RONDO and striking design go together like a burger and fries. But did RONDO take it a step too far with the pool noodle-sized tires on the Ratt CF all-road bike? We put the Ratt through its paces in our all-road group test, where it had to prove itself against more tried and trusted all-road concepts.
This bike was tested as part of our 2023 all-road group test – you can find an overview of the group test and the featured bikes over here: The best all-road bike of 2023 – 10 all-road bikes in review
RONDO, the Polish drop bar bike company, can’t and don’t want to do classic. If you look at their line-up, you will notice that none of their bikes are even remotely ordinary. They’re trying to think outside of the established norms of bike design, and it shows. Their bikes stand out from the masses, both visually and technically.
The HVRT, for example, is a wild looking road bike or gravel bike with a flip chip in the fork and massive tire clearance – aerodynamically optimised, of course. Similarly, the Ratt CF on test is also trying to reinvent all-road. The bike doesn’t just boast a polarising, unorthodox design, technical gimmicks, and clever solutions, but also introduces a few crazy ideas, like the high-volume tires, and aggressive riding position, making the Ratt stand out from the competition. In a test field of far more conventional all-road bikes, offering little room for criticism, the RONDO Ratt surprised our testers with interesting new perspectives, a divisive and extraordinary look, and an idiosyncratic character.
RONDO Ratt CF – Praying mantis or all-road bike?
First, we always ask ourselves what immediately strikes us about a bike, but with the RONDO Ratt, you’ve got to ask yourself what doesn’t strike you about this crazy looking contraption? Of course, the first thing to catch your eye is the design: the bike looks graceful, yet brawny; edgy, yet organic. It just looks like a vehicle from another world. With the flattened, angular head tube, the kink in the fork, and the extremely skinny rear end, the Ratt almost looks like an insect – once you see the praying mantis, you can’t unsee it. In itself, however, the design is coherent and suits the Polish brand’s quirky image.
The oversized stem also blends in nicely as it was developed in-house by RONDO, matching the design and allowing for internal cable routing. Of course, our test bike is particularly aggressive looking due to the lack of spacers under the stem, though this doesn’t necessarily contribute to a comfortable riding position.
The 440 mm Easton EC70 SL carbon handlebar scores well in terms of ergonomics, haptics, and the choice of materials. Considering the € 4,699 price point, a carbon handlebar is a plus. One of the distinguishing features of the Ratt are the 47 mm wide 650B Vittoria Terreno Zero tires. Fitted to RONDO x Hunt wheels, the combination pushes the limit of the Ratt’s ample tire clearance. The RONDO Ratt is the sole representative of mechanical shifting and a gravel groupset in our all-road group test. The analogue Shimano GRX r810 2x drivetrain offers a perfect gear range to conquer even the steepest climbs. But being who they are, RONDO couldn’t resist adding their own spice to the mix. Contrary to what you’d expect, the 11–32 t cassette is not supplied by Shimano. Instead, the RONDO Ratt comes specced with a black SunRace cassette – an interesting choice since it doesn’t offer any obvious advantages or disadvantages over its Shimano counterpart, apart from the matching colour. There are a few more titbits hidden on the fork, with a flip chip on the front dropout which allows you to adjust the riding position and handling, along with internal cable routing for a hub dynamo.
A flip chip in the fork changes the head angle and makes the front end slightly taller, and though it doesn’t turn the RONDO Ratt into a meek lamb, it makes it slightly less aggressive.
The CNC-machined RONDO stem suits the Ratt to a tee, while also hiding the brake hoses and shifter cables.
Rondo Ratt CF
€ 4,699
Specifications
Seatpost Rondo Carbon 350 X 27.2 mm
Brakes Shimano GRX RX810 160 mm
Drivetrain Shimano GRX RX810 2x11
Stem Rondo CNC 100 mm
Handlebar Easton EC 70 SL 440 mm
Wheelset Rondo X Hunt Gravel X-Wide
Tires Vittoria Terreno Zero 650x47c
Technical Data
Size S M L XL
Weight 8,98 kg
Specific Features
Unusual insect-like design
Incredibly wide Vittoria Terreno Zero tires
Flip chip in the fork
In-house RONDO stem featuring neat integration
Unlike the competition, RONDO use two bolts for the seat post clamp, but it works well and keeps the seat post in place.
The 47 mm wide Vittoria Terreno Zero tires make the RONDO Ratt look like an alien spaceship, but they stick to the road incredibly well.
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 490 mm | 520 mm | 540 mm | 570 mm |
| Top tube | 532 mm | 550 mm | 565 mm | 586 mm |
| Head tube | 110 mm | 135 mm | 160 mm | 190 mm |
| Head angle | 72.2° | 72.2° | 72.2° | 72.2° |
| Seat angle | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° |
| Chainstays | 415 mm | 415 mm | 415 mm | 415 mm |
| BB Drop | 70 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm |
| Wheelbase | 986 mm | 1,005 mm | 1,021 mm | 1,037 mm |
| Reach | 369 mm | 380 mm | 388 mm | 400 mm |
| Stack | 534 mm | 557 mm | 581 mm | 610 mm |
RONDO Ratt – Wild, untamed, uncomfortable, but incredibly fun
The RONDO Ratt doesn’t just stand out because of its extraordinary looks. It’s a bike that also sets itself apart from the masses of tried and trusted all-road bikes in terms of its handling. It can’t do everything perfectly, it’s not even nearly the fastest bike on the climbs, and it’s not the most comfortable on rough asphalt either. It has its flaws, but that’s what gives the Ratt character and makes it special. The very aggressive riding position, and the agile and precise handling are perfect for rushing down the fastest and most winding descents. Thanks to the fat Vittoria tires, the bike sticks to the asphalt, even on crumbling, gravel-strewn backroads. But this isn’t the only scenario in which the tires excel. The little bit of damping that the bike offers comes almost exclusively from the oversized tires. That said, all that rotating mass holds the bike back on the climbs and on fast stretches of level terrain. The weight of the tires has a clearly noticeable effect on the bike’s performance, and you’ll almost wish you had a motor when winching your way up a mountain pass. On the other hand, they make the bike a lot more capable of off-road excursions and detours, though not at the level of a dedicated gravel bike. The RONDO Ratt’s 47 mm tire would still make it an outlier in our 2023 gravel race bike group test. In direct comparison to its all-road competition, the bike draws the short straw due the aggressive riding position. A taller front end and skinnier tires would lend the Ratt more of an all-road character, but that would rob the bike of what makes it special and defines it. It’s a wild bike that loves speed and grip, doesn’t want to think about the climbs, and just wants to have fun. And that’s the way it should stay.
Ultimately, it’s all the chaos and fun that make the bike as fascinating as it is.
Hose POC Cargo Bib | Schuhe Specialized S-Works Recon
Who is RONDO Ratt for?
The RONDO Ratt is for everyone who already owns a road and a gravel bike, because it can’t replace either of them. It’s not your classic all-road steed, incapable and unwilling to fit into any existing category. It is for all those who are open-minded enough to approach the Ratt without preconceived notions or expectations, who love daring, innovative design, and want to explore the extremes. To be clear, the RONDO Ratt doesn’t offer much in the way of day-to-day convenience: it’s neither a commuter, nor a bike for training or long-distance riding. However, the RONDO Ratt shines in the narrow niche it has created for itself. It loves fast, winding descents, isn’t fazed by gravel on the road, didn’t get the memo that 650B is dead, and is just a blast to ride.
Tuning tip: experiment with the flip chip and tire pressure
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
Conclusion on the RONDO Rat
With the Ratt, RONDO offer a special bike that stands out from the conservative all-road test field. It scores highly for its exceptional design and wild handling – whether on fast descents or gravel roads. It makes up for its weaknesses with its love of extremes. Ultimately, it’s a special bike that, if you’re open minded enough to let it, will creep into your heart and refuse to leave. While it’s certainly not a bike for everyone, it’s a fun bike, nonetheless.
Tops
- idiosyncratic design and concept, 650B tires, and focused on fun
- a hoot on descents and fast terrain
- great bike for a reasonable price
Flops
- below average climbing performance
You can find out more about at rondo.cc
The testfield
This bike was tested as part of our 2023 all-road group test – you can find an overview of the group test and the featured bikes over here: The best all-road bike of 2023 – 10 all-road bikes in review
All bikes on review: Argon 18 Krypton (Click for review) | Merida Scultura Endurance 9000 (Click for review) | Parapera Atmos² (Click for review) | Pinarello X (Click for review) | Rondo Ratt CF | Rose Reveal Plus (Click for review) | Scott Solace eRide 10 (Click for review) | Specialized Roubaix Comp (Click for review) | Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS Gen 4 (Click for review) | Wilier Granturismo SLR (Click for review)
No, it’s not about perfect race tracks, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along high-speed passages need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road. Effort-joy ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
… also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩
If you want to use your bike almost every day, you usually do not need an extremely tuned racing machine. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. At the same time, the bike should have practicable details: integrated fenders/assembly options, luggage racks/attachment points and a light system or at least the option of installing bike lights. The position on the bike should be rather relaxed, the overall comfort high, so that the Afterwork Ride becomes a cure and not a curse. Effort-joy ratio: 30:70↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩
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Words: czajac Photos: Jan Richter
