27 THE GT VOICE

31 GT PHOTOGRAPHY IMAGE FILE HANDLING

38 APPLICATIONS FULL PAGE ADS

2-PAGE SPREAD ADS

PACKAGING / PPT

VEHICLE GRAPHICS 1

VEHICLE GRAPHICS 2

52 TECHNOLOGY DEFINITIONS

DEFINING FEATURES

GT SPEED SCULPTURE

FRAME DESIGN ELEMENTS

ENGINEERING EXAMPLES

65 PRODUCT GRAPHICS

69 APPROVAL PROCESS

If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years it’s this: Riding is as much about defying yourself as it is about defying the world around you.

It’s about going balls to the wall. Setting your fears aside. And ignoring that little voice inside that tells you to stop.

It’s about pushing your limits. Easing off the brakes on a downhill. Attacking on an uphill. Attempting your first tailwhip.

As much as it’s about having faith in yourself, you have to have faith in the rock-solid ride underneath you.

And that’s what it means to

OUR PROMISE

WHAT YOU’RE CURRENTLY CAPABLE Of IS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT YOU’RE ACTUALLY CAPABLE Of.

Note: This .pdf is interactive. Simply click on the section you’d like to explore. To return, click the GT Wings logo at the bottom right of each page.

3

OUR HISTORY

ALL WE ARE IS fLESH, BLOOD AND THE COLLECTION Of ExPERIENCES WE’VE HAD.From Gary Turner’s first garage-built BMX racer to our latest carbon fiber

creations, we’ve never strayed from our commitment to building reliable, tried-and-

true bikes that allow riders to push their limits. Simply put, we’ve never lost sight of

what makes a GT, a GT.

OUR HISTORY

7

1972BMX frames of the era just weren’t durable enough. At least not according to Gary Turner. And so, using skills acquired from welding drag racing cars, he created the first GT frame in 1972 for his kid to use on the BMX SoCal race circuit. The frame was a hit.

1974 – 80GT Bicycles was born with a simple vision: to help riders push the envelope of what’s possible on two wheels by creating the most reliable, innovative frames in the business. It was a vision immediately proven in the BMX community, with an overnight cult following on the BMX race circuit.

1981 – 86GT bikes became synonymous with durability and winning, bringing home more BMX wins and clout than any other bike brand of the era.Success on the BMX track cemented our attitude toward two wheels —we build athlete-proven bikes that let you “Earn your Wings”. Riding legend Hans Rey signed with GT in 1986 and after 25 years he still has more riding skill than you!

1987 – 94Applying the same attitude toward the emerging sport of mountain biking, GT set out to design the best bikes in the world. Mountain bike pioneers Juli Furtado, Nicolas Vouilloz, Rishi Grewal and Gerhard Zadrobilek validated GT’s approach with multiple world cup titles and national championships aboard bikes featuring GT’s iconic Triple Triangle®. This nontraditional frame design became a symbol for GT and was recognized as the industry’s most advanced frame design.

2010 - PRESENT DAYIt’s all about family! GT has focused on supporting the best athletes and teams to help inspire and develop the technologies that allow us to bring you the best bikes. Marc Beaumont won the 2010 Val di Sole world cup making him the first person to win a UCI World Cup aboard a full carbon DH bike (the Fury). Fast forward to 2013, GT is still supporting the fastest DH team in the world, GT Factory Racing with Gee, Rachel, Dan, Marc, Taylor, and Martin. We have expanded our BMX teams in both race and freestyle, quickly reestablishing success on the BMX scene.

1995 – 98Our commitment to building progression-enabling bikes continued. GT was the leader in the development of full-suspension mountain bikes, with frame designs like the RTS and LTS. Soon our efforts on the mountain were recognized on the road. Having established our brand as the one riders trust to help push their limits, GT built a series of composite superbikes for Team USA’s Olympic campaign – however, these bikes were banned due to their advanced aerodynamics. GT road bikes were quickly seen underneath virtually every game-changing cyclist, from Ironman World Champion Mark Allen, to team Lotto.

1999 – 02We introduced our ultra-reliable and efficient i-Drive® suspension to rave reviews.The design proved to be ground-breaking. Period. GT maintained a strong presence both on-and off-road, with pro teams such as Saturn opting for GT road bikes, and gravity racers ripping on the GT LOBO DH.

2003 – 06GT continued to test innovations that included the world’s first downhill bike with a production gearbox design, the IT-1.

2007 – 09GT continued to adopt new technologies, introducing production 29’rs and a new proprietary carbon frame construction method.Force Optimized Construction enabled the world’s first full carbon downhill bike, the Fury, and the UB2, the world’s first carbon BMX race bike. And just like before, results followed. Brian Lopes became the 2007 4x World Champion. In 2008, Burry Stander became the U23 XC World Champion. In the inaugural Olympics for BMX race, Mike Day took home silver; Jill Kintner, bronze. And in 2009, Mick Hannah podiumed (again and again) on the Fury.

OUR HISTORY

9

WHO WE ARE

PROVEN

BOLD

SOCIAL

COURAGEOUS

INDEPENDENT

CREATIVE

Since the beginning, riders from around the world have chosen GT for our unmatched reliability. Giving them the confidence to go hard as hell on two wheels. As a result, we have a world championship to our name in every discipline.

We share a mutual understanding with those who ride our bikes: As long as they continue to achieve the impossible, we’ll continue building bikes that impossibly achieve.

There’s something to be said about the freedom that comes along with expressing yourself and testing your skill with your friends. There’s something more to be said when you smoke past ‘em on that sketchy downhill at your local trail. Whether it’s exploring the trails or competing for bragging rights, your buds make it better.

Fear of failing is already giving in to failure itself. Of course it’s not easy to commit to a technical line or land a can-can. If it were easy, everyone would do it. But then again, not everyone can trust the bike underneath them like a GT

No two riders take the same line. That’s why we build bikes that reflect our rider’s unique personalities—bikes that become an extension of one’s self.

When you carry a sense of adventure within you at all times, and you’re willing to push creative boundaries, awesome things can happen. And when you have a bike that shares that same belief, often times, awesome things do happen.

WHO WE ARE

CLAIM YOUR ExISTENCE BEfORE SOCIETY ASSIGNS YOU ONE.

OUR BRAND IS...

13

LOGOS & TYPE

GT WINGS LOGOThe wings logo represents the GT brand and should be used on all ads,websites, POP and other marketing assets. Any marketing related assets created that will be seen by our consumers must include the wings logo.

Pantone 109C is the official color of the GT brand. Every execution of new assets should contain at least one yellow wings logo. Any further wings assets may use a secondary execution.

When the logo is seen on a photo, the yellow wings are a mandatory.

GT BICYCLES ‘RACE’ LOGOOur corporate word mark. The GT Bicycles ‘Race’ logo is to be used on product related collateral such as bike graphics, packaging, parts & accessories, etc. It is not to be used as primary logo for marketing collateral or branding (see GT Wings Logo usage)

The GT Bicycles ‘Race’ logo may be used for corporate / internal communications.

The Pantone 109C / white logo is the primary execution of the GT Bicycles logo.

Pantone109C White

Black

Pantone109C White

BRAND LOGOS

Black White

17

EARN YOUR WINGS LOGO LOCKUP

When using the “Earn Your Wings” lock-up in campaign material, always use the Pantone 109C Wings asset. This is the correct size/ratio execution of the “Earn Your Wings” integration. The “Earn Your Wings” asset should never be any larger or smaller when using it with the Wings logo.

GT BMx LOGO GT’s roots are in firmly anchored in the BMX scene. Whether race or freestyle, all BMX marketing assets must feature the GT BMX Logo only. This also includes BMX-specific packaging, POP, promotional items, etc.

GT VINTAGE CIRCLE LOGO

An homage to an original BMX head badge. The GT Vintage Circle Logo may be used as an accessory brand element for product graphics, on-site graphics, artwork, etc. But it may only be used when also supported by appropriate brand logos.

ADDITIONAL BRAND LOGOS

Pantone109C White

Pantone109C White

Black

Pantone109C White

Black

19

DO NOT CHANGE COLORS DO NOT OUTLINE LOGODO NOT USE LOGO’S

NEGATIVE SPACE AS A fILLDO NOT DISTORT THE LOGO’S PROPORTIONS

DO NOT APPLY UNNATURAL DROP SHADOWS

DO NOT APPLY COLORSTROKE TO LOGO

DO NOT SHRINK LOGOS BEYOND SET MINIMUM

KEEPIN’IT REALMaintaining a strong GT brand identity means consistent use of our Logos. Please follow the guidelines, and avoid “don’ts” at all times. While we encourage your creativity, please don’t reproduce GT Logos in any other way than those specified in this manual. The examples shown here, and all other deviations from the guidelines, are considered incorrect and must be avoided.

LOGO DON’TS

21

DO NOT APPLY fILTERSDO NOT USE

GRADIENT fILLS

Only use the approved GT logos in their correct colors for all print/digital marketing collateral applications.

When the GT logos are used as a primary brand mark, maintain their integrity by refraining from applying ANY preset filter effect to them.

When a forced drop shadow is obvious from a mile away - GET RID OF IT!

There should never be the need to apply a gradient to the GT brand logos in any form of marketing collateral.

Do not deviate from branding by applying a color stroke to the GT logos. Instead, adjust your layout to allow for easier visibility of appropriate brand marks.

Minimum screen width for our logos is 125px.

Minimum print width for our logos is 2.0cm.

No matter what, the GT logos should not be outlined.

Please don’t desecrate the design of the logos by inverting the fill elements.

Never manipulate the proportions of the GT brand logos.

BASKERVILLEBOLD

Baskerville Bold in CAPS is used as headline treatment in “Earn Your Wings” campaign assets. When seen on photography, the Pantone 109C execution should be used for primary headlines. The Bold instance is also used for Call-To-Action lines.

BASKERVILLEREGULAR

When creating new “Earn Your Wings” campaign materials, use Baskerville Regular in any body copy or secondary copy. Sentence case only.

TYPOGRAPHICHEIRARCHY

Body Copy and Call-To-Action should be approximately 40% of the headline’s height when used in layout. See examples on page 26.

GEORGIA Georgia is a ‘system’ font that should be substituted for Web HTML, Microsoft Word and Excel documents. For headlines please use the ‘Bold’ instance of the font. Body copy should be set to ‘Regular’. Follow scale hierarchy as noted above.

TYPOGRAPHY

BASKERVILLE BOLD

Baskerville RegularLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi tempor vestibulum urna, eget imperdiet velit interdum quis. Nullam augue dolor, consectetur mattis vehicula id, convallis sit amet enim. Maecenas imperdiet metus diam. Suspendisse risus leo, vestibulum sed adipiscing quis, dignissim eget sapien. Donec vehicula aliquam sapien. Proin ut elit nec ante eleifend imperdiet ac at velit.

Georgia Bold and RegularLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi tempor vestibulum urna, eget imperdiet velit interdum quis. Nullam augue dolor, consectetur mattis vehicula id, convallis sit amet enim. Maecenas imperdiet metus diam. Suspendisse risus leo, vestibulum sed adipiscing quis, dignissim eget sapien. Donec vehicula aliquam sapien. Proin ut elit nec ante eleifend imperdiet ac at velit.

Pantone109C White

Black

Pantone109C White

Black

Pantone109C White

Black

23

THE GT VOICE

We are real, and have been since day one. Before anything was “X-treme”, or

the term “Action Sports” even existed, GT was there. We witnessed the birth

of this self expression-focused lifestyle.

Our brand encourages being independent and approachable to ensure that

we’re never preachy or authoritative. So, without saying the word “dude”,

convey a casual, conversational tone. Basically, we speak the language of the

rider because that’s who we are.

YOU GOTTA SHOW UP BEfORE YOU CAN SHOW Off.

THE GT VOICE

27

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHYSTYLESA mix of color and black and white treated photography is the style for the “Earn

Your Wings” campaign. The photo style is raw and gritty, allowing the emotion and

the environment to portray riders in their natural state. Riding in the photography

feel extreme in emotion, but not unattainable to the lifestyle consumer.

GT Photography is all about capturing ‘A Moment’ as opposed to ‘The Moment’. It

needs to showcase both action as well as the non-action side of the riding experience.

The casual lifestyle photos are ones that the end user can relate to, the creek

crossings, the post ride beers, hanging out pre and post ride. The photos need to

convey the sense of being part of the experience something that can be related to by

our core riders.

Action photos need to communicate toughness, speed, durability, iconic locations,

authentic and creative riding.

We want these photos to speak to the people that actually ride, not the people who

buy expensive bikes and talk about riding.

MOUNTAIN

Choose dynamic and emotional

single / multi rider images

showing aggression and creative

line choice.

• Dynamic and emotional

• Social, but not forced

• Bold graphics

ROAD

The GT road rider is not your

typical roadie. He or She let’s their

personality come through in their

riding style.

• Highlight unorthodox style

• Capture the challenging nature

of road riding (steep climbs,

gnarly switchbacks, etc.)

URBAN

Riders should be seen in

riding aggressive in an urban

environment. This sets GT’s

Urban rider apart from the typical

smiling commuter.

• Express rider aggression

• Going against the grain

• Bold graphics

GT PHOTOGRAPHY

31

fILE NAMING Files need to be named either ‘As Shot’ out of camera for example. IMG5449.

CR2, or with the following naming convention: G14_EventName_original file

number suffix.

Please be sure to keyword photos with bike that the rider is on, as well as rider

name and event name.

If you are unsure of what to do in regards to this please ask questions before

sending off files.

fILE DELIVERYPhotos ideally should be delivered in Raw file format.

If there is an issue with bandwidth, photos can be delivered in JPG file format.

These need to be at 300PPI at full resolution 100 quality.

JPG files need to be processed to be as neutral as possible, Contrast levels should

not be too intense and colors should be as close to natural as possible. Treat these

files as if they were a physical negative that we would make a print from. Only

adjust highlights to bring detail back into blown out areas if needed. You should

be processing it to as close to natural as possible.

PROCESSING fOR PRINT AND DIGITAL COLLATERALOur styles of color and b/w processing ring true to our brand heritage and set

us apart from the highly stylized and over produced look of our competition.

Color Photos need to be run through Nik Software ColorEffects Pro with our GT

Photography recipe (provided). This is a color treatment that is to be used globally

in all mediums.

Black and white photography is to be high in contrast, gritty with a subtle

vignette. These are to be processed through Nik Software SilverEffects using the

GT photography recipe (provided). These images need to have some individual

treatment depending on the content. Vignette center should be on the focal point

of the image and should be set to lens falloff 1,2 or 3.

BMx fREESTYLE

Dirt and Street riders are all about

self expression. Their flow of

riding is more of an art form than

anything.

• Let the rider’s self-expression

come through

• Show it as the art form that it is

• Bold graphics

BMx RACE

The BMX Race track can

be a limiting location for

photographers. A creative

composition to capture speed and

aggression is a must in order for

the images to stand out in print or

digitally.

• Capture the speed and intensity

• Bold graphics

LIfESTYLE

Riders should be seen in real life

situations (pre- or post-ride). They

should not look posed.

• Authenticity

• Capture real-life moments pre

or post ride

• GT branding on apparel or bike

GT PHOTOGRAPHY

33

APPLICATIONS

Okay, we’ve given you access to the GT Brand Toolkit. Here are

a few examples of what happens when you get your hands dirty to

combine your creative know-how and our brand tools to layout GT

branded collateral.

WORK SMART,NOT HARD.

APPLICATIONS

37

GT

TE

AM

RID

ER

& U

CI

JR

WO

ME

N’S

WO

RL

D C

HA

MP

ION

/ F

EL

ICIA

ST

AN

CIL

P

HO

TO

GR

AP

HE

R /

CH

AR

LE

S FA

LL

ON

Out of the box, the Factory team spec’d 2014 Speed Series is the same rig our UCI World Champion’s ride. Made with specially designed hydro-formed tubing, and featuring a GT Superlace cassette hub set, GT/FSA BB30 Assault hollow forged crankset and our new GT full carbon fork fitted to a 1.125” – 1.5” tapered head tube. The Speed Series puts our team riders, like Felicia Stancil, on the top of the podium time and time again.

Visit GTBicycles.com to check out the entire 2014 GT BMX lineup. @gtbmx_official

TAKE IT TOTHE TOP OFTHE PODIUM.

FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF AT GTBICYCLES.COM/THENEWGT

HATERSCAN KISSOUR A.O.S.

Introducing the all-new 2014 GT Sensor. Built from the ground up for 650B with our breakthrough AOS technology. This trail shredder delivers the perfect combo of smooth pedaling, responsive handling and powerful rollover. After we kick theirs, they’ll be kissing ours. Pucker up.

GT TEAM RIDER / HANS REY PHOTOGRAPHER / ALE DILULLOLOCATION / UTAH

SINGLE-PAGE ADS

Only approved GT Ad Templates are to be used as a basis for all global advertisements. Approx. 20%

of GT Wings logo should bleed. Headlines and support copy must be written in the Brand Voice,

informing the consumer of the product with a clear call-to-action to research more at gtbicycles.com (or

relevant microsite). Photo credits should feature athlete, photographer and location.

BMX Race and Freestyle advertisements follow the same protocol, but feature the GT BMX logo.

39

FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF AT GTBICYCLES.COM/THENEWGT

HATERSCAN KISSOUR A.O.S.

Introducing the all-new 2014 GT Force. Built from the ground up for 650B with our breakthrough AOS technology. This all-mountain beast delivers the perfect combo of smooth pedaling, responsive handling and powerful rollover. After we kick theirs, they’ll be kissing ours. Pucker up.

GT TEAM RIDER / DAN ATHERTONPHOTOGRAPHER / ALE DILULLO

LOCATION / UTAH

TWO-PAGE SPREAD ADS

Two-page spread ads allow for a larger bicycle

image. All other elements may increase in size if

scaled proportionately to layout of Full Page ad.

*Ad concepts shown reflect MY14 Campaign and are subject to annual

updates (available on our Media Collective), please contact the GT Brand

Marketing team or Regional Marketing Managers with any questions.41

PACKAGING PRESENTATIONS

PACKAGE DESIGNGT has a full array of Parts & Accessories for all bike categories. Our packaging must be consistently presented at retail and follow the below design criteria. 1. The GT Wings logo is the prominent branding on the packaging, with a smaller GT Race logo placed towards the bottom of the package, after the features.

2. The GT BMX logo should be the ONLY branding on any BMX Freestyle or Race package design.

3. The product text overlay is C: 0 M: 0 Y: 0 K: 72 and it is at 70% opacity. The Wing overlay is C: 0 M: 0 Y: 0 K: 92 and it is at 60% opacity.

POWERPOINT TEMPLATE

Refer to the GT Brand Toolkit to find our official PowerPoint template. It contains Title

and Main slides for you to adapt for internal or external GT Brand presentations.

*A working file for Packaging Design is included in your 2014 GT Brand Toolkit *Official GT Powerpoint file is included in your 2014 GT Brand Toolkit

43

DESIGN DIRECTION‘Earn Your Wings Design’ vehicles should

ooze the essence of our brand. This tough,

minimal design captures the action sports

based, go-your-own-way attitude of GT.

Colors are to match tones of our brand

pallette of PMS 109C Yellow, Black and

White.

This design should be executed as a partial to

full wrap. A matte finish is recommended.

EVENT PRESENCE DESIGN 1 ‘EARN YOUR WINGS’ DESIGN

*A working file for Demo/Marketing Graphics is included in your 2014 GT Brand Toolkit45

DESIGN DIRECTIONBased on the look of our GT Factory Racing

fleet of vehicles, our ‘Factory Racing’

graphics convey the same dynamic sense of

speed and aggression.

The panels called out here show ideal areas

for placement of regional sponsors and web/

social media information.

Colors are to match our brand pallette of

PMS 109C Yellow, Black and White.

This design can be executed in either die-cut

vinyl or, ideally, a partial to full wrap. A gloss

finish is recommended.

GT 2013

GT 2013

GT 2013

GT 2013

GT 2013

GT 2013

GT 2013

GT 2013

GT 2013

GT 2013

*A working file for Regional Race Team Graphics is included in your 2014 GT Brand Toolkit

EVENT PRESENCE DESIGN 1 ‘fACTORY RACING’ DESIGN

47

TECHNOLOGY

Marketing jibber-jabber doesn’t always translate into the world

of engineering, industrial design and bike graphics. For those

who will work with the brand and create the actual products

for us all to get rad on, the following section will help define

what exactly makes GT bikes unique and identifiable in the

world of two wheels.

PROVEN TIME AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN AfTER THAT.

TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY

51

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHEN WE BUILD A GT, WE USE“COMMON SENSE!”

TOUGH

PROVEN

INDEPENDENT

INCLUSIVE

LAID BACK

BOLD

ICONIC

fAST

AUTHENTIC

RULE BREAKING

Light enough for race day, strong enough for every day. Durable, Affordable Performance.

Credible. Holds Value. Easy to maintain/repair.

Progressive yet in tune with trends. Go your own way. Indy Label. Underground.

Attainable. Accessible. Understandable. Relatable Technology.

Focused on the rider’s experience more than saving grams.

Kick Ass Design and Colors. Emotional Triggers. Polarizing.

Hans Rey, Purple Ano Zaskar, Triple Triangle, Old School meets New School w Soul.

Just the right amount of technology to win, founded on a legacy of Speed and Power.

Doing the right thing. Genuine. From The Heart. Gives Hope.

Revolution over Rebellion. Doing shit for a reason. Rising Above.

TECHNOLOGY

WE DON’T JUST BUILD BIKES, WE BUILD GT’S.

THE GT BICYCLE...

53

TECHNOLOGY

When setting out to design the next GT one must embrace the timeless and proven features of the brand. These features have the ability to transcend categories and are not dependent on current trends. Whether the frame is suspended or rigid there are underlying characteristics that will determine if a new design is “GT” or not. These features will set the frame up to be a “GT” regardless of graphics, tube shape, or any other feature that may be trendy. The organization of the main tubes creates a foundation and will communicate the brands need for “SPEED!”

Suspended Frames- The relationship* between the seat stay and the top tube is what communicates “speed” for this particular style of frame.

Rigid Frames- The relationship* between the seat stay and down tube is what communicates “speed” for this particular style of frame.

*They DO NOT have to literally line up. Use “common sense” when determining whether this is possible. This is based on the principle that the design

shouldn’t inhibit the function or usability of the product. The secondary blue lines in each silhouette are usually dependent on geometry but should be kept in

mind.

TRIPLE TRIANGLE™

The triple triangle is the holy grail in frame design as it’s ICONIC and readily identifiable as being “GT.” It’s a feature that is created when the seat stays pass the seat tube and connect to the top tube. This feature was promoted for it’s stiffness characteristics but has become a main stay on most rigid frames (even some BMX frames.) The triple triangle is a visual trigger in the silhouette but it also helps to achieve the seat stay/down tube relationship.

55

TECHNOLOGY

It represents one of the most violently fast actions of the Great White, a breach. A breach is the result of a high speed approach to the surface with the resulting momentum taking the shark partially or completely clear of the water.

WHY A SCULPTURE? This sculpture is the manifestation of all things GT. The intent was to remove the temptation to use a past frame design as a source of inspiration. It’s one step towards reality but to not be as literal as a particular frame, which doesn’t extend to different categories or customers. It’s flexible enough to leave room for creativity and category requirements, but not as vague as the picture to the right. Instead of referencing the picture, which can be interpreted too many different ways, one should reference the sculpture for inspiration on proportion, surfacing, details, etc.

THE GT SPEED SCULPTURE...

KINKED OR BENT TUBES Since the silhouette of a GT frame is so important, the tubes need to be manipulated to reflect the timeless look. Kinking or bending the tube allows for the tubes to placed in a configuration that better reflects the relationship. Suspended and rigid frames benefit equally from the bends/kinks. The bends can happen in the front or rear of the tubes. The examples to the right show how the tube forming allows for a FAST silhouette to exist while also providing a function and benefit to the overall frame.

The bends/kinks are not there just for the aesthetics alone. As with all GT designs, they not only help the looks but must also serve a purpose or a function, albeit marketing or not.

Example 1: Having an elevated bend at the top/head/down tube section allows for a smaller cross-section area. This allows for better stiffness and is more feasible for production.

Example 2: The bend at the rear of a top tube (bottom right image) allows for more stand over.

Example 3: A chain stay bend allows clearance for a chain stay mounted disc brake.

THE DON’TSWhen bending or kinking a tube,

the bend shouldn’t occur in the middle of the tube. It makes it look slow! As a rule, a bend should be positioned with bias towards one side or the other. Ideally that split should be around 1/3 of the length of the tube (using the 1/3 to 2/3 design rule or Golden Ratio.) The bend/kink should be a tighter radius and should look intentional.

Again, when designing a GT one must keep “common sense” in mind and to not make arbitrary bends. They should have a story or reason for there existence. 57

THE SWOOSHAnother design feature that has existed on GT frames for quite some time now. It is another element that is used in communicating speed. It’s a simple feature but still very versatile. The example pictured right is one of many ways that this element is used. It isn’t limited to just the head/top/down tube blend but that is the most common execution. It is easier to achieve this in carbon but can be implied for aluminium applications via a combination of tube shape or graphic design.

COMMON PARTS“Do more with less” attitude. They are designed in a way to be used on multiple platforms and/or sizes. Sharing the cost and design time allows for design features to be more attainable. Also, having some common designed parts allows the designer/engineer more time to focus on the bigger problems and better solutions. It could mean getting more done in a shorter amount of time. If all of these things come together, it means more value will be injected into the product and makes us extremely competitive.

THE “SQUIRCLE”Is a combination of a square, which is a very durable and tough looking shape, and a circle, which has proven to be a great performing shape for bicycle tubing. This shape has been chosen to communicate durability and toughness while still being close enough to round so there isn’t a significant drop off in frame performance, if any. This shape is flexible enough to hit the cost, performance and aesthetic frame targets*. Not only does the shape look good, it also feels good. When interacting with a frame, one’s touch has an impact on the experience on the product.

Having common parts isn’t only good for us, it also benefits the shops and consumers. Interchangeable parts means parts are more attainable for the consumer and for the shops.

Example 1: Rigid Frames-The triple triangle is used to allow one SS/DO/CS assembly to be used throughout the size run. This brings the cost down and/or allows for more features that increase the value of the product.

Example 2: Suspended Frames-The rear swing arm assembly and the link are shared not only through the sizes but also between platforms/categories.

DIVERGING LINESThis is a sophisticated design feature that appears most, if not always, in carbon frames. It’s used when two lines are running next to each other and need to terminate at some point, other than a fade. The most common occurrence is in the top tube and is used instead of fading the lines out.

*Again, there is flexibility and the design shouldn’t conflict with the customers needs, significantly decrease performance and must respect the category it’s in

USABILITYA GT should be user friendly. It shouldn’t

require the user to have a proprietary tool to take apart the frame. They should feel confident in putting the bike back together without a PhD or the fear of damaging the parts or the frame. The frames should have room for error when it comes to clearances (it could affect the performance or usability of the frame.)

Example: The 2014 expanding axel requires minimal tooling, it’s easy to understand, and it has a smaller chance of getting screwed up when being installed or serviced.

TECHNOLOGY

59

STIffNESSStiff ! Not “stiffness to weight.” Laterally

stiff bikes feel tough and durable. A laterally weak bike may not break (we all have to pass the same tests) but the consumer may feel like it will. A stiff bike gives the rider confidence that it will respond to their input and push them as an individual. They won’t ever feel like they are pushing the bike to it’s limits because the bike will just keep pushing back, elevating the riding experience. And since GT ‘s main attributes are power and speed, having a stiff bike allows the rider to transfer more power and hold their speed.

GEOMETRYOne of the most important and determining factors in how a product feels is the geometry. Geometry of a GT product should be more of a fun experience that leans towards “good times” rather than being race ready. The geometry should, as stated in the above paragraph, should give the rider confidence and enhance their abilities. It’s a bike that you can ride all day and still want more. It shouldn’t be punishing. But make no mistake, GT bikes will be raced and they will WIN! The geometry needs to be balanced accordingly.

WEIGHTGT bikes don’t have to be THE lightest but they need to be competitive. It’s more important to the experience that the bike is balanced and “feels” light. This doesn’t mean that you can be careless with the weight of the product. Use the weight wisely by improving the ride, look, and feel of the bike. Example: The 2014 Fury uses a linkage, not to drive the suspension, but to stiffen up the relationship between the rear triangle and the front triangle. It added weight but improved the overall performance of the bike.

UPGRADEABILITY/LONGEVITY

Our bikes are designed to last, in more ways than one. They must be able to stand up to years of abuse they also must be able to

grow with their rider. The bike should be able to accept a wide range of parts (cranks, seat posts, shocks, forks, stems, etc) so our customers can customize or upgrade their ride to their liking.

ExCEPTION

We want to be at the for front of trends but they must be on the verge of becoming an industry standard and supported by the aftermarket and component manufacturers.

MANUfACTUREABILITY

Reliability, availability, and compatibility are all important to the GT brand. Even though all bikes need to be manufactured in some way, GT bikes need to be designed and produced in a way with relatable technology and proven processes to reflect the brand values. This may also mean that the product should be designed mostly with easily attainable and standardized parts, i.e. bearings, screws, bolts, etc. However, this doesn’t mean that we can’t have GT specific parts, they just need to take these guidelines into consideration.

VALUE

Don’t get value confused with being cheap, because we don’t make cheap bikes! Another “do more with less” attitude. The product needs to be very competitive and that means the price needs to be right. When looking for solutions for the product always weigh wether design is worth the cost to the customer or not. They need to get the most bike (bang!) for their buck. This points towards the idea of thinking about the bike as a whole and not just a frame. Every part of the package needs to be thought through to provide the most compelling product we can offer.

TECHNOLOGY

61

PRODUCT GRAPHICS

PRODUCT GRAPHICS

Our bike colors and graphics are highly influenced by emerging trends in the action sports space. Therefore, we cannot dive too deep into any “do’s and dont’s” for GT Product Graphics, as we have amazingly talented artists working to create designs that will cut through the sea of sameness in the bike industry. As each season brings new trends to adapt, we simply ask that the following basic rules are followed.

fORM, fASHION AND fUNCTION

1. ALL Products must feature clear GT Branding on the Headtube and Downtube

2. Elements of the GT Wings should be tastefully incorporated when used as a graphic element

3. Final designs must be badass and reflect the soul of the GT brand positioning

DO NOT DO THIS1. Never change the fill color of the inner, or positive portion, of the GT logo unless it equals a color combination within brand guidelines. (black/yellow, black/white, etc)

2. Never use the fill, or positive portion, as a standalone graphic element.

THE GT “RACE” LOGO AND PRODUCT GRAPHICSFollow the rules below when designing product graphics, packaging collateral or apparel where the GT ‘Race’ logo is to be knocked out of a background element to create a dynamic design feature.

1. The GT logo CAN be knocked out of a background color or graphic IF a minimum of half of the logo’s outline is visible. Holding the ‘Implied’ stroke usage within those constraints allows the viewers eye to complete the outline shape and finish the logo.

2. The fill, or positive portion, of the GT logo MUST keep the color of the shape that the outline is being knocked out of unless it is a color combination within brand guidelines. (black/yellow, black/white, etc)

65

APPROVAL PROCESS

THE fINE PRINT *Agencies and partners should only access this Brand Bible if they have entered into a confidentiality agreement with GT Bicycles® or our parent company.

The GT brand identity is the totality of all touchpoints (media, products, events, etc.) It is

what is experienced by those who come into contact with the brand and influences their

opinion of GT. For that reason, we ask that you or any outside agency always consult the

GT Brand Bible before kicking off new projects.

1. All advertising creative should be based on the brand guidelines outlined

in the brand book. This includes the correct fonts, image treatment, color palette

and logo.

2. Only the current year campaign advertising should be used.

3. Please email your ad for approval in a PDF file a minimum of 2 weeks prior to

insertion deadline. Please use a subject line that fits the following format:

Email Subject Line: AD REVIEW [Insert Brand] [Insert Country] [ Insert Date]

Example: AD REVIEW GT.FRANCE.08.07.14

Please include the ad copy in English in your email or as an attachment.

4. For regional promotions, please use lifestyle shots and bike photos provided on the DAM.

5. Approval Submission Steps:

1. Regional Marketing Manager submits to:

2. Global Marketing Director / Creative Director submits to:

3. Brand Management for FINAL approval

6. Lead time:

When submitting ads that follow the current ad campaign format, please allow 4

business days for review and approval.

APPROVAL PROCESS

69