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Caesar’s GT Saddleback – The DadCruiser 5000


The GT Saddleback is an entry level hardtail mountain bike from 2000, including the legendary triple triangle geometry design. This bike served its original owner until the year 2020 when Caesar saw the bike posted on Facebook marketplace for a good price. Caesar had just started working at Mystic Cycle Centre earlier that year. He was experienced in building BMX and fixed gear track bikes. From learning wheelies and tackling technical terrain, he had developed the itch to build a bike into a formidable and versatile bike that can do it all. After acquiring the Saddleback from the original owner, Caesar brought the bike straight to the shop and stripped the frame off everything but the seat post.


He upgraded the Shimano Altus 3 x 7 drive train to a custom Shimano XT 1 x 10 speed with SRAM NX cranks and a SRAM DUB bottom bracket. The front fork was swapped from the elastomer and coil SR MG8020 suspension fork to a Rock Shock Judy Race air fork for more control over the compression and dampening, making the ride a true track killer. The stem was swapped from a stock GT steel quill stem to an adjustable Ritchey stem to hold the new Kore 787 mm wide handlebars and the best mechanical brake levers, the Avid FR-5. The saddle was swapped for a size specific Specialized Power saddle, the same model that Caesar has on his Specialized TriCross gravel bike. The best upgrade / addition is the Burley Dash child seat so Caesar can take his son Caesar on adventures and explore Connecticut.


“I think Caleb made a beautiful point in the last MCC Shop Rag by saying, ‘It isn’t just a tool. It’s … an extension of our personalities.’ Like his Chisel, my Saddleback is something that can not be purchased. It can technically be rebuilt, if you sourced the parts; however, I’d be able to pick my bike out of a lineup of clones due to my level of intimacy with it. I encourage every bike rider to build and upgrade their bikes, as this builds the best relationship with the bike. I’ve had wonderful rides by myself through the woods of New London county solo and with my son. Every wheelie, even though it's not as impressive as some young men on their bikes, intrinsically makes me feel good because I built my machine. For those wondering, yes, my son loves it when I wheelie!” 

- Caesar