GT

Tachyon Comp Complete Road Bike - 2015

There is a time and place for high-performance, multi-thousand dollar carbon racing bikes. 5:15 on a Tuesday evening during rush hour is not that place. GT knows this very well, which is why it designed the Tachyon Comp Complete Bike for moments of urban commuting warfare — the times when durability, reliability, and ride-ability are of the maximum importance. For situations like these, grab the commuter's tank and leave the flashy carbon toys hanging in the garage.

The Speed Metal from which the frame is made is GT's name for an aluminum frame with hydroformed top and down tubes. These tubes are shaped according to GT's iconic Triple Triangle design. Triple Triangle was first introduced 24 years ago and its simple effectiveness hasn't been surpassed to date. The sharper angle of the seatstay means it runs past the seat tube to the top tube, letting GT reinforce the stays, so they're more laterally stiff, and it also distributes road noise and bumps through the frame instead of just porting them straight up the seatpost. So the frame is tough, but the responsiveness of alloy means it can also jump for when you need to make a stoplight or want a touch more speed to merge over so you don't miss your turn.

The components are made to last as long as you do in the saddle, with a mixed Shimano and Sunrace drivetrain and GT's own peripherals. The wheels are virtually bombproof: Alex Rims' X2200 hoops are mated to Formula hubs with burly, 15-gram stainless steel spokes. Potholes, speed bumps, gravel, and highway detritus don't stand a chance, and the 28 millimeter Kenda Kwest tires are the same girth the pros use for Roubaix, so you know they'll last — and last comfortably. The Tachyon also includes rack and fender eyelets, making it the ultimate accessory-friendly commuter. Whatever you need, it can do.

The GT Tachyon Comp is available in six sizes ranging from 51 to 60 centimeters in the color Gun Metal.