Most road cyclists don't just ride their bikes to train or compete in races. Those who are passionate about their hobby ride whenever and wherever they can - even in everyday life and in winter. Attempts to equip the racing bike with mudguards and lights for adverse conditions have been made since the beginning of cycling. So-called "randonneurs" were and still are popular with long-distance cyclists who, like everyday commuters, cannot choose the weather and season, but still want to be on the move quickly and with racing handlebars. If the accessories are integrated from the outset, this has the advantage that all the components are harmonised and should work better than subsequent DIY solutions - and last but not least, it looks better.
Even today, some manufacturers offer sporty bikes including fixed mudguards, dynamo lighting system and pannier rack. We took a closer look at three current examples of such bikes - more were not available in the current situation. Other invited brands such as Bergamont, BMC, Bulls, KTM and Scott had to cancel due to ongoing delivery problems. Nevertheless, our test can reveal strengths and weaknesses and provide tips on what to look out for when buying such a bike.
Our current test bikes are all based on gravel bikes, which are the perfect basis for all-season road bikes suitable for everyday use: Powerful disc brakes and smaller gear ratios are not only ideal off-road, but also in the urban jungle. Because the frame and forks are designed for very wide tyres, full mudguards fit on the bike. Many gravel bike frames also have mounting options for the necessary accessories.
Most manufacturers use indestructible aluminium frames, also for cost reasons, as the majority of offers are well under € 2,000. The tested Rose with a carbon frame is an exception in the competition and correspondingly more expensive. Nevertheless, the bike is also a good deal for cool calculators: Compared to the gravel version, which is comparably equipped except for the tyres and has no other accessories, the bike doesn't cost a cent more. At Cube, you have to pay 200 euros more than for a comparable "naked" Nuroad; in view of the high-quality parts and the assembly work, this is also a fair offer.
Robust journeymen
Drive components and brakes - all of which on the test bikes were from Shimano's GRX gravel groupset - could hardly have been better chosen for the intended use. The parts may not win any beauty awards, but they are robust and function without complaint, usually even under adverse conditions and for many years. Even the spare parts for the groupsets are available almost everywhere and inexpensive, at least outside of Corona-related supply bottlenecks - an important argument for this application. We can therefore concentrate on the accessories that turn gravel bikes into randonneurs.
First of all, this causes additional weight: if inexpensive gravel bikes are already the heaviest bikes with racing handlebars, the panniers on show easily break the ten-kilo mark. The heaviest is the Stevens, which is likely to weigh more than twelve kilos with a retrofitted pannier rack. However, the differences in ride feel between the bikes are rather small.
Unfortunately, not everything works so smoothly from a technical point of view, as the test rides show. Take mudguards, for example: in order for them to fulfil their purpose optimally, they need to be long and wide enough; at least one centimetre more than the tyre width would be good. This is where the Cube has a negative impact, because the mudguards only just cover the 40 millimetre wide gravel tyres; water flies past the seat stays in particular, where the mudguard tapers further.
The struts on the Stevens are a little too short, so that the plates cannot be adjusted evenly to the wheel circumference, but this is more of a visual problem. Because the bike lacks a pannier rack, the rear mudguard is not as firmly attached as on the other bikes and wobbles on uneven surfaces; experience has shown that this is not exactly conducive to durability. The front mudguards on the Rose and Stevens could also be five centimetres longer to better protect your feet and drivetrain from splashing water; on the Cube, on the other hand, the rear rider gets really wet.
There is good news from the lighting: all bikes are equipped with a high-quality hub dynamo and LED lighting including parking light function. Great importance is attached to the headlights in particular. The branded lights from Supernova or Busch & Müller mark the current state of the art in lighting technology, their cold LED light illuminates even country roads far removed from civilisation in a rich and even way. In the dark, we cannot discern any relevant difference between the two manufacturers. The rear lights, on the other hand, are more restrained: the high-quality Busch & Müller rear light on the Rose is minimalist, but does a good ballet in the dark. On the Stevens and Cube, the rear lights are even integrated into the mudguard - on the Stevens to such an extent that it is unfortunately barely visible from the side.
Unfortunately, the candidates have little to offer in terms of passive safety: Only Stevens uses tyres with reflective strips and a large rear reflector on the Supreme Pro. Strictly speaking, Rose and Cube would have to retrofit rear and spoke reflectors in order for the bikes to be allowed on the road in accordance with the StVZO.
The pannier rack is also visually delicate, but can carry sufficient weight. The carrier specially developed for the Cube Nuroad can carry 26 kilograms. The carrier on the Rose, which almost seems to float freely, rests solely on the (very stable) mudguard and can carry 16 kilos, 8 kilos per side. That's more than enough for an office bag and small shopping trips; if you want to go on longer bike tours, you should also distribute your luggage on bikepacking bags or front carriers, which can also be mounted.
Overall, we can draw a positive conclusionThe gravel-based randonneurs are far better made than the similarly upgraded cross bikes of a few years ago. This is partly due to the fact that road bike technology has developed further: disc brakes, wide tyres and the available gear ratio options are also - or above all - a blessing for these bikes. But the accessories are also simply more fun today, especially the lighting.
You can find the complete test, all technical details and a detailed description of the all-season road bikes in the 11/2021 issue of TOUR.
The everyday road bikes in the TOUR test:
Cube: Nuroad Race FE
Price 1,749 euros
Weight of complete bike 11.4 kilos (size 56)
+ many accessories, good front light, stable side stand
- Mudguards a little too narrow for the wide tyres
Cube offers a total of three versions of the Nuroad aluminium gravel bike with mudguards, pannier rack and lights; the one shown here is the most expensive. The rather heavy aluminium frame scores with its unshakeable smoothness, while the drive and brakes are carefree components from Shimano. Of our three test candidates, the Cube is the cheapest, but still has the most comprehensive equipment on paper. Even a sturdy kickstand and a high-quality, elegant bell are fitted to the bike. We liked the classy and bright Supernova headlight mounted on the handlebars. However, not all of the accessories are as impressive. The mudguards are worthy of criticism because they are a little too narrow for the 40-millimetre gravel tyres fitted. In bad weather, water always splashes past the mudguards. Slightly narrower road tyres would therefore suit the bike better. The minimalist rear light in the mudguard is barely visible from the side because it is covered by the pannier rack. The carrier only accepts side panniers with a click system; nothing can be attached to the top. However, the slightly lower centre of gravity of the luggage has a positive effect on handling. We would replace the thin, uncomfortable handlebars. Apart from these minor weaknesses, the Cube offers a lot for the money.
Rose Backroad GRX 810 Randonneur
Price 3,299 euros >> e.g. available here
Weight of complete bike 10.8 kilos (in size 57)
+ Good comfort, comfortable contact points, relatively light, high-quality equipment throughout
- Relatively expensive
Anyone considering the aluminium backroad as an everyday bike will unfortunately be disappointed in the next model year. The inexpensive randonneur version will no longer be offered by Rose, leaving only the option of building it yourself or a lucky strike on the second-hand market. The carbon model, on the other hand, continues to run and is the premium version in our test. Whether the weight advantage of a carbon frame in this bike class is worth the hefty surcharge is something everyone has to judge for themselves - 600 to 800 grams doesn't seem much considering the total weight of the bikes. However, the bike has other arguments in its favour that at least put the price into perspective. It starts with the components: In contrast to the other bikes, the higher quality GRX 800 is fitted here. The sturdy and wide mudguards offer the best protection - also because Rose does not use wide gravel tyres. The 35 millimetre road tyres are wide enough for city traffic and the bike also runs faster. The well-flexing seat post and the ergonomically designed handlebars provide the necessary comfort. The elegantly integrated pannier rack is supported by the steel mudguard and can carry 16 kilograms. The lighting system also stands out, with high-quality lights from Busch & Müller fitted at the front and rear.
Stevens Supreme Pro
Price 1,899 euros
Weight of complete bike 11.6 kilos (in size 56O
+ high-quality lighting system, reflective strips, tubeless tyres
- heavy frame set, no pannier rack
Stevens designed the Supreme as an everyday bike from the outset; there are two versions, each equipped with mudguards and lights. Nevertheless, the riding position on the bike is quite stretched and should appeal primarily to sporty riders. The frame set is kept decidedly uncomplicated with externally routed brake lines and standard add-on parts. With the heavy aluminium fork, it puts a lot of pressure on the scales, but thanks to the equipment, the overall weight is still competitive. The tested version comes with the tried and tested GRX single-speed groupset from Shimano and 40 millimetre wide G-One tubeless tyres from Schwalbe, which do a good job of concealing the bike's moderate comfort. Unlike on the Cube, the mudguards here are significantly wider and longer and cover the wide tyres well. However, they do not make a very stable impression. The bike lacks a pannier rack, but this could be retrofitted just as easily as a kickstand, as mounting points are provided for both. The lighting with a powerful Supernova headlight and rear light from Busch & Müller integrated into the mudguard deserves praise; thanks to the large reflector and reflective strips on the tyre sidewalls, the bike even complies with the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO).
TOUR tests all bikes and most components in its own laboratory, which dates back to 1993. The measured values of many thousands of bikes of all categories form the backbone of the tests, which we are constantly developing further together with the Zedler Institute for Bicycle Technology and Safety.
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Jens Klötzer
Editor
