Rondo takes two giant leaps forward with the Gen 2 RUUT
Polish brand Rondo has been making waves with its love-it-or-hate-it aesthetic. The new RUUT now gets a space-age frame design and updates that focus on comfort and ease of life.
- Opinion: You don't need a dropper post on your gravel bike
- Gravel bike suspension and dropper posts - do you need them?
- Are gravel bikes old-school mountain bikes?
The big update that comes as part of the RUUT's second generation is a completely revamped frame design. Binning the classic-tubed frame, the RUUT borrows aesthetics from the very aggressive MYLC, featuring a lowered seat stay and a curved top tube. While looks might divide opinion, this new frame is designed to provide comfort, safety and speed through useful shock absorption.
Importantly, with these new tube shapes the bike benefits from a new geometry. Coming with HI and LO settings, a large Gen 2 RUUT CF exhibits a 417mm reach with a new and higher 594mm stack. The head angle lies at 71.7-degrees while the seat tube sits at 73.7-degrees. With that, there are five sizes with an XC frame rocking 650b wheels.
As for features, the bike's bottom bracket is compatible with a number of power meters thanks to its asymmetrical T47 standard. Then, the bike dons an all-new cockpit that comes as a result of the inclusion of an ACROS headset and ICR stem. With that, cable routing is fully integrated.
For those who want easy replacement, or to run the latest in SRAM drivetrains, the new RUUT gets a Universal Derailleur hanger, which is readily available and the style of attachment can accommodate SRAM's T-Type technology.
Where the frame has seen a huge revamp, the fork remains the same as the brand has kitted the bike with its TwinTip fork. But it stays thanks to its adjustability, allowing the rider to tweak the fork offset and its head tube angle. On top of that, the RUUT can run a single or dual chainring setup and fenders.
Prices start at €3,800 for the RUUT CF2 which gets mechanical shifting from Shimano whereas the €5,000 RUUT CF1 gets SRAM's Rival AXS groupset. There's also a RUUT CF X that gets SRAM's Apex mechanical shifting but we don't have a price for that just yet, so stay tuned.