GT

Grade Carbon Ultegra Complete Bike - 2015

The saying, "you get what you pay for" is true in varying degrees in the world of cycling (and anywhere, for that matter), but GT’s Grade, shown here with the Ultegra kit, sure feels spot on. For just a hair over $3k, you get DT Swiss 240s hubs, a full Ultegra kit with group-matched hydraulic brakes, a Fizik saddle, and Continental tires. And that’s just the kit! The frame itself is GT’s newest carbon fiber "go anywhere" road bike, and the Triple Triangle works just as well as it did more than two decades ago when first introduced.

The Triple Triangle concept works by allowing the seatstays to exist at a slacker angle, which can then be tuned to provide more vertical compliance, effectively smoothing chunky roads and dirt. This is paired with an oversized down tube and bottom bracket to maintain lateral stiffness and power transfer. Overall, the geometry is designed for long days in the saddle over questionable roads. It has a slightly slacker head angle than an average road bike, and a bit shorter reach for a more upright riding position.