The arrival of Van Rysel into the secure of WorldTour bikes has considerably upset the apple cart. The model is a part of the multi-sport Decathlon empire, and so has a repute for worth. Given that is the primary time the model has appeared within the higher echelons of our sport it’s truly seemingly that ‘worth’ stands out as the solely factor you consider once you see the model title. Value is usually a phrase that goes hand in hand with compromise, with merchandise (not simply bikes) made to hit a sure value level.
The Van Rysel model as an entire has been making an attempt to steer a bit of away from the worth angle too, and the RSR is squarely aimed toward the most effective highway bikes section, somewhat than a value-based comfort prize.
As with any bike I take a look at although I’ve tried to stay neutral. I’ve been smashing about on the Rival-equipped RCR for a few months now, taking in inside metropolis loops and again lane blasts. Impartial as I’m, I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I did not should park some preconceptions. Preconceptions which, I’m happy to report, the RCR has challenged.
It is a motorbike clearly benefiting from the trickle-down of tech from its extra premium sibling, the RCR Pro, and whereas the Pro is in additional rarified firm, the £3,500-5000 section of the market is considerably extra aggressive. How does it stack up? Let’s discover out.
Design and aesthetics
Like I did, park any preconceived notions of the model and take a look on the RCR. It’s a handsome bike, proper? Slap any premium bike model emblem on the downtube and also you wouldn’t bat a watch. While this model, the spec of which I’ll get into shortly, is available in three color choices I believe this white with black accents is the best of the bunch. Blue is cool too, and I’ve little doubt that the all-black choice will most likely promote within the greatest numbers, however when it comes to professional emulation you may’t beat white.
If you’re going to purchase a carbon bike you must have the ability to see some carbon someplace, so the highest of the highest tube is clearcoated uncooked carbon somewhat than black paint. It catches the sunshine and is harking back to the Cannondale SuperSix Evo.
Geometrically it additionally mirrors the SuperSix fairly intently. Van Rysel was fairly upfront about the truth that it bought one in every of every of the WorldTour bikes with a view to develop the RCR Pro, and having overlain the geometry of a swathe of the peloton’s bikes over the RCR the one that’s the closest match is the SuperSix. As we’ll get into, that is borne out within the journey traits too.
Clearly that is designed to be a do-it-all racer, although we have now noticed a brand new race bike from Van Rysel that’s an all-out aero machine. Its racy ambitions are mirrored within the spec, too. The Sram Rival groupset comes geared up with an influence meter, and the wheels are carbon Zipp 303s mated to Michelin Power Cup tyres. Both are budget-friendly choices, however they present finest how this bike has been specced. Sensibly, purposefully, however positively with a watch on the RRP. The tyres are my favorite price range highway tyres, they are often acquired cheaply and punch nicely above their weight.
One spec selection that I each like and don’t love on the similar time is the cockpit. While the likes of Canyon would spec an built-in cockpit, right here not less than there’s a separate bar and stem from Deda within the from of the Superzero bar and a Van Rysel branded Deda Superbox stem. The cables aren’t absolutely built-in, although they do undergo the bars that means if you wish to swap the bars you continue to have to disconnect and reassemble the brake strains.
Bizarrely for a 55cm bike, the bars are listed as a whopping 44cm broad. Deda does measure outdoors to outdoors somewhat than centre to centre, however even realising these are 42cm bars does little to alleviate the actual fact they’re very broad, each for contemporary race bike tendencies and only for a motorbike of this dimension. It’s wattage left on the desk, and my assumption is that wider bars have been most likely cheaper to purchase wholesale attributable to decrease demand.
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Performance
The Van Rysel RCR feels each bit the race bike. It doesn’t really feel prefer it’s coming from a traditionally budget-focussed model, and it’s depraved quick. As you may count on from the geometry charts it feels just like the Cannondale SuperSix, which is excessive reward certainly. My take a look at bike was a bit of smaller than the SuperSix I examined in Girona, so the dealing with was a bit of extra snappy because of a shorter wheelbase, however on the entire, it’s a really balanced providing.
The entrance finish is full of life, and for me, the true hallmark of dealing with high quality isn’t a lot how laborious you may nook however how readily you may change line whereas cornering laborious. Here it’s a breeze, that means you may choose your line after which if the temper takes you lean in even more durable. This is aided by a fantastic set of tyres, my favorite price range tyres because it occurs. The Michelin Power Cup is a set I fortunately run by myself bikes regardless of their fairly low value, and whereas tyres are sometimes a spot the place bikes are specced down (the Pinarello F7 is a transparent instance of this), it is a nice selection right here.
Without any laborious aero knowledge, I can’t be actually goal, however my common speeds on identified loops have been definitely sooner than they’ve been lately. It’s hardly a scientific take a look at, however it’s a quick bike. It’d be loads sooner with some appropriately sized bars although, as even with the hoods turned illegally inwards I struggled to get right into a place my slender shoulders have been pleased with, and sometimes time the B52-esque wingspan was an annoyance. It’s a comparatively straightforward swap because of the usage of a traditional stem, however nonetheless… too broad.
The inclusion of an influence meter is nice if that’s your cup of tea. It isn’t mine, however if you would like a completely kitted-out race bike then it’s a wise inclusion that paired simply with my Wahoo and appeared to work fairly flawlessly. In the ‘Value’ part I’ll get into why it is probably not the most effective inclusion, however you’ll have to attend a bit for that.
While it handles nicely, and was fairly snug, the highway suggestions was a bit of mushy feeling. Somewhat muted. I’ve a sense that is extra to do with the tyres than anything, arrange as they have been with butyl inside tubes, and I’m assured becoming a extra premium, tubeless set will alleviate this considerably. Or altering out to latex inside tubes which I discovered offered a snappier journey really feel. This is compounded barely by the Rival groupset. It labored flawlessly, however the shifting, particularly for the entrance derailleur, isn’t as crisp as Shimano 105, although this might after all improve the RRP.
An 8.5kg weight (with cages and pedals) is aggressive sufficient for an all-rounder at this value, and mixed with a comparatively stiff backside bracket it climbs nicely. The inline seatpost has extra stickup than related bikes of this dimension, and whereas that equates to extra consolation the clamp did slip and was susceptible to creaking, requiring a bit of extra torque than suggested.
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Value
This is the place I anticipated the RCR to excel, and whereas I believe it’s fairly good worth for the worth I don’t suppose it’s market-leading. The RRP is £4,500, and for that, you get Sram Rival with an influence meter, carbon wheels, and respectable however price range tyres. The Canyon Ultimate in an analogous spec, however with alloy wheels, is £3,450, so you would simply spend among the change on a complicated set of wheels, promote the alloy ones and are available in a number of hundred kilos underneath the RCR value.
Likewise, the brand new Canyon Aeroad is available in a spec with Rival, carbon DTSwiss wheels, and Continental GP5000 S TR tyres for £3,949. It doesn’t include an influence meter, however once more you would purchase a power-equipped Rival crankset, promote the inventory one and are available in noticeably underneath the Van Rysel.
So good, however not unbelievable, worth. The RCR Pro continues to be the most cost effective WorldTour bike on the market, however that worth proposition has but to trickle down into the extra aggressive space of the market.
Verdict
An awesome dealing with and handsome bike that belies the model’s price range roots. While the tyres are good it’s most likely price swapping to posher ones after they run out to get a barely higher highway really feel, particularly arrange tubeless. Likewise, the bars are one thing I’d be very quick to swap given their width. An excellent bike that justifies its newfound place amongst the massive gamers nicely, although maybe falls in need of the worth rating that its extra premium mannequin, the RCR Pro, teases for the entire vary.
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Testing scorecard and notes
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and aesthetics
An enticing, and noticeably premium aesthetic from the price range model, with sorted geometry as well
8/10
Build
Everything is fairly sound, except for very broad bars. As price range tyres go these are the most effective you are going to discover. Some seatpost slippage although.
7/10
Performance
Fast, full of life, with dealing with that mirrors that of the Cannondale SuperSix, which is excessive reward
9/10
Weight
Competitive, however not class main
8/10
Value
Sadly not nearly as good worth because the model title would counsel, although it is nonetheless respectable on this regard.