We whisked the Rondo RUUT CF2 away from road.cc to take a first look at this carbon gravel bike with adjustable geometry before they get testing it. Built for bikepacking, gravel riding, racing, touring, training or commuting this is tipped to be a super versatile bike, we loved the alloy version we tested previously and have high hopes for this carbon model. 

• Rondo RUUT AL review
• The best gravel and adventure bikes you can buy for under £1,000
• The best gravel and adventure bikes you can buy for under £2,000

The first thing that makes this gravel bike really stand out, aside from the svelte good looks, is the adjustable geometry that comes via the Twin Tip fork. As Pat told us in his review of the Rondo RUUT AL:  "Using a 3mm hex key you can reverse the alloy dropout chip switching between a Hi or Lo axle position. By swapping this chip, you make a number of alterations to the geometry, changing the head and seat tube angles by 0.5 degrees, the cockpit up or down 10mm, and altering the trail by 13mm. The 'Hi' axle position on the fork refers to low, racier, aggressive riding style and Lo axle position equals higher riding position and more relaxed and slightly slower steering adventure riding position."

The idea is that you can change the characteristics of the bike by altering the geometry depending on your own personal preferences or the style of riding you are doing. Riding with the bike in the Hi setting means there is a steeper head angle, shorter trail and a lower riding position for racing and a more aggressive riding position. Flipping the chip to Low provides slacker angles, longer trail and a more relaxed riding position (higher stack) for longer distance bikepacking miles.

In addition to the innovative TwinTip fork, the frame is also designed to incorporate flex in specific places. Think that top tube is just a funky design? Nope, it's one of three points that use different carbon layering to give a bit more flex to aid comfort and flex under the saddle. The other points are the bottom third of the seat tube and at the rear where the chainstays meet the seat stays. 

Elsewhere there are thru axles front and rear, it's compatible with 1x and 2x drivetrains, there is clearance for 700x40c or 650Bx2.1" tyres and it comes in frame sizes S through to XL. 

Our CF2 is the cheaper of three carbon RUUT models with a price of £2,700. For that money, you get a carbon frame and fork as we already mentioned. There is a full SRAM Rival groupset with a 40T front chainring and a 10-42t cassette, plus of course, hydro bakes. 

The wheels are Rondo's own aluminium rims with their own hubs too. These are fitted with Panaracer Gravel King SK 700c x 35 tyres. 

The cockpit is also a partly Rondo affair with size specific flared bars and a different stem, also size dependent. Then there's a Fabric Scoop saddle and an Easton alloy 27.2mm seatpost. 

We will now be handing this bike over to the guys a road.cc for a full review which we will also be posting on off-road.cc - check back soon!

• www.rondo.cc

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