The Van Rysel efficiency bike model of massive field retailer Decathlon is about to get a brand new carbon FCR aero highway bike. We noticed a number of riders of AG2R La Mondiale racing the next-gen Van Rysel FCR at Le Tour de France. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at what the brand new bike appears like and the way it compares to the model’s present RCR race bike…
Van Rysel FCR prototype carbon aero highway race bike
It’s the primary 12 months of Van Rysel bikes on the highway World Tour with the sponsorship of the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Crew. And whereas Decathlon already had an reasonably priced do-it-all light-weight carbon highway race bike with aero options of their RCR, it’s not fairly on par with the newest aerodynamic traits. So enter the Van Rysel FCR, designed in Flanders at Decathlon’s huge Lille, France HQ and bike meeting facility.
What’s new?
The large variations between the present RCR and this new FCR prototype are after all the aerodynamic optimizations. We don’t have any concrete particulars about aero enchancment claims, however these grey & black camouflaged bikes characteristic far more dramatic aero tube shaping in comparison with their mild all-rounder highway bike.
The Van Rysel FCR prototype fork options deeper tapered legs, and a crown that easily transitions right into a horizontal rib on the high of the downtube.
From the facet, the downtube itself, seattube (with new rear wheel cutout), and seatstays are all slender, deep airfoil shapes. And the headtube can be extremely deep, perhaps 3x as deep because the outdated bike.
Out again, the prototype Van Rysel FCR aero highway bike includes a lengthy & slender proprietary aero seatpost – now a bit deeper even than the RCR. And an inside wedge clamps the seatpost in place, accessed from the highest, underneath the small rubber cowl.
The seatstays are narrower from the entrance, deeper in profile, and truly look to be set a bit nearer to the rear wheel in comparison with the present highway bike – though nonetheless with an analogous dropped place and flat high.
From the entrance there additionally seems to be extra clearance across the entrance tire – whether or not that’s to permit for smoother airflow or simply to suit bigger fashionable tires.
Aero ending package
The AG2R prototype Van Rysel FCR aero bikes are also the primary we noticed in competitors to make use of the brand new “quickest ever” Continental x Swiss Facet x DT Swiss Aero 111 aerodynamic entrance tire.
The prototype bikes had been additionally fitted with what’s labeled as a one-piece Deda handlebar cockpit.
The rounded entrance profile, step-down for clear bar tape ending, easy out-font GPS mount, and recessed high cap mount appear like the newest Alanera RS. However the cockpit’s stem appears to be lacking the signature ridge throughout its high or the angular facet shaping of the Alanera RS, suggesting this can be an unreleased Deda bar, or a 1-piece cockpit that can include Van Rysel branding.
Additionally, the AGR crew has additional modified the cockpit with an prolonged high cap, matching steerer spacers, and the ensuing lengthy aero-shaped higher headset cowl. In fact, all of the cables on the bike are routed absolutely internally, and perhaps that further stem actual property make it simpler to route every thing into the body?
Van Rysel FCR prototype – Availability timeline
Formally, this Van Rysel FCR aero highway bike nonetheless a prototype in keeping with the UCI approval stickers on the race bikes we noticed at le Tour.
However whereas that doesn’t verify a concrete timeline, it does imply that Van Rysel did have to verify that the bike was in its closing phases of growth they usually dedicated within the UCI utility to make the FCR accessible to the general public throughout the subsequent 12 months.
Our guess is that they’ll need to have the brand new bike in Decathlon shops by the tip of subsequent winter. And it appears like it would be part of the all-rounder RCR as a extra devoted aero choice from Van Rysel.
