TryGOLD- Free

A 'LILLE' TOUCH OF CLASS
Men's Fitness UK|February 2025
French brand Van Rysel offers an inexpensive way to buy a road bike worthy of the pro peloton
- Laurence McJannet
A 'LILLE' TOUCH OF CLASS

Van Rysel means 'from Lille' V and it's in this famous French city that the new bike brand on the block manufactures a range of affordable high performance road bikes. Ridden in the Tour de France by the AG2R Decathlon team, its top-end team-edition machines are also available to buy off the peg unsurprisingly from the team's principal sponsor, ubiquitous outdoor brand Decathlon - at a fraction of the cost of similar high-end bikes. Its lower-end models are also ultra-competitive, in terms of cost and performance.

I was lucky enough to test-ride both the Van Rysel speed-focused RCR on the company's local roads of Roubaix and the endurance-oriented NCR on my own rolling local roads of Somerset to see if they could match the performance of their big-name (and big price-tag) rivals.

Van Rysel RCR

While the Van Rysel RCR Pro Replica Dura Ace Di2 AG2R Decathlon Team model may still be out of the price range of most mere mortals, the RCR Rival AXS Power Sensor model I had the pleasure of testing on the streets of Roubaix as well as the famous velodrome there is much more reasonable. OK, it may not seem that way at £4,000. But for a full-carbon chassis, electronic groupset and integrated power meter I'd be expecting to pay at least a grand more.

This story is from the February 2025 edition of Men's Fitness UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 2025 edition of Men's Fitness UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MEN'S FITNESS UKView All
SCIENCE SAYS...EXERCISE CAN HELP IMPROVE MEMORY
Men's Fitness UK

SCIENCE SAYS...EXERCISE CAN HELP IMPROVE MEMORY

We all know that exercise W delivers proven physical benefits. Most smart watches can tell us whether our endurance levels are improving. But what about the mental health benefits? These metrics have always been more anecdotal - and therefore harder to measure.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2025
DON'T DROP THE BOMB
Men's Fitness UK

DON'T DROP THE BOMB

Could a 100g post-workout protein-bomb actually work?New science has just overturned the standard advice on protein with some surprising results for post-workout nutrition

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2025
ROLL WITH IT
Men's Fitness UK

ROLL WITH IT

It won't have escaped your notice that the equipment inventory for most gyms now includes recovery items such as foam rollers, massage guns and spikey balls, all of which can be used in self-myofascial release, which growing evidence suggests is essential for maintaining your muscles in peak condition.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2025
DUMBBELLS & GYM BALL INTRODUCTION
Men's Fitness UK

DUMBBELLS & GYM BALL INTRODUCTION

A set of dumbbells and a gym ball can give you serious muscle gains

time-read
4 mins  |
February 2025
EVERYTHING'S GONE GREEN
Men's Fitness UK

EVERYTHING'S GONE GREEN

A new breed of eco-friendly running shoe is hitting the streets. We take a look at the main contenders

time-read
4 mins  |
February 2025
THE HIGHS & LOWS
Men's Fitness UK

THE HIGHS & LOWS

Following on from the success of his Sunday Times bestselling The Good Bite's High-Protein Meal-Prep Manual, Niall Kirkland is back with a new collection of delicious and indulgent high-protein recipes - all under 500 calories.

time-read
5 mins  |
February 2025
CUT TO THE QUICK
Men's Fitness UK

CUT TO THE QUICK

Speed, balance and co-ordination are all benefits of agility training. So isn't it about time you added it in to your programme?

time-read
4 mins  |
February 2025
Confessions of a HYROX VIRGIN
Men's Fitness UK

Confessions of a HYROX VIRGIN

Turning a cyclist into a runner is one thing, but can you target a Hyrox in four months in your fifties? Frank Bauer finds out

time-read
7 mins  |
February 2025
THE GYM COMMANDMENTS
Men's Fitness UK

THE GYM COMMANDMENTS

To get bigger, stronger or leaner, you must master the basics of training. Adhere to these ten rules from the best in the business and build a better body

time-read
4 mins  |
February 2025
RETREAT INTO YOURSELF
Men's Fitness UK

RETREAT INTO YOURSELF

Allowing yourself time to retreat from the everyday can have a powerful impact on your mental wellbeing. Joe Minihane investigates

time-read
5 mins  |
February 2025

We use cookies to provide and improve our services. By using our site, you consent to cookies. Learn more