Van Rysel EDR CF ULTRA

Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra Endurance Bike with Sram Red AXS, Chris King GRD 23 Wheels and Pirelli Cinturato tyres

Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra Review: Long Live All-Road

All road is dead… long live all-road.

This is my Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra review, after a few weeks of riding, testing, and thinking about what “all-road” really means. For context, I’m a massive cynic when it comes to buzzwords, and “all-road” always sounded like something dreamed up by someone lucky enough to live in California and work in marketing.

But here’s the thing: the Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra made me rethink that entirely.

All-Road Reality: Why the Term Works

I live in London. Most of my rides are paved. Trails, gravel, or anything loose is only about 20–30% of what I ride. Yet, I still love the thrill of being slightly out of control, on the “wrong bike” for the terrain. That’s what drew me to the concept of “all-road.”

Frame, Geometry, and Build: Designed for Ultra-Distance

The EDR CF Ultra has a carbon frame weighing just 830 grams, with mudguard mounts and clearance for tyres up to 38mm officially, though I’ve fitted 40mm Pirelli Cinturato M tyres without issue. It’s not a gravel bike it’s endurance-focused, designed for ultra-distance and all-road riding.

For my setup, I run:

  • Pirelli Cinturato Adventure 40mm for bikepacking/off-road

  • Continental GP 5000 AS TR 32mm for road

  • SRAM RED AXS drivetrain, 48/35 compact chainset, 10–36 cassette

  • Chris King GRD 23 wheels and Zipp 353 NSW with Contintental GP 5000 ST R 33mm tyres

The geometry is ideal: endurance-oriented but agile, not upright or sluggish. Off-road, it feels more like a cross bike than a traditional road bike, yet on tarmac it’s fast and responsive.

Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra Endurance Bike with Sram Red AXS, Chris King GRD 23 Wheels and Pirelli Cinturato tyres
Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra Endurance Bike with Sram Red AXS, Chris King GRD 23 Wheels and Pirelli Cinturato tyres
Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra Endurance Bike with Sram Red AXS, Chris King GRD 23 Wheels and Pirelli Cinturato tyres
Close-up of a modern road bicycle handlebar with gear shifter, branded Van Rysel, set against the background of a garage or indoor space with a window showing trees outside.
A close-up of a modern electric gravel bicycle's handlebars, with a digital display mounted, set against a background of a dirt trail covered with fallen leaves.
A bicycle with a blue frame and black tires, featuring a white water bottle attached to the frame, surrounded by green leaves.
Close-up of a bicycle's rear hub with a blue Chris King precision compression cup, attached to the cassette and spokes, on a wooden surface.
Close-up of a bicycle's rear wheel and gear system on a wooden surface.
Close-up of a mountain bike's rear derailleur and gear cassette on a wooden floor.
Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra Endurance Bike with Sram Red AXS, Chris King GRD 23 Wheels and Pirelli Cinturato tyres
Close-up of a black bicycle tire on a trail in a forest with a blurred background.
Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra Endurance Bike with Sram Red AXS, Chris King GRD 23 Wheels and Pirelli Cinturato tyres
Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra Endurance Bike with Sram Red AXS, Chris King GRD 23 Wheels and Pirelli Cinturato tyres
Close-up of a blue Chris King bicycle hub with black spokes, part of a bicycle wheel, on a forest trail with pine needles.

Early Impressions: Handling, Comfort, and Ride Quality

Even after a few weeks, the EDR CF Ultra feels right at home on long rides and mixed terrain. I haven’t felt dragged down by weight, and the round 27.2mm seatpost adds comfort for extended days in the saddle.

The aesthetic is clean and traditional seatstays aren’t dropped, top tube isn’t overly sloped but the Deda DCR stem and Van Rysel bars feel great and ergonomic. It’s a bike that inspires confidence, whether you’re riding road, light gravel, or planning an ultra-distance bikepacking trip.

I’ve got a UK winter and a planned bikepacking trip ahead to fully test it, but the early signs are promising: lighter, faster, versatile, and extremely rideable.

Quick Key Points

✅ Lightweight carbon frame (830g)
✅ Fits up to 40mm tyres (officially 38mm)
✅ Mudguard mounts & endurance geometry
✅ Ideal for all-road, ultra-distance, and light gravel
✅ Comfortable, agile, and versatile for multi-terrain rides

Van Rysel All-Road Content Hub

This Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra review fits into a broader look at Van Rysel road bikes I’ve ridden. If you’re trying to choose the right bike for your style, check out my other reviews in the same vein:

Having ridden the RCR Pro, RCR-F, and EDR CF Ultra, the differences are clear. The RCR Pro is versatile and balanced, the RCR-F is the speed demon, and the EDR CF Ultra prioritises comfort and multi-terrain endurance. Which bike works best depends on your terrain, riding style, and distance goals.

Many of these rides and reflections feed into The Road to Repair podcast, where we explore cycling beyond numbers performance, longevity, and why we ride in the first place.

Final Thoughts: Is the Van Rysel EDR CF Ultra Worth It?

Even in early testing, the EDR CF Ultra has shown it’s more than just an “all-road” label. Lightweight, responsive, and capable over mixed terrain, it’s a bike that encourages exploration and endurance riding without compromise.

If you want to explore the bike further or check out the full Van Rysel all-road and endurance bike range, head to vanrysel.com. Using my affiliate link helps support ASCND and The Road to Repair podcast, keeping long-term testing, reviews, and discussions about cycling alive.

All opinions here are based on my real-world testing and personal riding experience from tarmac to UK winter dirt and bikepacking prep.

A link to the Decathlon site and my affiliate link can also be found HERE

Below is a film from GCN, a 500 km ride through The Alps in 24 hours on the Van Rysel EDR CF Ultegra.