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Decoding Jelly Belly's mystery TT bikes

Published: Feb. 25, 2009
AToC Tech: The Jelly Belly time trial bike by GT.
AToC Tech: The Jelly Belly time trial bike by GT.
Photo: Zack Vestal

One of the lingering tech questions from the Amgen Tour of California has finally been answered, at least partially.

As early as the prologue, a reader wrote to inquire about Jelly Belly’s time trial bikes, which are GT-branded but not shown on the GT Bicycles Web site. The GT-sponsored team also used these frames (with a different paint scheme) last season. We finally tracked down Michael De Leon, PR and advocacy manager for the Cannondale Sports Group, to get some of the story.

Cannondale Sports Group is the umbrella division under which the Cannondale, GT, Schwinn, and Mongoose brands operate. In February 2008, Dorel Industries purchased the Cannondale Bicycle Corporation and created this new division to focus exclusively on sales to independent bicycle dealers. Four years earlier, Dorel acquired Pacific Cycle, which included GT, Schwinn and Mongoose. With this strong portfolio of brands, and a significant infusion of both financial and engineering resources, the Cannondale Sports Group now has the power to push product development in new directions.

When asked if the GT-branded Jelly Belly bike is actually a re-labeled frame from another brand, De Leon said no, adding that one of the company’s carbon product suppliers “is making the frame especially for us.” Given the broad spectrum (and volume) of products that the Cannondale Sports Group sources for each brand, it’s probably not difficult for a carbon supplier to create a one-off time trial frame in small quantities.

As to why the bike is not offered to the public, De Leon said GT is not ready to introduce it. “When we introduce a GT TT frame, it will be designed within the GT design architecture and will be built to perform,” he said. De Leon added that GT is focusing on the GTR road bike line, and is evaluating both the TT frame design and the market to determine if it’s a viable product for retail sale.

De Leon made it clear that feedback from Jelly Belly riders continues to influence GT product development. “We’re driving to improve all of the current road bikes offered by GT,” he said. “This includes what is currently being offered and what will be offered in the future.” Whether that’s a hint that the TT bike will eventually be available at retail is up for debate.

In any case, the GT time trial bikes for Jelly Belly are eye-catching, appear to have reasonably standard aerodynamic frame features, and evidently suit the needs of the team. It will be interesting to see whether the frames evolve over time, and if they are ever offered to the public.

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