Rondo has released a new gravel bike called the MYLC and it's undoubtedly going to turn heads. The Polish brand already has a reputation for interesting bikes but the MYLC takes that to a whole new level.
Rondo says that the MYLC is the best gravel bike for riders who regularly take their gravel bike beyond what is deemed gravel. Whether you're heading into the backcountry or riding singletrack, Rondo says the “re-imagined frame geometry offers unlimited exploring with maximum stability and comfort”.
While the aesthetic seems to be a mixture of cyclocross bike and futuristic urban e-bike, it's pretty obvious the geometry is heavily inspired by mountain bikes. Rondo refers to its new gravel geometry as Enhanced Gravel Geometry (EGG) and once you look past the striking frame shapes there's no hiding the slack front end and elongated top tube.
The head angle is 68-degrees in the low setting, which as far as we can think – and please correct us if we are wrong – is the second slackest gravel bike around, only beaten by Evil's Chamois Hagar. While cross-country bikes are getting slacker, the MYLC isn't far off those either. Rondo has lengthened the top tube and reduced the stem length in order to lengthen the wheelbase for increased stability. Reach is 427mm for a medium bike in its high setting.
Interestingly, Rondo hasn't opted to follow the gravel front suspension trend, instead opting to stick with its Twin Tip rigid fork design. This gives the option of a 'Hi' or 'Lo' setting which alters the geometry and ride characteristics of the bike by flipping a chip in the fork dropout. Low is the slacker option and has an increased trail number which gives the bike more stable handling at speed. The high setting steepens the head angle and reduces the trail for more nimble and reactive handling. Other measurements change as well. 'Hi' mode has a 0.7-degree slacker seat angle, a 5mm lower bottom bracket, and 7mm more reach.
Rondo says the shortened seat tube offers more flex adding to rider comfort. The frame is also dropper post-compatible too, which is fitting for an MTB-inspired gravel bike.
The MYLC will clear a 700x47mm tire further increasing potential comfort and grip, although all the bikes will ship with a 40mm Vittoria tire fitted.
Rondo MYLC availability, range, and specs
Rondo will offer the MYLC in three different frame materials: steel, alloy, and carbon. While the steel and alloy bikes are similarly priced, the steel version gets a GRX groupset while the alloy model comes with SRAM Apex. The carbon version has two models: a cheaper Rondo MYLC CF2 built with Shimano GRX and Rondo branded kit, or the Rondo MYLC CF1 which comes with SRAM Rival AXS XLPR and Hunt wheels.
Bikes should be available in Fall 2022.
Rondo MYLC ST
- Frame: Rondo MYLC CROMO, Rondo RUUT V2 Twintip Carbon
- Groupset: Shimano GRX
- Cranks: Shimano GRX RX600
- Brakes: Shimano GRX BR-RX400
- Wheelset: Rondo Lit
- Tires: Vittoria Terreno Mix 40mm
- Handlebar: Rondo Flare 2 400MM (XS), 420MM (S), 440MM (M,L), 460MM (XL)
- Stem: Rondo 50MM (XS, S, M), 70MM (L, XL)
- Seatpost: Rondo Alloy (27.2mm)
- Saddle: Selle Italia Model X
- Price: $TBC / €3,199 / £2,999
Rondo MYLC AL
- Frame: Rondo MYLC ALU, Rondo RUUT V2 Twintip Carbon
- Groupset: SRAM APEX 1
- Cranks: Rondo Direct
- Brakes: SRAM APEX1
- Wheelset: Rondo Alloy
- Tires: Vittoria Terreno Mix 40mm
- Handlebar: Rondo Flare 2 400MM (XS), 420MM (S), 440MM (M,L), 460MM (XL)
- Stem: Rondo 50MM (XS, S, M), 70MM (L, XL)
- Seatpost: Rondo 350
- Saddle: Selle Italia Model X
- Price: $TBC / €2,399 / £2,199
Rondo MYLC CF2
- Frame: Rondo MYLC FLY Carbon Rondo RUUT V2 Twintip Carbon
- Groupset: Shimano GRX RX812
- Cranks: Shimano GRX RX600
- Brakes: Shimano GRX BR-RX400
- Wheelset: Rondo Lit
- Tires: Vittoria Terreno Mix 40mm
- Handlebar: Rondo Flare 2 420MM (S), 440MM (M), 460MM (L,XL)
- Stem: Rondo ICR 50MM (S, M), 70MM (L, XL)
- Seatpost: Rondo 350
- Saddle: Selle San Marco Shortfit
- Price: $TBC / €3,699 / £3,499
Rondo MYLC CF1
- Frame: Rondo MYLC FLY Carbon Rondo RUUT V2 Twintip Carbon
- Groupset: SRAM Rival AXS XPLR
- Cranks: SRAM Rival XPLR
- Brakes: SRAM Rival XPLR
- Wheelset: Rondo X Hunt Gravel X-Wide
- Tires: Vittoria Terreno Mix 40mm
- Handlebar: Spank Flare 25 420MM (S), 440MM (M), 460MM (L,XL)
- Stem: Rondo MICR 50MM (S, M), 70MM (L, XL)
- Seatpost: Rondo Carbon 350
- Saddle: Selle San Marco Shortfit
- Price: $TBC / €4,899 / £4,499
