Wilier

GTR Team Ultegra Complete Road Bike - 2016

Wilier's GTR Team Ultegra Complete Road Bike is an indication that the GrandTurismo philosophy underwriting the various manifestations of its GT line over the years is still getting the R&D attention that first inspired us at the start of the industry's endurance revolution. It's got a layup that's equal parts race and recreation, a Shimano drivetrain that's almost entirely composed of the latest Ultegra kit, and one of the high-contrast, matte-finish paint schemes that are becoming as popular across the industry as the frame's all-purpose endurance geometry. Some of Wilier's frames are stiffer and lighter, but we're hard-pressed to think of one that's such a pure joy to ride in so many different situations.

We're aware that there are some potential pitfalls anytime we designate a frame's geometry as "endurance." It conjures images of upright, boardwalk cruising or weekend charity sportives punctuated with frequent stops for trail mix and under-ripe banana halves in volunteer-staffed rest areas. The GR Team is happy to dabble in those passive pastimes, but its take on "endurance" geometry actually falls between the comfort-focused machines produced by most manufacturers and the Euro-slammed race bikes populating criteriums the world over. The GTR geometry manages to feel at home in everything from circuit races to hill climbs to coffee shop loops. It may not be the capital-B Best at any one discipline, but few of the endurance frames we've ridden over the past several years do so well in so many applications.

Compared to its lighter cousin, the GTR SL, the GTR Team uses a slightly lower grade of carbon, with Wilier opting for a 46 and 30t blend instead of 60/40t. That means they crafty Italians required a bit more material to hit the strength and stiffness numbers they were after, so the Team model's frame weighs a claimed 200g more than the SL's frame. Of course, the industry axiom of choosing two of weight, strength, or price holds true, and the Team is correspondingly more affordable.

In a signature Wilier design move, the GTR Team's head tube is built up with a squared shape for greater resistance to flex under hard torque and impeccable handling during fast, sweeping descents. Wilier calls the design Easy Drive, an appropriate title considering that the GTR Team practically feels like it's on auto-pilot while descending, sticking to lines through corners with an almost intuitive hand as though it's the one doing the driving. That precise front end is paired with a surface-smoothing rear triangle, which manages to eat road noise and reduce rider fatigue while still boasting an oversized bottom bracket and chainstays for responsive power transfer. The classic description of a mullet comes to mind: business in the front; party in the back.