GT

Grade Carbon Ultegra Complete Road Bike - 2017

Aggressive race bikes have their place on buttery smooth criterium courses, but some of us want a bike that's a little more versatile and able to match cycling's new go-anywhere attitude. As such, GT categorizes the 2017 Grade Carbon Ultegra Complete Road as "enduroad," which means it feels like a responsive race frame but with endurance geometry and durability that will have you riding in comfort mile after all-road mile. Its Shimano Ultegra drivetrain (the ST-RS685 shift and brake levers are Ultegra-equivalent) and powerful hydraulic disc brakes solidify this bike's reliability, while Mavic's Aksium Disc Allroad wheelset and lightly treaded Clement Strada USH tires put the final touches on its gravel grinding capabilities.

GT shapes the Grade Carbon frame and fork using carbon that's reinforced with a glass matrix for equal parts vibration-damping and stiffness to reduce fatigue and wasted watts over long rides. The hallmark of endurance frames, and a major reason for their appeal, is their relaxed geometry. It's perfect for riding a fondo or heading out on a leisurely spin to soak in scenery, but it's still able to keep up in a road race or competitive group ride. The Grade Carbon fits this description aptly, and also features a slightly more compact rear triangle than other similar frames. That compactness is owed to GT's Triple Triangle, which is designed to add stiffness and rigidity to the frame using tighter angles and reinforced seatstays.

The fork features longer, narrower blades than a traditional road bike, creating extra clearance for the front tire and better compliance over bumps. You'll remain stable on fast descents with the tapered head tube and retain efficient power transfer as you pedal out of the saddle over dirt, gravel, or tarmac.