Wait a minute, what is this? It looks like a gravel bike, but somehow the frame is too long and the head angle too flat. This is the new MYLC from Polish manufacturer RONDO, a gravel bike designed for rougher terrain. But what is the use case for such a bike?
RONDO wants to focus on the fun of biking and not on racing. The manufacturer from Poland often goes its own way and designs dropbar bikes that combine unusual design and an exciting concept. Proof of this: the recently introduced RATT , which is supposed to offer a mix of road bike and gravel bike.
The new RONDO MYLC in detail
Now RONDO launches the MYLC, a gravel bike designed for rough terrain. “Gravelduro” is what they call it and the bike is meant to appeal to mountain bikers who are looking for a familiar feeling on a gravel bike. Or all riders who spend a lot of time in open terrain. A bike like this seems to make the boundaries between mountain bikes and gravel bikes disappear. Mountain bikes bring more comfort and safety off-road due to their suspension and the chunkier tyres. The RONDO MYLC is therefore aimed more at those who like the challenge of riding a gravel bike in demanding terrain or everyone who wants to use the additional attachment points to go bikepacking off-road.
Features and versions of the RONDO MYLC
The bike is available in four versions: Two carbon variants that cost €3,699 and €4,899, an aluminium bike for €2,399 and a steel bike for €3,199. The aluminium and steel frames have a much more classic look and come with many bolt-on points, which makes the bikes interesting for off-grid adventures. The carbon fork, which is shared by all models, is also equipped with bolt-on points. The Vittoria Terreno Mix 700 x 40 tyres are the same on all models. The shifting group and brakes are from SRAM or Shimano, depending on the equipment. Seatpost, handlebars and wheels come from the in-house brand and are made of aluminium or carbon, depending on the equipment. The bikes should be available from autumn 2022.
The geometry of the RONDO MYLC
Even though the look of the frames differs greatly, the geometry is the same for all variants. It is inspired by mountain bikes and thus has a very long reach, a flat head angle, large tyre clearance and a seat tube that is compatible with dropper posts.
| size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube | 538 mm | 575 mm | 591 mm | 609 mm | 627 mm |
| Head tube | 110 mm | 140 mm | 160 mm | 190 mm | 220 mm |
| Head angle | 68° | 68° | 68° | 68° | 68° |
| Seat angle | 73.4° | 73.4° | 73.4° | 73.4° | 73,4° |
| Chainstay | 425 mm | 425 mm | 425 mm | 425 mm | 425 mm |
| BB Drop | 65 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm |
| Stack | 530 mm | 554 mm | 572 mm | 600 mm | 628 mm |
| Reach | 380 mm | 410 mm | 420 mm | 430 mm | 440 mm |
Our conclusion on the RONDO MYLC
The RONDO MYLC shows a concept that has not been seen before: a gravel bike that is mainly intended to be ridden off-road. In this area, it competes strongly with mountain bikes, which offer more comfort and control thanks to their suspension and chunky tyres. That means, the MYLC is a bike that claims a very small niche for itself: Riders who are looking for their gravel fun on challenging terrain in an underbiking style or who want to set off on off-grid adventures.
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Words: Simon Kohler Photos: Manufacturer
About the Author
Simon Kohler
Simon loves speed. He has many years of racing experience as a longboard downhill skater, blasting down alpine passes on his board. In the meantime, he’s swapped four wheels for two, charging down trails and bike park lines aboard his mountain bike instead. He’s savoured some of Europe’s finest trails on various road trips through the Alps. Having lived in Austria for some time, he knows the local Austrian bike parks like the back of his hand. He’s a tech nerd through and through, using the skills and know-how from his engineering degree and his attention to detail to put the latest bikes and components through their paces for our reviews. As an early riser and self-declared muesli connoisseur, he lives his life powered by oats and the strength of his legs.
