GT Grade Nails the All-terrain Road Bike

Road discs are inevitable, gravel racing continues to grow, gran fondo participation is through the roof, wider tires are all the rage and cyclists are looking for more versatility in their bikes — or they are looking for niche bikes to fill gaps in their quiver. GT and others are seeing this demand and growth potential and thus we’re seeing a slew of new bikes to fit the needs of non-racers.

For 2015, GT has launched the Grade — an all-purpose road bike that doesn’t even try to comply with UCI standards. It has gobs of tire clearance (35mm+), comfort that bests some of the household names in endurance bikes, disc brakes and palatable price points that everyone will appreciate. The two full-carbon models are smartly-equipped with tested and proven Shimano Ultegra and 105. And, every single model (down to the $870 Claris) sports disc brakes — no rim brakes at all.

With the Grade, you can keep going when the pavement ends. Heck, you could even poach some singletrack just off the road if you wanted to. How cool is that?

Have a look at the launch video to get an idea of the Grade’s versatility:

The Grade is without a doubt a remarkable new bike from GT and will set the tone for the latest crop of all-road bikes with some great features:

Disc brakes throughout the line (carbon and aluminum models)
Lower chassis reinforced with Hi-Mod carbon for pedaling efficiency (on carbon models)
Lower bottom bracket height and longer wheelbase for stability
External cable routing made for full-length housing
15mm thru-axle front fork on most models
27.2 seatpost diameter for increased compliance
Pencil-thin rear stays
Enough tire clearance for 35mm or larger tires
Geometry validated by Guru Fit Systems
Frame Weight in 56cm: 965 grams (carbon) and 1350 grams (aluminum)
Fork Weight: 470 grams (carbon models)
Prices from $3580 to $870