Van Rysel RCR Pro Sram Red

For the sake of transparency I work for Van Rysel and I’ll start by trying to set the scene a bit.

I’ve been riding all my life, I’ve worked in bike shops and as a tour guide, I’ve ridden a lot of bikes but I also have very specific requirements and demand certain things from a bike and if it doesn’t deliver then it’s not going to make it’s way on here, regardless of who pays my salary.

I like to think of myself as a gentleman cyclist. I love my custom stainless steel bike, I designed it with getting older in mind and to be fair it’s a timeless beauty and very traditional. My riding is geared towards the continent and “escapism”, I see riding at home as a chore, I toy with Zwift from time to time to try and get my mountain legs back and suffer through the shit UK weather in winter. This year I’ve ridden in Piedmont, Catalonia and Provence, three very different trips but all with a tonne of elevation, I miss my previous life as a guide but I hope all of that gives me the experience and knowledge to know when something’s good…and this is.

Now, I'm not your typical data-obsessed cyclist. While power meters and Zwift play a role, my priorities are handling, poise, and, yes, aesthetics. The test bike I've been riding is a size small. Having spent time on a medium as well (both requiring minor tweaks to achieve perfection), the small feels more agile. Ideally, I'd prefer a longer stem, but its integrated design is currently dictating things. Right now, the front end is incredibly lively – perhaps a touch too lively at high speed, as I discovered during a thrilling (and slightly unnerving) descent of Mont Ventoux. A 20mm spacer up front should tame that high-speed twitchiness, and it's an adjustment I plan to make.

The aerodynamic credentials of the RCR Pro are well-documented. Articles like this one from [Cycling News - link to the article] confirm its speed. If outright velocity is your primary goal, this bike undeniably delivers. While my peak fitness may be behind me, I'm consistently setting personal bests on familiar segments aboard this machine.

My benchmark for the past few years has been the Cervelo R5. I owned the SRAM Force version equipped with their Reserve wheels. At that time, I was a lean 65kg, clocking 20+ hours a week – likely my fittest period since my guiding days. That R5 felt near-perfect, offering a responsiveness and "kick" that propelled it out of corners and down descents with exhilarating speed. It, too, faced the Ventoux test. It had a certain amount of flex, what brands often market as "compliance," which translated to a tangible surge during acceleration. The RCR Pro feels different; it lacks that distinct flex, but it's undeniably faster on flat terrain and especially when climbing. I'll reserve full judgment on its descending prowess until I dial in the front end setup.

However, the climbing performance has been nothing short of revelatory. I shaved minutes off all my benchmark climbs. The ascent of Ventoux from Malaucène saw an 8-minute PB fall, and both the Gorge de la Nesque and Suzette were conquered in significantly faster times, despite me being 5kg heavier and riding considerably less these days. While my custom steel bike embodies my "gentleman cyclist" ethos, the RCR Pro is undeniably turning me into a bit of a hooligan, egging me on to push harder and faster.

Let's talk numbers. My Cervelo R5 with SRAM Force AXS retailed for a hefty £8550 and weighed in at 7.8 kg. The Van Rysel RCR Pro with SRAM Red AXS It comes in at £9000 and a featherlight 6.7 kg with pedals and cages. To put that into perspective, the equivalent R5 with SRAM Red AXS commands a staggering £11,500. Many WorldTour team-spec bikes sit in the £10,000 - £14,000+ range. And the RCR Pro isn't just about value; it's a proven winner. The Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team has racked up an impressive list of victories this year, including a second place in a Grand Tour, and as I type this, Ben O’Connor just crossed the line second in the World Championships. What an incredible debut season!

It's crucial to understand that the RCR Pro represents Van Rysel's first foray into this top-tier echelon of cycling. Just imagine the potential of version two and what they can achieve in the future! I've had the privilege of visiting their HQ, meeting the dedicated team, and witnessing their R&D and testing facilities firsthand. These are not simply rebadged bikes from the Far East, as some lazy social media commentators would have you believe. Don't just take my admittedly biased word for it; delve into the reviews linked below. Multiple respected cycling journalists and the impressive race results all point to the same conclusion: Van Rysel has absolutely nailed it with this bike, and the future is incredibly bright… which is precisely why I decided to be a part of it.

Full details on the VAN RYSEL range can be found HERE

Reviews.

Rouleur Van Rysel RCR Pro Team Replica review: sophisticated superbike that's deservedly the talk of the town. Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale's aero all-rounder might be 'the WorldTour's most affordable bike' but it looks and feels like a million dollars

Road CC Can the Van Rysel RCR Pro become one of the most successful bikes on cycling's WorldTour? The story behind 2024's most talked about road bike.

Tour Magazine The young in-house brand Van Rysel is intended to appeal to ambitious riders and encourage a return to the professional peloton. TOUR has exclusively tested the new competition model RCR.