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EB18: Rondo HVRT aero “road plus” race bike makes fat tires go fast

2019 Rondo HVRT aero gravel road bike with room for 650b plus tires
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The Rondo HVRT aero road bike made its informal debut as a prototype last year, but now it’s ready to hit the road less travelled with just about any size tire. What sets it apart from other aero road bikes that can run 650b or 700c wheels and tires are the aerodynamic touches and the brand’s signature adjustable fork. That means it could be your crit racer, fondo bike and gravel grinder all in one.

2019 Rondo HVRT aero gravel road bike with room for 650b plus tires

The HVRT has an aero frame with aggressive geometry that fits 700×30 or 650Bx47 road plus tires. In addition to tube shapes designed to keep the air flowing smoothly across it, the fork has a wide opening to prevent high or low pressure zones that could create drag.

2019 Rondo HVRT aero gravel road bike with room for 650b plus tires

2019 Rondo HVRT aero gravel road bike with room for 650b plus tires

2019 Rondo HVRT aero gravel road bike with room for 650b plus tires

Their TwinTip fork lets you tweak the geometry to go between full race mode and more upright training mode. Note the fairing over the disc brake caliper…bolts on the front of the fork leg help with the install and setup since the caliper is hidden.

It’s still a sporty geometry in both, but they say the difference is noticeable. Raising the front wheel brings you more upright, raising the cockpit by 10mm. which also gives it a bit longer trail 8mm and 0.5° slacker head and seat angles.

2019 Rondo HVRT aero gravel road bike with room for 650b plus tires

2019 Rondo HVRT aero gravel road bike with room for 650b plus tires

There’s a little vertical compliance in the stays, but mostly made to be torsionally stuff for sprinting.

2019 Rondo HVRT aero gravel road bike with room for 650b plus tires

The HVRT carries many of the same design touches as their original RUUT gravel bike, but gets this clever new seatpost:

2019 Rondo HVRT aero gravel road bike with room for 650b plus tires

One of the problems with aero seatposts is how to attach a blinky light. They solved this by adding a slit in the center.

It’s available in three builds, from €6,399 with Shimano Dura-Ace and DT Swiss 240 hubs down to €5,799 with Ultegra Di2 and €3,199 with Shimano 105, the latter two with various house branded hubs. A frameset is €2,599.

2019 Rondo Ruut Ti

rondo route titanium gravel road bike

They’ve also added a new 3/2.5 titanium version of their original Ruut gravel bike, offered as a complete bike and a frameset. It has the same geometry as the carbon, steel and alloy Ruuts, but with the wonder metal that makes for good lifetime bikes.

rondo route titanium gravel road bike

rondo route titanium gravel road bike

It, too, gets a TwinTip fork for adjustable geometry.

rondo route titanium gravel road bike

Tire clearance is rated at 700×40 or 650Bx2.1″.

rondo route titanium gravel road bike

rondo route titanium gravel road bike

Fender and rear rack mounts open up more options for use, like fast commuting.

rondo route titanium gravel road bike

rondo route titanium gravel road bike

It’ll ship with the fork, thru axles and a carbon 27.2 seatpost for the frameset at €3,399. One complete bike will be offered with SRAM Force 1 for €4,899 For the carbon, steel and alloy models, there are more build options and new colors, including a full black steel frameset.

Not shown, the Booz is a new urban racer with aggressive geometry and road plus tires, belt drive and flat bars. It has a steel frame and a Shimano Nexus 7-speed internally geared hub.

Rondo.cc

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sevo
sevo
6 years ago

Super nice guys too. Got to spend a lot of time talking to them at Interbike last year.

VeloKitty
VeloKitty
6 years ago

You would think that they would update their website with the new model.

Gillis
Gillis
6 years ago

I’ve been sorta looking for something like this: a generally aero road bike that would take larger tires for the occasional dalliance onto gravel via an extra set of tires (or wheels). Any other frames out there like this?

Though, while I sort of like the idea of the adjustable fork the same way I like the Ride 9 chip on my RM Altitude, it seems a bit gimmicky on a road bike (as well as a touch ugly…especially if it requires a caliper adjustment).

comrad
6 years ago

That housing bend on the RD. Woof

typevertigo
typevertigo
6 years ago

A versatile aero bike? Hmmm. This appeals to me a lot more than it should.

Genius idea on the hole in the seatpost for rear light mounting too.

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