Ok, want the backstory? Check out part 1 here, and to get a rundown of the latest Cannondale offerings.
As well as Cannondale, CSG distribute Charge and GT in the UK. Both had their ‘cross/gravel/drop bar fun range on display, so we took the opportunity to look at the highlights.
GT
Core to the GT range is the Grade – it comes in alloy and carbon, CX and gravel er, ‘enduroad’ builds and loooads of build options to suit pockets of different depths. It’s fair to say that the Grade Enduroad range is aimed at long riding on poorly maintained backroads, with the occasional foray into the dirty stuff. Hannah is currently testing one of the entry level alloy models.
Lets start somewhere in the middle. The Grade Carbon 105 is, surprise surprise, a carbon framed/forked bike, sporting a full Shimano 105 hydraulic disc set up. The same high-modulus carbon (the good stuff) frame is used on all the carbon models, as opposed to many brands who tend to specify lower quality carbon on their base models. We think it’s a solid looking bike, and love the ‘so in for next year’ neon paint options. Pricing is £2249.99.
If ‘cross is more your bag, then GT have the Grade CX ready and waiting. It’s an alloy framed model, but carries across many of the features from the other Grade models. In eye-popping red, it will retail at £1599.99 with full SRAM Rival.
Charge
Brit brand Charge’s drop-barred range is tight, and limited to a single model, but the Plug‘s pricing ranges from £499.99 all the way up to £2499.99. Each bike is typified by some pretty rad paint jobs and sensible specification. In short, we’d love one in the bike shed.
Stay tuned for our final CSG update – covering accessories from Fabric and clothing from Sombrio and Sugoi
