2019-06-01_220_Triathlon

June 2019 / / 79

SPECIFICATION
Weight
7.9kg(XL/59cm,
700c),8.77kg
(XL/59cm,650b)
FrameEPSsuper
lightcarbon
GearsShimano
Dura-Ace
(52/36,11-28)
BrakesShimano
Dura-Ace
hydraulicdisc
WheelsHuntx
Rondo 50 carbon
(700c),aluminium
(650b)
Finishingkit
EastonEC70aero
bar,Panaracer
RaceCEvo25mm
700ctyres,WTB
Horizon47mm
650btyres,Fabric
ALMUltimate
saddle

HIGHS
Hugelyversatile,
light,fast and fun

LOWS
Onlythe650b
wheelsmakefull
useofversatility

BUYIF
Youwantone
bike to do it all

93

%

RONDO HVRT CF0HOTLINESUK.COM

a full-suspensionmountainbikeanda hardtail– both
arefuntoride,butindifferentways.
Atthetopofthegravelclimbwedecidetoheadback
usingthetarmacroad.Onthedescent,thefat,slick
tyresprovidegripthat’soutofthisworldandtheir
wide,roundshapeletsusachievesomeseriously
steepleananglesthroughthecorners.Thedescentis
fasterandmoretechnicalthananythingwe’veridden
sofar.Midwaydown,theDura-Acebrakesaregetting
a littlenoisybutourconfidenceinthegripmakesus
keeppushinguntilourGarminlogs88km/h– not
badon47mmtyres!
Atthebottomofthedescent,wefacea flatsection
wherethe47mmtyresdon’tfeelasslowaswethought
theywouldandit’sonlyonthebriefclimbswherethe
650bwheelsfeelslower than their 700c counterparts.

TA K I N GI TE A SY
Thethirdday’srideis duetobelongbutnotasfast,so
weswitchtheHVRTintoitslow-axleset-up.Inthis
guise,thestackrisesto605mm,thereachreducesto
400mm,theheadanglerelaxesto73°,theseatangle
dropsto72°andtheforkoffsetbecomes40mm.
Onpaper,thedifferencesseemsmallbuttheeffect
ontheroadis noticeable.Whereasthehigh-axle
set-upgivestheHVRTfast,nimblehandling,inthislow
positionit feelsmuchmorestable.Thedifferencesmay
amount to a few millimetres but the end result isa

BIKE TEST RONDO HVRT CF0