After getting a new lighter & more capable fork and a bit of extra clearance this year, Rondo is adding something revolutionary to their Ruut 2x gravel bikes for 2021, gasp… a front derailleur. It’s pretty funny, but the continued progression to 1x drivetrains with 10 through 13 gears out back hasn’t swayed a lot of roadies coming over to gravel or adventure riders who just prefer the smooth steps of compact double groupsets. And with the rise in popularity of Shimano’s GRX 2×10 at affordable prices, Rondo’s Ruut now gets a front derailleur.
Rondo Ruut 2X gravel bikes with GRX in carbon or alloy
The original, adjustable geometry Rondo Ruut that we found in Berlin almost four years ago already had the threads to mount a braze-on front derailleur tab on the carbon frame, and that alloy bike’s round seattube meant it was an option, too.
But the Polish bike brand hadn’t yet sold their complete gravel bike builds with anything but 1x setups. Now, two 2x models provide the wide range & tight gear spacing that many potential buyers have been asking for.
2021 Rondo Ruut CF2 2X carbon gravel bike – What’s new?
The new carbon 2021 Ruut CF framesets get relatively minor updates over this year’s model which already bumped up to claimed “Halo Clearance” for 2020. According to the new chainstay labels, Rondo appears to have updated the specifics of that to a max of 700c x 45mm or 27.5 x 2.2″ now.
The new carbon frameset also gets more mounting points. The new variable geometry TwinTip 2.0 carbon fork brings 3-pack anything cage mounts, plus full coverage fender compatibility. And now the carbon frame gets matching fender mounts out back as well.
The updated carbon Ruut also adds a pair of toptube bosses to direct mount bikepacking bags, like already seen on the metal bikes.
And of course there’s the inclusion of the front derailleur tab for the complete Shimano GRX 2×10 groupset, meant to open the bike up for more of a mix of on & off-road riding, as well.
The 2700€ carbon Rondo Ruut CF2 2X gets a sub-compact double drivetrain with GRX RX600 46/30T crankset, paired to RX400 derailleurs, and a 10sp 11-36 cassette for wide, low gearing, and a claimed complete bike weight of 9.65kg.
2021 Rondo Ruut AL1 2X alloy gravel bike – What’s new?
We mostly saw all of these reshaped alloy Ruut AL1 updates last year – dramatic 6061 alloy tube shaping, larger dropped chainstay yoke, bigger tire clearances (labeled the same as the CF2), rack AND fender mounts, and a curvy set of s-bend seatstays for added comfort. This new AL1 bike looks like it might have gotten even more comfy curvature than we previewed last year.
Now it also adds a removable braze-on front derailleur tab, as well.
The 2000€ Rondo Ruut AL1 2X gets a similar Shimano GRX 2×10 setup, as the carbon bike, just down spec’d a bit. With its much lower price Rondo expects it to serve more use as an all-rounder – going from winter commuter to summer bikepacking adventures. The double drivetrain shares sub-compact 46/30T chainrings, GRX RX400 derailleurs, and the wide 10sp 11-36 cassette, with a weight claim of 10.3kg complete.
2021 Rondo Ruut availability
Both new GRX 2x Rondo Ruut gravel bikes are available to order now through your local dealer, with the new bikes already shipped out to shops.
Rondo have also added a new premium Ruut X carbon complete bike with GRX 1×11 & Hunt alloy wheels for cyclocross racing in 2021. And the cheaper alloy Ruut AL2 also gets the upgraded fork next season.
