Van Rysel has introduced two gravel bikes in very different flavours: the RCR-G (starting at £3,000), developed for speed and racing, and the more endurance-focused EDR-G (starting at £2,100), designed for everything from tarmac and cobbles to gravel roads and multi-day bikepacking. The specs look impressive for the money.
> Check out our review of the brand new Van Rysel EDR-G
Van Rysel RCR-G: all about speed
The RCR-G is designed for racing or, at least, for riding fast. Buy one and nobody is going to force you to pin on a race number, but Van Rysel says it has been developed with riders from the Decathlon CMA CGM WorldTeam and inspired by their RCR-R Pro road bike (a new version of which has been raced out in the wild for the past few months although we’re still awaiting an official launch).
> A New, Aero-Looking Van Rysel RCR-Pro Spotted At Criterium du Dauphine
“Rather than adapting an adventure bike for racing, the RCR-G was developed from the ground up with the objective to create the fastest possible bike for modern gravel racing,” says Van Rysel.
No messing about there, then. At the centre of things, you get a high-modulus carbon RCR-G frame that has been designed for aero efficiency.
“Drawing on the aerodynamic expertise developed through the award-winning RCR-R Pro road bike, engineers used extensive CFD [computational fluid dynamics] analysis, virtual prototyping and wind tunnel testing to optimise every aspect of the frame,” says Van Rysel.
That’s the usual process.
“The result is a gravel race bike that combines aerodynamic efficiency with clearance for tyres up to 50mm, allowing riders to maintain speed across both paved and unpaved terrain.”
Van Rysel says that the RCR-G has an 8.6-watt aerodynamic saving over the previous-generation GCR gravel platform – although aerodynamics wasn’t the primary design objective of the GCR (Van Rysel itself rated the GCR 2/5 for aerodynamics).
At what speed can you expect that 8.6-watt saving? We’ve asked for that important piece of information, but we’ve yet to receive the details.
The RCR-G frame is said to weigh in at 885g (size M, unpainted) while the carbon fork is 415g.
“Developed using premium carbon fibre and a gravel-specific layup, the frame delivers exceptional power transfer while maintaining the durability required for off-road racing,” says Van Rysel.
As you’d expect, the RDR-G has a geometry that’s designed for speed with a low stack and a long reach (the vertical and horizontal distances between the centre of the bottom bracket and the top of the head tube). The medium size, for example, has a stack of 554mm and a reach of 391mm, giving a stack/reach of 1.41. That figure has a very racy feel to it.
Short chainstays and dropped seatstays are intended to deliver stiffness and sharp acceleration, and a short wheelbase is said to help with manoeuvrability.
“Every detail has been optimised to reduce overall weight and improve performance, from the integrated monocoque cockpit available on the SRAM Red-equipped model to the lightweight thru-axles and vibration-damping carbon seatpost,” says Van Rysel.
The RCR-G will take chainrings up to 50T (1x) or 52T (2x) and comes with mounts for three bottle cages plus a top-tube bento box. It’s UDH compatible and has space for tyres up to 50mm wide.
Van Rysel says it worked closely with riders from Decathlon CMA CGM throughout the development process, “refining multiple frame prototypes to achieve the ideal balance of stiffness, responsiveness, and control required for elite competition”.
> What is UDH and is it the future of all bikes? SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger explained
Van Rysel EDR-G: focused on endurance
Van Rysel’s other new gravel bike is the EDR-G, and it’s a different beast entirely.
complete bike studio (Image Credit: Van Rysel)
“Designed for riders who want to stay comfortable and efficient over long distances, the EDR-G reduces vibration-induced fatigue to help riders perform better across everything from tarmac and cobbles to forest tracks, gravel roads and multi-day bikepacking adventures,” says Van Rysel.
“Positioned within [our] endurance range, the EDR-G combines responsive handling with confidence-inspiring stability, making it equally suited to riders discovering gravel for the first time and experienced ultra-distance cyclists.”
The carbon frame is intended to “balance responsiveness with all-day comfort”, and there are plenty of mounting points for bottle cages, luggage and accessories. You also get an integrated toolbox design borrowed from the Van Rysel EDR road bike.
> Van Rysel releases EDR CF endurance bike with 38mm tyre clearance and integrated frame storage
It’s a storage compartment in the down tube that’s designed to be accessible even when the bike is loaded up with bags. You’ll find a frame storage pack in there plus a compact inner tube, multi-tool, tyre levers and mini-pump – in other words, the bits and pieces you’ll need for handling a puncture and other common maintenance issues.
It’ll come as no surprise that the EDR-G’s geometry is more relaxed than that of the RCR-G, with a higher stack and a lower reach. If we again take the medium as an example, those figures are 574mm and 380mm respectively, giving a stack/reach of 1.51. That’s all intended to take the strain off your back and neck, of course.
You also get longer chainstays (435mm) for better shock absorption, a longer wheelbase for stability, and a slacker head tube angle that’ll slow the steering slightly. Nothing unexpected there.
Like the RCR-G, the EDR-G has space for tyres up to 50mm and is available in three builds. The top two models are fitted with Van Rysel’s 1,600g VR 32 Carbon gravel wheelset, while the EDR-G Suspended Fork features a RockShox Rudy XPLR 40mm suspension fork up front for greater off-road capability.
All models come with a Deda Gera gravel handlebar (aluminium alloy) with a 24° flare that’s designed to give you confidence and stability when you’re using the drops on lumpy and bumpy terrain.
The Van Rysel RCR-G range and prices
Van Rysel’s pricing is competitive when you compare specs with models from other brands.
Van Rysel RCR-G Red AXS £6,500
Frame/fork High modulus carbon
Integrated cockpit Combo RCR-R Carbon
Groupset SRAM Red XPLR AXS 13s (44 – 10/46)
Wheels VR 50 Carbon
Tyres Continental Terra Comp TLR 45mm
Sizes XS – XL
Weight 7.8kg (Size M)
Van Rysel RCR-G Force AXS £4,000
Frame/fork High modulus carbon
Stem/handlebar VR AL / VR Carbon
Groupset SRAM Force XPLR AXS 13s (42 – 10/46)
Wheels VR 35 Carbon
Tyres Continental Terra Comp TLR 45mm
Sizes XS – XL
Weight 8.2kg (Size M)
Van Rysel RCR-G Rival AXS £3,000
Frame/fork High modulus carbon
Stem/handlebar VR AL / VR AL
Groupset SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 13s (40 – 10/46)
Wheels VR 30 AL
Tyres Continental Terra Comp TLR 45 mm
Sizes XXS – XL
Weight 8.6kg (Size M)
The Van Rysel EDR-G range
Van Rysel EDR-G Force AXS £N/A €3,199
Frame/fork Carbon
Stem/handlebar Deda Gera Alloy 24°
Groupset SRAM Force XPLR AXS (40-10/46)
Wheels VR 32 Gravel Carbon
Tyres Schwalbe G-One R Pro 45mm
Sizes XS – XL
Weight 8.85kg (Size M)
Van Rysel EDR-G Suspended Fork £3,500
Frame/fork Carbon / Rockshox Rudy XPLR 40mm
Stem/handlebar Deda Gera Alloy 24°
Groupset SRAM Force XPLR AXS (40-10/46)
Wheels VR 32 Gravel Carbon
Tyres Schwalbe G-One R Pro 45mm
Sizes XS – XL
Weight 9.7kg (Size M)
Van Rysel EDR-G GRX £2,100
Frame/fork Carbon
Stem/handlebar Deda Gera Alloy 24°
Groupset Shimano GRX 610 12s (40-10/51)
Wheels DT Swiss G1800
Tyres Schwalbe G-One R Perf 45mm
Sizes XS – XL
Weight 8.75kg (Size M)
