Cube Agree GTC Pro review

Frame

The Cube Agree GTC Pro comes with a full carbon-fibre frame and fork. The frame uses what Cube calls ‘Twin Mold Technology’, a technique also used on the brand’s top-end Litening frame. Cube claims this minimises the amount of resin needed to bond the tubes at junction points. The frame features a tapered head tube to aid handling, something that can be felt on tricky descents, with the front end tracking perfectly.

In terms of looks, the Cube Agree GTC Pro punches well above its entry-level price point with the aesthetically pleasing sloping top tube that flows into slender seatstays.

Specification

Given the sub-£1,200 price, the fact that Cube has managed to equip the Agree with a full Shimano 105 groupset — including brakes and chainset — is impressive. For a bike designed to perform on all terrains, the 11-32t cassette is a sensible inclusion, with enough top-end for a club run-winning sprint and a bottom gear low enough for the toughest of climbs.

The wheels are Fulcrum Racing 77s. Essentially rebadged Racing 7s, these are a step below the Racing S5s on the other similarly specced Specialized Tarmac Elite, but provided reliable performance. The finishing kit is all in-house, keeping costs down.

Ride

The Cube is an enjoyable ride, especially when putting in the long miles, but once you open the taps you see why this is the lowest priced bike on test.

The ride is skewed slightly towards all-day comfort rather than pure performance, which should be no surprise given the compact chainset and 11-32 cassette. The frame gives enough flex to soak up the punishment dished out by rough British roads, aided, of course, by the 25mm Continental Grand Sport tyres.

However, when sprinting and climbing steep hills out of the saddle, the performance is a little sluggish. A little on the heavy side at 8.75kg, it was no surprise that the Agree wasn’t the most agile ascender, but the performance was also a little disappointing when it came to accelerating out of corners — less than ideal if you’re considering this as a race bike.

Value

All that said, the £1,200 price-tag is certainly very attractive, and this is probably the best value 105-equipped bike we tested. Seeing the complete 105 groupset on a bike of this price is impressive, and the trickle-down technology inherited from the more expensive models in the Cube range makes this a good all-rounder for the price.