Does anyone have any thoughts on the new GT Grade? The 5th place finisher at the 2014 Rebecca's Private Idaho was on the Grade. Share your thoughts, questions, initial positives/negatives on this thread.
I'm a mountain bike guy looking to buy a road bike and this bike has my attention. I actually registered on this forum just to keep up on this thread.
I'm very interested and considering getting one this winter. My problem is deciding carbon VS alloy. but I'm leaning towards the carbon for a better ride.
I have been looking for this bike locally, and most of the shops listed on GT's website have either gone out of business or quit selling GT bikes. I need to contact all the LBS in a 100 mile radius and find out who still has a relationship with GT.
My new GT Grade arrived this week! I ordered the 105 Carbon in 53 cm. It weighed 19.1 lbs without pedals.
The color scheme is a little different than the prototypes. There are not any color stripes. It is various shades of matte and gloss black. I actually like it better than the beta versions.
I am in the process of swapping out the seatpost and other components. I will install Clements as tubeless on the Grail rims.
As soon as it is complete, I will post some pictures.
These photos are from the build last night in my living room. It took some work to get the Clements to seal on the Stans No Tube Grail wheels, but once they popped everything was good. I took it out today for a 47 mile test drive to dial in everything. I put on a Specialized Cobble Gobbler seat post from my road bike and the ride was smooth. I rode streets, gravel road, fire roads and single track. The Grade took it all in stride. The road sections felt just as efficient as any road bike I have ridden. The single track was rougher than my full suspension mountain bike, but I was able to clear the same obstacles and get to the top of the hill just as quickly. The new 105 shifts smoother and quieter than the Ultegra on my road bike. I'll post the outdoor pictures when I get them off my phone.
I have put a couple hundred miles on my Grade and am very pleased with its performance both on and off road. The miles I have been able to log on the dirt have been rewarding. I have been able to climb the same hills I did on my full suspension mountain bike. The light carbon frame is very responsive when I jump on it. The commute ride is smooth. Overall this bike does everything I had hoped it would.
I was looking at this bike, but the roads around here can be sandy and are very often wet and quite soft, so I run 41mm tires on my current gravel bike. What size tires are you guys running?
I am running 35mm Clement USH as tubeless and there is still plenty of room without fenders. You could probably put 40mm tires on this, but I have not tried it.
I am a newbie to to this forum and to gravel and off-road riding in general. I have been a roadie most of my life.
I just purchased a GT Grade from a local dealer. I got one of the Demo "Beta" Bikes that GT used to show the press. My version is Ultegra DI2.
I took it out yesterday for the first time and had a blast. I did a short 18 miles with a combination of pavement and dirt roads through a local waterfowl preserve. The bike performed well on both. It feels a bit stiffer than my titanium/carbon road bike. The dirt roads I took it on were a bit muddy and potholed. I did not have any issues. I believe the bike was completely more capable than my limited off-road skills. Hopefully my skills will catch up with the bikes.
I have not made any modifications to the bike as I have had it less than a week.
Congrats alwurst, you picked a great bike.
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\nI added the Specialized Coble Gobler seat post to my Grade for a little smoother ride on rough conditions. It is carbon, so it is very light and flexes enough to take out a little harshness without any loss of power when pedaling.
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\nI also added Bar Phat gel under my handlebar tape. This also takes out some road noise on the hands without double or triple wrapping that adds bulkiness.
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\nThis has allowed me to ride for longer periods of time on single track, ride roads and asphalt.
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\nRunning tubeless also allows me to have 35 psi which means more traction and a smoother ride.
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