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Van Rysel, Decathlon's cycling brand, is launching two new carbon wheelsets on the market, the VR 35 and VR 50. According to the manufacturer, the wheels are the result of two years of development and should be suitable for both road and gravel use. A clear plus point: at 800 euros for the flatter VR 35 and 900 euros for the medium-height VR 50, the wheelsets sound like a tempting offer, especially as they are fitted with high-quality DT Swiss hubs. However, there is also a catch in terms of compatibility: the freewheels are, at least so far, only compatible with Shimano gears.
Light or quick version
The VR 35 wheels are designed for cyclists who attach particular importance to low weight. With a stated weight of 670 grams for the front wheel and 820 grams for the rear wheel, they are not among the lightest wheels, but should be a worthwhile weight tuning in view of the price. The retail price for the VR 35 wheelset is 799.99 euros >> available here .
In contrast, the VR 50 wheels are designed for maximum aerodynamics on the road. According to Van Rysel, they offer a 16 per cent improvement in aerodynamics compared to the VR 35, which makes them particularly interesting for speeds above 35 kilometres per hour. The front wheel of the VR 50 weighs 710 grams, the rear wheel 850 grams. The price for the VR 50 wheelset is 899.99 euros >> available here.
Development and tests
Decathlon's own brand emphasises that both wheel models were tested both in the wind tunnel and under real-life conditions. The aim was to ensure that the wheels fulfil the high demands. The stiffness of the wheels should ensure an immediate response with every pedal rotation and guarantee efficient power transmission. The wheels are assembled and tested in the Van Rysel workshops in Lille, France.
Both wheel models support tyre widths from 25 millimetres to 55 millimetres and are therefore suitable for both road racing bikes and gravel bikes. Van Rysel states that the best aerodynamic results were achieved with 28 millimetre wide tyres. Both wheelsets are built with high-quality DT Swiss hubs and are approved for system weights of up to 130 kilograms.
Van Rysel VR 35
- Weight: 670 grams (front wheel), 820 grams (rear wheel)
- Price: 799,99 Euro >> available here
- Rim material: Carbon
- Tyre compatibility: 25 mm to 55 mm (optimum: 28 mm)
- Tubeless compatible
- Freewheel: HG (Shimano)
Van Rysel VR 50
- Weight: 710 grams (front wheel), 850 grams (rear wheel)
- Price: 899,99 Euro >> available here
- Rim material: Carbon
- Tyre compatibility: 25 mm to 55 mm (optimum: 28 mm)
- Tubeless compatible
- Freewheel: HG (Shimano)
