Like New 2016 GT Grade Carbon Ultegra 55cm $3,000

you regularly find yourself wishing you didn't have to choose between going on an exhilarating ride on the ashpalt and exploring winding gravel side roads, then you can breathe a sigh of relief: GT understands. The brand with a long-time passion for riding off the beaten path created its Grade Carbon Ultegra Complete Bike to give you the option to go from roads to gravel to tree-lined trails without sacrifice. GT's Triple Triangle design and full carbon frame construction combine with Shimano's Ultegra components to make a bike that feels luxuriously at home on anything.

GT introduced its iconic Triple Triangle design over two decades ago and has yet to see a need to replace it. Its simple, efficient design is constructed using GT's Dual Fiber Dynamic tech — carbon with integrated glass fibers for increased responsiveness. The sharper seat stay angle disperses road noise and bumps through the frame. It also allows GT space to reinforce the slim, flattened seat stays, which are constructed out of fiberglass cores wrapped in carbon to give them the right mix of vertical compliance and lateral stiffness. The wide down tube also offers more rigidity and better energy transfer, while the slack head tube angle adds steering stability across gravel and comfort during all-day endurance road rides.

GT engineered the Grade's full carbon fork with 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. Speaking of pedaling, as soon as you start you'll be able to recognize the unmistakable sound of the included DT Swiss 240s hubs anchoring Stan's NoTubes Grail rims — the combination of which might be the best example we've seen of a manufacturer spec'ing a bike at this level with components you won't want to immediately swap out.

After the quality decisions we've listed so far, it should come as no surprise that the Grade Carbon comes with an impressive Shimano Ultegra drivetrain that both looks great on your frame and shifts effortlessly and consistently. Second only to Shimano's Dura-Ace groupset, Ultegra punches like the pros' kit but with a few more grams and a more amateur-friendly price. The Shimano hydraulic disc brakes are controlled by Shimano's BR-R685 levers, which are Shimano's hydraulic equivalent of Ultegra and give you reliable control from wet grass to dry asphalt descents. GT finishes the Grade Carbon with Fizik's wide-basined, ever-popular Aliante saddle, plush Continental 28mm tires, and an FSA K-Force Light carbon seatpost.