Fuji Gran Fondo endurance road bikes

2023 Gran Fondo 1.3

2023 Gran Fondo 1.3

Endurance-geometry road bikes are racing bikes for the rest of us.

Bikes like the Fuji Gran Fondo weigh-in like a pro’s racing bike, handle like a pro bike, climb and sprint like a pro bike, but are much more comfortable than a pro’s bike. With a taller front-end, greater tire clearance and a slightly longer wheelbase these bikes won’t require you to adopt the low racer position on your bike. You’re able to fit wider, more puncture-proof tires on your bike and you can pay more attention to your surroundings and less attention to the few feet of pavement in front of your front tire.

Gran Fondo 1.1

Gran Fondo 1.1

Road vibration reduction is the name of the game with this style of bike. For years Specialized had you believe that a 1/2″ piece of rubber glued into the seat stays of their Roubaix model did this trick yet in 2018 they quietly abandoned the ruse. Trek designed a seat post that sways back and forth (and added $400 in design elements and material to each model) for their pricey Domane models. Fuji just added a polyurethane-treated fiber layer in the middle of their carbon lay-up. It’s a simple technique that really reduces vibration traveling through the bike without adding hundreds of dollars to the final price tag.

Whether it’s your first race, the Seattle-to-Portland ride, your daily commute or your weekly ride around lake Washington, the Gran Fondo series will do just the trick.

Removable fender mounts

Removable fender mounts

Both of the Gran Fondo models have great features like compact gear ratios, Shimano 105 or Ultegra mechanical component groups, internal cable runs, Vittoria tires and Oval Concepts cockpit components.

You get hidden accessory eyelets that make rack and fenders mount cleanly and easily (and don’t disturb the bike’s beautiful lines if you don’t need them). These bikes are strong, light, comfortable and fast without killing your budget. Built with foul-weather-ready disc-brakes and component levels that you probably want, they come priced between $2800 and $3500, or about $500 less than the comparable Trek or Specialized.