VAN RYSEL RCR-F

Now, that’s not very "you," Nick, I hear you cry, and you’re not wrong, but bear with me.

As the self-confessed “gentleman cyclist,” you may look at this bike and wonder, What on earth am I doing riding it and writing about it? Well, the answer to that is simple: Because I can.

To be clear and transparent, A) This isn’t a review, and B) I work for Van Rysel but I hope I’ve been objective and honest.

Over the years, I’ve largely shunned fast, aero bikes. The bikes I ride tend to have a purpose. My classic rim-brake bike has turned into a bit of a cafe “poseur’s” machine. My VAN RYSEL RCR Pro is for being a hooligan and going fast, while my gravel bike is, well, for gravel (AKA horse-shit-covered bridleways). I don't race, and the only time I hit over 40 kph is when it’s gravity-assisted. So, there’s never really been a need—or a desire—for a bike like this in my stable.

But last month, I had the opportunity to head over to VAN RYSEL’s HQ in Lille to test out the RCR-F Aero Bike. It’s been in development for a while, and you might have already seen riders from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale racing it last and this year.

From concept to production, this bike has come together fairly quickly by industry standards. VAN RYSEL’s partnerships with Onera (the French space agency), Swissside (an aerodynamics company with over 50 years of Formula 1 experience), and Deda (an Italian component manufacturer) have allowed for what seems like a rapid turnaround.

You might be wondering, Why are brands bringing back aero bikes? Over the past few years, bikes have become lighter more aero and less “chunky”. The RCR-Pro has already been tested by Tour Magazine and Cycling News as one of the top 5 fastest bikes in the pro peloton. So, why the need for an all-out aero bike like the RCR-F?

This bike is designed specifically for racing, built to be ridden at speeds over 40 kph. In fact, the 2024 Paris-Roubaix was won at an average speed of 47.82 kph. At the time of writing, the RCR-F has already won two races, both sprints, with Sam Bennett and Andrea Vandrame. But it's not just a sprinter's bike; it's also being used in the classics due to its average speed and efficiency for Rouleurs and Domestiques who spend hours at the front of the peloton and are looking to save as much energy as possible while protecting their team leaders.

The engineers designed the RCR-F for races with less than 1500 meters of elevation per 100 km, an average speeds of over 35 kph, and gradients up to 5%. The design is optimised to get faster the faster you go.

In wind tunnel testing, the RCR-F outperforms its companion, the RCR-Pro, saving 13.6 watts at 45 kph and 20.1 watts at 55 kph under testing conditions. The handlebars alone contribute to a 2.7-watt saving compared to those on the RCR-Pro.

When it comes to weight, the RCR-F is impressive. I expected it to be around 8 kg, but it’s actually nearer-7.2 kg without pedals and cages for the Shimano Dura-Ace version.

The most important thing to me is the ride. I had already pre-judged it to be heavy, brutally stiff, and maybe even a bit boring. But it’s safe to say the RCR-F is none of those things. The ride is smooth at low speeds (under 30 kph), and beyond that, it just gets faster and easier. I often found myself feeling like my cadence had dropped and I was slowing down, only to look down and realise I was cruising at 40 kph!

The front end is incredibly stiff. The huge head tube, handlebars, and integrated stem provide a super direct confident feel. Yet, the rear end doesn’t feel jarring—it just goes, and goes, and goes.

The Verdict

It's safe to say that the VAN RYSEL RCR-F is an out-and-out race bike. While I won’t be parting with my RCR-Pro anytime soon, I was surprised at how at home I felt riding this bike. I won’t lie, I was smiling at how effortlessly it made going fast.

If speed is your thing and you want the fastest race bike or when you get home from a ride and the first thing you do is check those Strava stats for PB’s you’ll love this bike.

More links to follow soon, available to buy from May 2025. In Shimano Dura Ace, Ultegra and 105 Di2. Sram specs to follow soon after.