GT Grade Carbon 105 – an afternoon in France

In the end I didn’t buy the Specialised Diverge Carbon as I fell for the stealthy, anarchic looks of the GT Grade 105 carbon.

I’d originally dismissed the GT Grade as they weren’t importing the 60cm and I thought the 58 would be too small being somewhat of a giant. However the guys in Evans in Macc said they would get a 58 in for me to try – and it turned out to be spot on.

They offered a suitable discount and some freebies and as this was a significant present for a significant birthday I bought, and it’s ace.

You can hammer it down gravel tracks, dirt tracks, bridleways, cobbles and tarmac. Very comfortable and reassuringly good brakes.

This is my first ever drop bar bike, first ever time clipped in – only fallen twice so far due not getting my foot out fast enough …

I’ve changed the tyres for Kenda Happy Mediums which appear to be a happy medium on tracks v roads – so all good there.

I’ve come down to to France for a few days and I’ve just done 50 miles of dirt tracks, canal paths and old railway lines around the Charente-Maritime (St Savinien to Brouage and back) – no hills just endless empty roads, lanes and tracks. Even spotted a VW Thing for sale in Brouage.

A perfect afternoon.

IMG_0756 by PaulX[/url], on Flickr

IMG_0754 by PaulX[/url], on Flickr

IMG_0759 by PaulX[/url], on Flickr

IMG_0762 by PaulX[/url], on Flickr

That’s the weirdest GT triple triangle I’ve ever seen.
Looks good though, enjoy!!

Beautiful looking bike. I like that a lot.
You may have to rotate those bars forward before posting a pic on Velominati though.

I threw a leg over one of these and have a real hankering for one now…. Damn you! Enjoy.

You may have to rotate those bars forward before posting a pic on Velominati though.[/quote}

(takes deep breath)

and valves at 6 o’clock and chain in biggest gear and crank arm in line with seattube.

Grades look even better in the ‘flesh’ than in pics, looks like youre having much fun with it too so thumbs up.

Good to see you’re enjoying it! Still prefer the looks of my Diverge, though! 😉

Re the hood/bar angle, I found the same with mine, in that I started out with them oddly high. Not as high as yours, but certainly upwards. Since then, have done a re-fit and they’re now back and level. And lovely!

Interested in the tyres, certainly. Have got some Challenge Strada Bianca on order for the summer (Skinwalls FTW!) but always intrigued by other gravel choices.

Hi

Im interested in the Grade but noone locally has one in stock to even look at, let alone test ride and Im not sure of sizing

How tall are you please?

Cheers

6’4″ with 35in inside leg – I nearly dismissed the Grade as i assumed I’d need a 60cm which they weren’t importing. I paid a refundable £50 deposit to Evans to get a 58 cm to try and it turned out to be just right – had to put a shorter stem on it though.

The only other non MTB that I’ve owned in the last 10 years was a Specialised Sirrus hybrid which was a 61cm – the Grade 58cm feels a bigger bike. I’m generally on 21inch MTB.