GT’s Triple Triangle generates as much brand allegiance as Bianchi’s Celeste and looks like it means business even without any paint. Here’s a single speed conversion of a classic mountain bike that’s been done right, however it could have looked very ordinary had it not been for that frame and the initials of Gary Turner stamped into the end of that top tube. Stripped of the ubiquitous branding and flashy graphics, the frame shines even brighter as the cycling icon that has borne along champions such as Brian Lopes, Nico Vouilloz, Steve Peat and Jill Kintner.

This frame started out as a GT Bravado from 1993 and was most likely a very bright shade of yellow. With the help of a White Industries Eccentric ENO hub this Bravado lost the Shimano Deore XT derailleurs, and morphed into a perfectly capable and functional single speed urban mountain bike. The monochrome scheme has been continued with a set of period correct Magura hydraulic brakes. In fact the only colour on this bike is the Salsa logo on the stem, which has been coupled with a set of Woodchipper bars. Most likely the original rims, the rubber has been replaced with uber-reliable Schwalbe Super Moto tyres and the Shimano DX cranks have had their rings reduced by two and a TA Specialites Pro-Tech chain device has been installed.

The owner of this Bravado, a German flickr user called Torture Machine, has created something entirely different to what originally rolled out of the factory in 1993. He’s created an updated bike that’s subtle and stylish, not only perfectly functional but also perfectly individual.













