When we saw the price of gravel bikes skyrocket during the pandemic we set out to make sure we would have a great beginner focused gravel bike at the most affordable price possible. We wanted a bike that had all the markings of a useable bike in Vermont right away. We outfitted our VT Bicycle Club Edition bikes with an extended gear range, accessory mounting points, tubeless compatibility, carbon forks, and brakes with large enough pads to handle the steep hills in Vermont. 
We also wanted them to be less than $2500 without skimping on quality in both the frame and the parts. If it has the VT Bicycle Club Edition marker, it's ready to roll and at a budget that makes sense for a first gravel bike.