Typically to shake up the trade it doesn’t require a radical new design, only a lower cost tag.
A lot of the hype and persevering with curiosity round Van Rysel and its RCR Professional bike has been the truth that it doesn’t price the identical as a fairly priced automotive, in contrast to many different bikes utilized by the skilled peloton. As an alternative, it solely prices the identical as a second-hand moderately priced automotive.
So whereas it’s nonetheless an costly bike by most individuals’s requirements, it’s been championed as one thing of an outlier in a class that simply appears to get more and more dearer. And when you’re out there for a WorldTour degree race machine, saving a few thousand on a equally specced bike has an apparent enchantment.
Right here we take a look at the RCR Professional in its newest colourway, in addition to taking a peek at new clothes traces from Santini and MAAP, plus an easy-to-fold bike rack from Thule.
Van Rysel RCR Professional in Abyss Inexperienced
(Picture credit score: Van Rysel / Decathlon)
Has there been a extra talked about street bike than Van Rysel’s RCR Professional in the course of the previous 12 months?
Decathlon definitely captured loads of headlines after it sponsored the French WorldTour group AG2R La Mondiale for 2024 and past. It made but extra by equipping the group with the ‘most inexpensive’ bike within the peloton, elevating a number of eyebrows within the course of.
Nevertheless, any sceptics, or snobs, have been confirmed unsuitable, because the group has racked up win after win aboard the RCR Professional. And the bike’s £9,000 price ticket (sure, that is ‘low cost’ by WorldTour requirements) meant that the primary run of the bike offered out in minutes.
(Picture credit score: Van Rysel / Decathlon)
Simply because the mud was starting to settle, Van Rysel returned seeking but extra column inches for the RCR Professional. And it is doing so due to a remarkable-looking paint job that is, fairly frankly, abysmal, however in a great way. Known as Abyss Inexperienced, it has an iridescent end that, in our humble opinion, is nothing wanting beautiful.
It’s provided with Shimano’s Ultegra Di2 groupset full with an Inpeak energy meter and a set of Swiss Aspect Hadron 2 500 wheels, shod in Conti GP 5000 S TLR tires. The claimed weight for dimension medium is 7.35kg / 16.2lbs.
Santini x Eroica
(Picture credit score: Santini)
Nothing is extra emblematic of our continued fascination with biking’s previous than L’Eroica Gaiole. The annual occasion combines classic bikes and equipment with the picturesque panorama of the Tuscan countryside to create a becoming tribute to a bygone period.
For these in attendance, or certainly these collaborating within the many comparable occasions world wide, trying the half is important. For the clothes a minimum of, assistance is at hand. Santini has been a accomplice of the occasion since 2015 and has once more launched a set to have fun this 12 months’s journey.
(Picture credit score: Santini)
The Unique Wool assortment is styled on the jerseys of outdated. The Gaiole, Vino and Spazio characteristic period-specific options resembling mother-of-pearl buttons on the again pockets and metallic zippers, and are, unsurprisingly, manufactured from wool. The Trendy Wool assortment mixes merino with polyester to create what Santini describes as a mix of “custom and know-how”.
For these on the lookout for one thing extra performance-focused, there’s additionally the Technical Clothes assortment. Right here wool is changed by materials we’re used to seeing in modern biking clothes. The gathering contains a number of jerseys, together with the model new Giove and Sera, with the latter additionally the title of the bibs shorts. There’s additionally an informal assortment that includes sweatshirts and t-shirts.
MAAP New Season street assortment
(Picture credit score: MAAP)
MAAP’s newest street assortment contains new seasonal colors for established jerseys, bibs, vests and jackets, nevertheless it’s the brand new items we’re most excited by.
The Circulate jacket and vest are designed as light-weight and packable windcheaters. They characteristic wind-blocking materials on the entrance and rear, with perforated panels on the facet for breathability. There’s additionally a thermal model that options some insulation within the type of the Teijin Octa cloth that’s mentioned to ship a formidable warmth-to-weight ratio.
(Picture credit score: MAAP)
Then there’s the Crew Bib Evo Cargo Thermal shorts and the Thermal Toe covers. The bibs see elasticated facet pockets added to the model’s in style thermal shorts, whereas the toe covers ought to be a pleasant addition to the opposite thermal clothes within the vary, on condition that on chilly autumnal mornings it is usually the physique’s extremities that the majority want safety.
Thule EasyFold 3
(Picture credit score: Thule)
Having struggled with some bike racks up to now, any mannequin with ‘simple’ within the title will get my consideration.
The EasyFold 3 from Thule is an replace of the model’s best-selling EasyFold XT, and can substitute this mannequin in its line-up. The most important change is the inclusion of an adjustable bike arm. Able to deal with every part as much as and together with 30kg e-bikes, the click-in, click-out arm has a pivoting head and strengthened straps which might be designed to make it fast and simple to load bikes and guarantee a safe match.
(Picture credit score: Thule)
An extra adapter permits the EasyFold 3 to transform from a 2-bike to a 3-bike service, or certainly a 3-bike to a 4-bike. Different particulars embody built-in lamps to assist with visibility.
