Decathlon's Van Rysel amazing value?

[enkei]

Have you seen the latest Van Rysel bikes sold by Decathlon?

They appear to be amazing value. I recently had a quick look at the Van Rysel RCX 2 cyclocross bike.
   

This bike lists at £3,300 ($4,274 at current exchange rates) win the UK, but was marked down at £2.940 ($3,808) on this example. BEAUTIFUL bike. Gorgeous frame (UCI certified), SRAM FORCE AXS (powermeter-ready) 12-speed 1x drivetrain. With these alloy rims, Van Rysel says it weighs 8kg, but in my hands it felt lighter, even with those awful pedals. Perhaps the bike I looked at is smaller, hence the lower weight, or maybe I just can't gauge weight very well, LOL.

Anyway, it seems like an awful lot of bike for the money. Can fit 40mm tires, too, making it a good multi-discipline bike.

What do the BR denizens think? I'm not thinking of getting one for myself, just thought y'alls would enjoy seeing it. Alas, it appears that Decathlon doesn't offer the RCX in the USA.

[danny82]

Sweet!

[enkei]

It sure is! You should definitely check one out at Decathlon, if only to lust over it.

[Jesper]

I would like to know what the gearing is. I just can never wrap my head around using such a small chainring (44t?) for the area I ride in. I would not be able to gain any downhill speed. Uphill it would work fine considering those large cassette cogs (38-40t?). I would need a 10t-11t small cog to make it viable, compared to my 53x14 high gear. SRAM force is some excellent equipment, but pricing may be related to some of the lesser components installed.
Being an older bike rider I am not the biggest admirer of these frame designs many companies are using, but I assume the computer tested engineering rules the day and should provide the best performance based on materials and designed use.

[meamoantonio]

Decathlon has been coming out with really awesome products in the past few years, even the RC500's ride was pretty good and its one of their entry level options

[enkei]

(10-24-2024, 11:07 PM)Jesper Wrote:  I would like to know what the gearing is. I just can never wrap my head around using such a small chainring (44t?) for the area I ride in. I would nor be able to gain any downhill speed. Uphill it would work fine considering those large cassette cogs (38-40t?). I would need a 10t-11t small cog to make it viable, compared to my 53x14 high gear. SRAM force is some excellent equipment, but pricing may be related to some of the lesser components installed.
Being an older bike rider I am not the biggest admirer of these frame designs many companies are using, but I assume the computer tested engineering rules the day and should provide the best performance based on materials and designed use.

It's 40T x 10–33T. I assume that in cyclocross any hill so steep as to need lower gearing would be too slippery anyway, so you'd be running with the bike over your shoulder?

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(10-25-2024, 07:14 AM)meamoantonio Wrote:  Decathlon has been coming out with really awesome products in the past few years, even the RC500's ride was pretty good and its one of their entry level options

Yep. It's great to see someone sticking it to the overpriced fashion brands.

[Talha]

ANY DECATHLON BIKE IS ONLY GOOD FOR STARTING OUT!!!

had a friend take one to the trails and I am not kidding, damaged his crankset on the first trail ride.

[Jesper]

(10-30-2024, 02:10 PM)Talha Wrote:  ANY DECATHLON BIKE IS ONLY GOOD FOR STARTING OUT!!!

had a friend take one to the trails and I am not kidding, damaged his crankset on the first trail ride.

I do not doubt your anecdote; but do you have any other proof of the bike being poorly designed and/or constructed. Remember, the bike company does not manufacture the components like some companies did back in the day (e.g. Automoto, Peugeot, Raleigh, Favorit, et al.).
SRAM components (FORCE line included) are above average quality and performance; but even the best quality control does exclude something not meeting their standards from passing through and making it to the consumer. I would like to know the specifics regarding the breakdown, and how the bike was being used at the time of the failure. Was the bike purchased new? Any photos? Was the bike under warranty (I assume it is); was customer service contacted, and what was the response? Was it assembled from the factory, a local shop, or the owner. Many variables are involved that may have caused the problem. If the same problem is reported by others then it may be that the parts manufactured as a certain lot may be defective and prone to breakage; that which could occur on any bike and has no reflection on the quality of the frame itself.

Before deriding an entire brand, it is best to gather the facts and specifics in order to provide educated feedback and not base it on one isolated (?) incident; and when receiving said feedback as 2nd and 3rd hand info.

This may be something that SRAM should be informed of since if their parts are failing prematurely it will affect all brands that use their line. This is why it is important to have precise information before libelling a company for another company's shortcomings.
I have a particular interest in that I am preparing to build a more modern bike and I wish to utilize SRAM for a CX application (Shimano cassette; compatible?), but friction shifting.

Does anyone else have 1st hand feedback regarding this company, breakdowns, and customer service?

[meamoantonio]

(10-30-2024, 02:10 PM)Talha Wrote:  ANY DECATHLON BIKE IS ONLY GOOD FOR STARTING OUT!!!

had a friend take one to the trails and I am not kidding, damaged his crankset on the first trail ride.

what bike was it and what kind of trail did you guys take it to? I haven't seen any real mountain bike offerings from decathlon aside from their Van Rysel XC MTB line, but as the name suggests, it is for XC use, probably wouldn't be a good idea to take it down a black or even red diamond trail unless you do have skills like what Blake from GMBN did (used a gravel bike and took it down a dirt jump track and proper blue trails).