Price: £89.99 / €100 / €120 – MIPS model
Weight: 292 grams – M
Sizes: S/M/L
MIPS: Yes, on pricier mannequin
Colours: White / Black
Van Rysel has hit the bottom working this 12 months. The Decathlon-owned model now sponsors the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale workforce, offering them with Van Rysel bikes and a spread of the model’s package and tools. The workforce has generated a optimistic buzz this 12 months for making a profitable and extra budget-friendly WorldTour degree bike, and the model’s clothes and helmets do not break the financial institution both.
I’m trying on the Van Rysel FCR helmet right here, the model’s efficiency aero highway helmet and the mannequin ridden in WorldTour races just like the Tour de France. It’s comfortably considered one of, if not the most cost effective helmet used on the high degree, coming in at £89.99 / €100. There can be a MIPS geared up mannequin accessible in Europe for €120, in addition to a number of different finances fashions within the vary.
We additionally took the helmet to the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub wind tunnel this summer time to actually learn the way the helmet performs, and we are able to now embody our findings in our full overview of the helmet, which made our greatest highway bike helmets patrons information as greatest finances aero highway bike helmet.
Design and Aesthetics
The FCR is accessible in white or black. The white model has a matte physique with a gloss white centre part, a few black inserts and chrome and black logos. I really like a white helmet for highway use and it ticks that field properly for me. If black is extra your model, the black model is, you guessed all of it black, however makes use of a mixture of gloss and matte sections. The chrome logos don’t characteristic although for a stealthier look. The helmet additionally comes with a smooth drawstring bag which is sweet.
Shape-wise, when seen from above the helmet has a tough teardrop profile and tapers on the rear. It appears to be like just like the Abus Gamechanger, and I like the form and styling. I’ve heard the argument the helmet’s spherical entrance sits barely excessive on the pinnacle and does not look pretty much as good, however like something, you will need to resolve for your self whether or not the styling and form is for you.
The helmet itself is made in China, and ‘designed in Flanders’ because the tagline on one of many helmets inside pads states. The helmet shell is 100% polycarbonate, while the helmet materials itself is, after all, polystyrene. Weight-wise, at 292 grams on my scales, it sits just about according to different efficiency and aero-road choices.
The helmet meets the common EN 1078 standard, which is the usual for commercially accessible helmets in Europe. The helmet does not have a Virginia Tech helmet security classification at present, which is usually considered one thing of a gold normal relating to helmet security and testing. If this can be a key situation for you you might have to look elsewhere.
There is a barely (€20) dearer MIPS-equipped choice accessible in Europe – I’ve discovered an inventory for the UK too, however the helmet is unavailable at present. I’m wondering if it could be cleaner to only cost barely extra, embody MIPS tech as normal and tick that exact field for purchasers.
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The FCR makes use of a Fidlock magnet buckle strap, you simply slide the 2 halves collectively or away from one another to attach and undo them and the magnet does the remaining. You can truly simply throw the 2 sides of the straps at one another and if shut sufficient the buckle will do itself up, which is sort of enjoyable. The buckle might be marginally sooner than a standard clip to undo and do up, I prefer it.
Inside, three giant moulded channels correspond with the principle vents on the within and do appear to funnel the air by means of the helmet properly. There are three helmet pads, two within the centre of the helmet and one on the forehead, that is it, however they cushion the pinnacle successfully and are properly positioned.
Does the lower cost level have any drawbacks in design options or high quality? There are solely a pair that I’ve observed in my testing. The chrome Van Rysel stickers do seem like they might come off over time or begin to look a bit drained and my take a look at unit has a few letters which might be peeling ever so barely on the edge. I’d guess it could take a very long time, nevertheless it’s one thing not less than to pay attention to. You might simply take away all of them if it got here to it and the helmet would nonetheless look good.
Performance
In use, I’ve gotten on rather well with the FCR. I’ve no hair, so with none Tadej tufts I typically really feel awkward helmet options transfer keenly, however my dimension Medium take a look at helmet has been comfy from the off and it hasn’t prompted me any points.
As talked about the Fidlock magnetic buckle is straightforward to make use of and has a pleasant snap that is very user-friendly. The two major pads within the helmet are good and plush and it feels very comfy for me after I put it on. I’ve been alternating between the FCR and Scott Cadence on the highway and Specialized Prevail 3 for gravel duties this summer time and the FCR does really feel plusher, particularly given the Prevail’s inbuilt ‘step’, which fouled my head in the identical approach it did tech editor Josh Croxton’s.
Venting is sweet for me, my most up-to-date trip was on a muggy summer time night, the place I accomplished back-to-back 5 odd-minute lengthy hill reps and there have been zero helmet drips or sweaty ‘forehead pushes’ wanted. The vents and helmet in moulding appear to do a superb job of funnelling air entrance to again, overheating or getting overly sweaty simply hasn’t been a difficulty for me.
The retention system is probably barely bulkier than some, however I do not really feel it appears to be like particularly fundamental. The straps Y junctions (the bit beneath your ears) are unadjustable and look barely decrease high quality than some others, however in use have been no situation for me they usually have naturally sat just about proper the place I’d need them. This will not be the case for everybody although so a strive before you purchase at a neighborhood Decathlon could also be price it.
I do just like the bigger adjustment dial which I discover may be very straightforward to find and alter one-handed, significantly if you wish to alter the bike. I discover the system tightens down evenly and securely with none tight spots or niggly areas, once more very comfy. Overall, sure, some elements of the ending aren’t fairly as plush as different premium helmets, however for me, there’s nothing right here that is going to trigger drama for you. If you desire a flasher helmet, spend the money on one.
Thanks to our helmet wind tunnel take a look at mission earlier within the 12 months, we now have information on a spread of well-liked and outstanding helmets in the marketplace to incorporate in our helmet opinions, that is additionally the case for the FCR and it’s all the time good to incorporate some exhausting information for readers as a substitute of making an attempt to amount any DIY aero testing we do ourselves or one thing simply ‘feeling quick’.
The Van Rysel positioned fifth total in our wind tunnel take a look at on the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub, beating the likes of the Trek Ballista and Kask Elemento. Head to our greatest aero helmets information for extra of a breakdown. For the cash, you recognize you are getting a reasonably fast helmet and one which’s going to save lots of you a number of watts in comparison with numerous the competitors. If you don’t wish to spring for a Specialized Evade and don’t just like the look of the POC Procen, get your self considered one of these. If you wished to take issues up a notch, the following quickest helmet – for us, was the Scott Cadence, nevertheless it’s simply over double the worth.
We additionally discovered inserting your sun shades within the vents on the entrance of the helmet can negatively have an effect on aero efficiency in comparison with inserting them on the rear of the helmet, or round your neck and so forth. I attempted this within the wind tunnel because the take a look at rider so can attest to the outcomes. A high tip for all of the racers on the market.
Value
A powerful hand for the FCR is the worth level, it is available in at £89.99 / €100. In mild of our testing and for the cash, there isn’t a faster helmet on the market for much less money.
For the worth, you are getting a helmet that can convey aero good points on the bike in comparison with a number of others and that for me appears to be like fairly trendy.
If like me, and possibly loads of different riders on the market you are searching for one thing fast, that can prevent a number of watts, and that crucially does not price a number of hundred quid, you’ll be able to’t actually go incorrect right here.
Some of the ending is not fairly pretty much as good as extra premium helmets, and the stickers might fail over time however except for that, what’s to not like?
Verdict
The FCR is a superb choice for the cash for those who ask me. It’s a aggressive weight and I’ve discovered it to be comfy and simple to regulate round my head. I’ve not skilled any discomfort in it in anyway.
The helmet has gained greater than as soon as this 12 months at WorldTour degree. On my head not less than, in a standard using place, it examined fairly favourably in our wind tunnel take a look at. It’s good to know you are pulling on a aggressive helmet aero-wise, and when that helmet is available in at beneath £100, it feels all of the sweeter. If you just like the look of the helmet and do not wish to spend an excessive amount of or desire a quick helmet for racing that you do not wish to fear about giving a little bit of a hammering, this can be a stable purchase.
Design and Aethetics | On development form and design, and accessible in white and black, chrome lettering might divide opinion and peel over time | 8/10 |
Comfort | Pads are properly positioned and comfortable, not trigger me any discomfort in anyway | 8/10 |
Ventilation | Venting appears to work properly for an aero helmet, not causd me any points this summer time | 8/10 |
Safety | No Virgina tech score but, MIPS choice accessible | 7/10 |
Aero Performnce | fifth in our personal wind tunnel take a look at, beating extra premium massive model helmets | 9/10 |
Value | Quite numerous helmet for the cash, however no MIPS as normal | 9/10 |
Row 6 – Cell 0 | Row 6 – Cell 1 | 49/60 |