I've had this bike finished for a month or so but just haven't got around to taking some decent photos of it until today. So thought I'd share them!

Like most, my favorite PFT's are 87-89' but the 90' model is one you don't see too much love given to. This one's a US built frame that was made in Sept 89 so that gave it a bit more cred for me.

I found it at a pawn shop in Sydney and the complete bike had $99 on it. After a little persuasion, I got the guy down to $80. The replacement NOS stickers ended up costing more than I paid for the actual bike!

It was dark blue to begin with and although it could have been kept as a survivor, (it was in great nick) I never really liked the darker blue that GT changed to in the late 80's. And as much as I love having bikes painted to match their original colour, I wanted to do something different with this one.

Originally it came with 1pc cranks but it deserved to be a Team Model so I sourced some 3pc. I can appreciate the time and effort that goes into getting these cranks back to their original matt finish, but after seeing how good some of the other parts came up I decided to polish them. And it didn't stop there! Every washer/bolt on this bike has either been chromed or polished. I think it makes a huge difference to the end result.

Initially it was built with black tuffs but the cranks just seemed to shine too much and something just wasn't right. So I used the original hubs (they were in excellent condition) and polished the outer rims to match the luster of the cranks and had them rebuilt.

It was a fun bike to build, and I'm quite happy with the colour and how it's come up.

Cheers,

Paul

SWEET build for sure. Love the color scheme and attention to details.

Now, my question - the lighting for those shots is GREAT. Did you use a special reflective screen or anything? Just curious since it looks to be somewhere kinda dark (inside a shed).

Very nice bike you built. Like Mike said the color is very cool.
that is the best looking iv'e seen in that year.

LOVE IT!!!!!

that color is SO SICK!!!

Very nice, def not one you see every day. I like it, nice to see something different.

Image->adjust->selective color->green,blue,yellow->>>>>>>
Nice bike. were those the correct crankset for that year? I I alway thought it was the profile made sets? Great color too. Was that offered as oem color?

Wow.. Great build.
You really don't see too many PFT rebuilt of those years.
The color really sets off the primary decals.

And I agree with Chevron Envy.
Those Photos are super Hi-Q! They look like catalog shots. You have perfect true lighting - and a nice depth of field on the detail shots.

That is some good clean green.

Your right, it's inside my shed. No reflective screen, just kept the doors open and used a flash to fill the other side of the bike. Although I could have probably used one. Usually I'd use 2 flashes, but one's busted at the mo, that's why there's some shadows in a couple of the shots.

A couple of tricks I thought I'd share with you:

Use natural light but control it, so it floods in through a window or a door etc. If you've got a SLR and a flash that mounts on top, get an extender cable and sit the flash anywhere but the top of your camera and try and get rid of as many shadows as possible. Firing it into white ceiling is perfect, just not directly the bike.

Before you upload your photos, take them into an image editing program of your choice and apply a little bit of sharpening to them. I use Aperture mainly. As sharp as you get the focus on your SLR camera, the edges of spokes and shiny metal bits just won't look that great. Even the top of the line SLR's have this problem, it's inherent with digital photography. But by sharpening you get to change the edges of pixels ever so slightly.

And a really simple but important one - contrast your bike against a background, i.e bright bike against dark background, dark against light etc




Yep, 1990 was the last year those cranks came on a GT freestyle bike. The chainwheel was the GT wings logo (compact disc) and I originally had it on, but like the probalem with the tuffs, it just didn't compliment the polished cranks. And I love how chunky the bolt on chainwheel sporcket is. Not sure when those profile ones were introduced, maybe 91??

And as far as colour, it's not an OEM colour. Had I had been building anything earlier, I would have chosen an OEM, but not for this build!

Paul

Looks great Paul and really like the colour even though I'm not a green person. Thanks for the tip re playing with sharpness in an editing program.

Having seen some of your other photos, eg BMX games, Roberto's BBQ, you should post some of them when you get a chance.

Nice bike, Im having trouble finding some 3pc. and superlace for my 88 pfttm build. Since I gave away or destroyed 2 to 3 sets of each back in the day I just cant find the ones Im looking for. Anyone seen any?
That color rocks on that frame and the polished look is good.

I too have seen Pauls photography and he's wizz behind the lens.

You've inspired me to build a 90 model now, I always wanted one BITD and I consider that model the last of the true GTs. Excellent build Paul.

Awsome color and again the pics are top notch. Very nice.

Originality points!

That is an absolutely killer build. I'm loving the color, the chrome, and of course the pics.

Good call with the chainwheel and disc on there. They look awesome with those cranks!!! The whole bike looks great and I'm loving the green too!!!!!

Yes Paul ,fantastic build..love it !!

That BIKE is skittle looking cool...LOVE that Green...very RAD!

Very good work!!! I love it!! And great photos as well. That bike is inspiring!!

That rivals one of Timo's builds, but if I may ask, why not lace the Superlaces the correct way?

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the positive comments, I'm glad you like it. Pity I'm thousands of miles away as I'd love to show it to you in the flesh. You never know though, I might just make it over there one day??




When I took the wheels apart, the hubs had markings where the spokes originally sat. I didn't want to lace them any other way just incase you noticed the marks so I got them to follow the pattern of the original wheels. If they're the wrong way then they were laced the wrong way to begin with. I've noticed there are some subtle differences on components with OS bikes, (although this is a US frameset) and can only assume that this may be one of them.


Cheers,

Paul

I see your point.
It's a shame that the original "lacer" made the mistake. I think part of the appeal of Superlace wheels is the visual aspect of all the spoke sitting on the outside of the hub.
Still a great looking bike.

**right click, save as sick green gt**

now i know what color to do my Morales in this winter. thanks.

1990 was the last year for those cranks, 91 the profile cranks came out....hard to find the 90 frames..they have the "up sweep" on the frame by the rear drop outs AND they have the underside 990 mounts. might of been the only year for this set up on the frame...91 was the same frame minus the 990 mounts i think?

My God.

Absolutely GORGEOUS.

I'm speechless.

fantastic...WOW..good job mate