The Rondo Mylc CF1 wants to convert mountain bikers to gravel biking
10.9.2024
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Nothing less than a complete redefinition of where gravel bikes can be used. That’s what Polish manufacturer Rondo promises with its Mylc bikes. With its unusual frame, the CF1 is a challenge in itself.
Raphael Böni raises his eyebrows when I turn up for my appointment at Crossklinik in Basel atop the Mylc CF1 from Rondo. The qualified sports scientist with further training in bike fitting already adjusted the Revolt 0 from Giant to my size a year ago.
And his eyebrows aren’t the only things getting raised today. Looking at the frame of the CF1, he notes: «It looks a bit like a motorcycle.» He’ll repeat himself a few more times during our three-hour fitting with the 3D motion capture system from Retül, including saddle pressure measurement with gebioMized (link in German).
Source: Crossklinik
Rondo Mylc CF1 wants to convert mountain bikers to gravel biking
In 2022, Polish brand Rondo launched the Mylc CF, a gravel bike for rough terrain heavily inspired by mountain bikes rather than road vehicles. The result of this complete redesign of frame geometry was also revealed by the Poles at this year’s Eurobike in Frankfurt. Rondo calls this type of riding Gravelduro, a sort of counterpart to Enduro (a mixture of cross-country and downhill). The main goal here is to appeal to mountain bikers looking for a familiar feeling on a gravel bike.
A generous tyre clearance of maximum 700c × 47 mm width, a shorter and dropper post-compatible seat tube and a low frame standover height should ensure a more stable ride and handling. According to the manufacturer, the further you travel from smooth asphalt and well-trodden paths, the more fun it is.
Source: Patrick Bardelli
The geometry of the Rondo Mylc CF1
A very special frame
The manufacturer provided me with a test bike with a carbon frame in size L for a few months. Among other things, the CF1 comes with a stem length of 70 millimetres and a handlebar width of 460 millimetres. Our bike fitting shows that frame size M with a 50-millimetre stem and 440-millimetre handlebars would be better suited for me.
Another Rondo speciality is the so-called twin-tip carbon fork. This in-house development allows the front axle to be mounted in two different positions. This way, the seating position can be made a little sportier, turning the bike into a racer for the road. So far, however, I’ve only been riding in a slightly more upright position. The numerous attachment points for food and luggage also make the Mylc CF1 interesting for longer rides and bike packing. You can find all other specifications here.
The electronic rear derailleur from Sram
A highlight of the Mylc CF1 is its electronic rear derailleur, the Rival XLPR ETAP AXS from Sram with the XPLR XG-1271 10-44 cassette. Ever since I was able to test the new electronic groupset for gravel bikes from Shimano in June, I’ve been a fan of this technology.
Source: Patrick Bardelli
For a trip lasting several weeks, depending on a battery wouldn’t necessarily be my first choice. However, the capacity of around 1,000 gear changes on a full charge is more than enough for my needs. The shift lever and rear derailleur are connected via Bluetooth, so there are no shift cables. The cable-free cockpit looks pretty clean. Replaceable button cell batteries are installed in each of the levers, with an expected service life of 3.5 to 4 years.
The gearshift can be coupled with a bike computer, for example. In my case with the Edge 1040 Solar from Garmin. I can then see the combination of gears and the current battery status on the display, for example. Getting stranded in the mud with an empty battery then pedalling home for better or worse with the current gear engaged is a thing of the past.
Source: Patrick Bardelli
In a nutshell
Needs getting used to, but plenty of potential
In my opinion, the special geometry of the Mylc CF1 with its long frame almost makes it mandatory to have the bike adjusted to size by a specialist. After my visit to Crossklinik, I now sit more centrally over the crank, stay stable on the saddle and can reach the handlebars better. To get the most out of frame size L, Raphael Böni recommended the cockpit from the M model with 440-millimetre handlebars and a 50-millimetre stem, given my height of 180 centimetres.
The difference between the Giant Revolt 0 and Rondo’s gravel bike is enormous. However, the Mylc CF1 definitely has its strengths off-road, especially on downhill sections. If you like sporty off-roading, you’ll already be sitting pretty with this bike.
Rondo consistently takes a radical approach. This makes perfect sense: it’s looking to stand out from the Canyon and Rose competition. With the Mylc CF, the Poles want to claim a niche for themselves and open up the gravel market for mountain bikers. Whether this’ll succeed remains to be seen.
Pro
- Electronic rear derailleur from Sram
- Twin-tip carbon fork
- Numerous screw-on points
- Dropper post compatible seat tube
- Generous tyre clearance
- Clean look thanks to cable routing in the frame
Contra
- Unusual frame takes some getting used to
Header image: Rondo
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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