Are Decathlon Winning Because Of The New Van Rysel? | GCN Tech Show 333
This week we're asking if the success of the Decathlon AG2R team this year is down to their new Van Rysel bikes - which sold out immediately! Join Alex & Ollie as they dive into the debate.
Plus, we cover the latest in bike tech: new wheels, a new OPWS, new Sram, new time trial bars, and much more!
Welcome To The GCN Tech Show! 0:00
Are The New Van Rysel Bikes That Good? 0:30
New SRAM Groupset? 11:15
Tadej Pogačar’s Giro 2024 Bike 12:43
Forge & Bond New Wheels 13:10
SLF Motion Oversized Pulley Wheels 14:48
Aero Clothing For MTB Riders 16:12
Comments Of The Week 19:18
Bike Vault 23:02
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What do you make of Decathlon AG2R success, is it down to the bike? 🚴
When Bahrain added victorious, they immediately won more bike races (for a period), it must be placebo effect
It could be the excitement brought by new sponsors, better accommodations, better rider treatment. They could be in their honeymoon stage, wait until next season if they still perform like they are doing now. But those Van Rysels are pretty bikes in person.
Of course it's the bike...says the owner of a Van Rysel EDR CF105 🙂 The EDR is a great bike too; upgraded this year to Ultegra groupset from 105. The RCRs show as Out of Stock in the U.S. as well.
No , that is just a small part of the equation . Probably has more to do with the organization and the riders themselves than anything else. 🤷🏼♂️
There is something that can not been tested in wind tunnel, the confort. Maybe the Van Rysel is more confortable than other bike with good aero properties at the same time. So it is easier to push high wattages during long ride. Maybe...
Great bike, but my theory is that the team has received a lot more attention from their new sponsors (Decathlon), better management, better team cohesion. Van Rysel has celebrated each win, no matter how small, that creates momentum and highlights the team under the right light. This creates a winning team
I only watch an entire race highlight only if I see Decathlon post on insta that they got a race win 😂
Great point! As much as a good bike makes a difference, it's the riders that are really doing the hard work. So cool to see the team thriving 🙌
Is just amazing what Decathlon is doing for cycling give great bikes at the lowest cost 💪
Week 61 of asking for a “The UCI has no jurisdiction here” T-shirt
Keep on fighting the good fight.
Cringe
Still missing the app. What happened to the GCN Club?
Tadej Pogace deserves serial number 1 of the shirt after the kerfuffle over the pink/purple leader’s skin suit at the Giro.
By this point you could have found a shirt company and made your own 😂
1:34 love the way the decathlon teams socks are all the same height , regardless of riders height. That’s attention to detail
👌
Decathlon put a lot of bike brands to shame with their fair price point and quality. Good to see them doing it at the the top level
Ddi I hear that right? £70 for a helmet in the World Tour? This is amazingly good news on demistifying the sport and bringing it closer to the unsure newbie and the commuter fan. I can only see positives there. And helmets; use them!
Very true! It's great to see entry level prices for such high end kit 🙌
It’s closer to 41% less for a Dura Ace equipped bike here compared to sl8, madone etc (as long as you don’t pay €500 more for the team livery). That’s a massive difference.
Don't forget the Swiss Side wheels!
yeah i think that plays a bigger effect than the frame.
@DanTuber there are still sizeable differences between frames. And while the Swiss Side wheels are good, they've always tested behind Zipp, ENVE and HED
@@veganpottertheveganthey did a redesign. Not the same shape
@josephreilman8527 I've had the previous 2 versions and they tested very poorly... got them free because my girlfriend was sponsored by them. I've yet to see any 3rd party testing showing the newer versions are any good. Until it's done, it's just another claim
Can’t believe Bob and Ollie missed the Carpenter at Carpenter Hill. Clever!
the placebo effect was on full display in the recent gcn video about caffeine with hank and connor. Just the thought of having caffeine made them faster
Placebo is a strong tool 🙌
Check out Decathlon Riverside GCR gravel bike. Value for money is quite amazing.
Same with the Rockrider XC bikes, as used in MTB World Cup.....
They are doing some great kit at great prices 🙌Super cool to see
When in New York, Don't miss the Chance to cycle White Face Mountain. This climb has a continuous and very challenging grade between 8-10% the majority of the climb. The steepest quarter-mile is 11.3% while there is a full mile averaging nearly 10%. It never stops and there are no breaks the entire 13k. Beautiful Mountain Scenery and world class cycling in the almost 7 million acre Adirondack Park. Lake Placid is minutes away with wonderful lodging, dinning and bike shops.
Ollie’s bang on with his cricket analogy 👍🏻 In fact I reckon at least 50% of any sports person’s success is attributable to positive mental attitude
The best thing about what Decahtlon is doing is to challange the market. On bikes, helmets, shoes etc. Products are on par with stuff that costs 30-70% more
Have yall ever covered sunglasses/glasses?... I had prescription titanium Oakleys i would forget i had them on., plus cool guy status achieved when you pop em on
The placebo effect here would/could be present IF the riders believe the bike makes them that much faster... I'd wager the only people attributing the team's success to the new bike are the ones watching things unfold and want to believe that performance can be bought. I'll, again, wager the riders know don't believe the bike makes them faster and that it's down to their work...
you two are doing a great job, I dont use new tech, my bikes are 12 years old, but i really enjoy your work on this show. thank you. keep having fun as you work.
The bike is fast, but because of the bike a lot of people were talking about the team. New and interesting bike, new kit, and they capitalised on the positive psychology from that. Once one or two wins came the positive feel was there and success brings more success. The tech is part of that and part of the positive feeling but isn't the whole thing.
Van Rysl RCR is a great bike, it brought me some KOM's on Strava! And I'm not a great cyclist, more like an average one, and I can't ride every day. But when I ride, that Van Rysel bike improved my average speed by 10km/h. I think I have the lowest specs ine, the one with Sram Rival and Zipp wheels...but it's great, I love it! But, on top of it all, it's amazing that Decathlon offers us affordable racing bikes and gear that can perform! That's the main thing and they should be commended for it!
Alex - never doubt Ollie, he’s from Yorkshire - of course he loves Cricket and Birds.
Ag2R winning has to be down to the fact they got rid of the brown bibs 😅
Ollie: " I believe that is a sharp tailed sandpiper". *quick Google search* Can confirm, the bird in the artwork does look very much like a sharp tailed sandpiper.
Second that!
It is according to the artist in Australia. Geoffrey Carran. Pic taken at Chelsea Sports Womens Centre, Chelsea VIC.
I'm sure Decathlon AG2R success has to with their equipment,clothing and I'm sure their mindset and training routine.A lot of super nice in the bike vault.💯👌🏻🚴♂️
Actually there was a Big Italian Bikeride bottle in the background 18:20
The mental component is that Decathlon is a brand universally adored in France and even by adopted French people like me. Now they seem to have their ducks in a row with the Van Rysel brand, it's looking good. The brand snobbery might yet begin to decline in the wider cycling population. Let's see.
Van Rysel HAVE to bring out a top spec climbing/endurance bike!!! Imagine the market chaos that would cause😮
Shimano disc brake pads with the cooling fins rub like hell when there's over 40% of pad material left on them. Most people think that their brake pads are contaminated but generally aren't contaminated. Pro mechanics have changed to after market disc brake pads for various reasons but issues with the cooling fins rubbing is one of them. GCN investigate if you wish 🤞
Van Rysel is such a great guy! Met him at the flea market in Lille
🤣🤣🤣
I agree with Alex on the placebo effect. If this principle can make a clean bike ride better than a dirty one then surely it will have an effect in this case as well.
I agree it is a global performance approach (I have few of their best riders in my area and they clearly confirm the mindset change). Now few details around the VR RCR - yes they tested with a narrower bar... but the test doesn't include a manequin upper body (to obviously not introduce fitting discrepancies) so impact is not comparable to riding on a narrower bar. - the previous BMC roadmachine they mostly used was above 15W slower with the cockpit and 50 or 62mm wheels... even the Time machine was still 3w slower Riders in private tells you how much more they prefer their VR bikes over the previous BMC.
I've noticed not only on this video but previous ones, that the GCN team have been very keen to say it is NOT the bike. Despite the excellent reviews from the teams riders, which seemed genuine from experienced pros. Their views weren't reported in this video. People who have actually ridden the bikes. Instead arguments such us it being due to lots of 'other things that we don't know about' (science!) and it's all in their heads, their previous bike was great (then why aren't BMC supplying other world tour bikes?). Why don't the team get a bike and ride it? I guess their current bike sponsors would not be too happy with a glowing review on a bike that costs 30%-40% less!
Took the words out of my mouth Ollie. Success breeds success and an early win, perhaps even on a bike that everyone what "wtf, a cheap bike?!" meant less pressure, then the win, more positivity, more hype, more wins etc
I feel like Decathlon will always be perceived as a budget brand. They make some decent stuff and I've have a couple of their accessories on my daily commuter but I wouldn't put anything from them on any serious build.
Hello from India. We like cricket…….a lot. The T20 World Cup 2024 will be ours. We have momentum, like AG2R. Our team is as fit as Lloyd…. well, some are. Some have good kit, like Alex’s 12k bike. Rest have skill, like Connor climbing Draycot hill.
New bikes new kit new sponsor it’s all exciting and positive plus, you gotta show the sponsors you’re worthy of keeping your place in the team… same as football getting a new manager
the 500-800 bucks Triban bikes (Decathlons entry level roadbikes) feel equally as good if not even better than bikes from treck for example that are around 2000... so guess what happens if they actually try to put out the best roadbike they can lol.
The super six evo was 205w in the Tour tests so faster, rather than slower. However the more interesting talking point is that last year when the new SSE came out the EF squad were also performing pretty well early on in the season. Maybe new bike model day is a thing for pros?
If the team keeps winning, then people will stop thinking that only expensive things are faster.
Is definitely the bike that’s making them faster - placebo affect or not, I’ve recently got an e-bike and I’m flying!
Why/When/Where are you going to be in NYC? Any event I should look out for here?
graham CARPENTER at his CARPENTER hill, surely it is SUPER NICE :)
Boys, the lack of graham CARPENTER’s user name was a missed opportunity to encourage more cheeky bike vaults submissions. You really should reconsider & upgrade your rating.
SuperSix Evo Hi Mod is 207 watts according to Tour Magazine, Lab71 should save another couple of watts due to one piece handlebar
Are you guys riding the GFNY gran fondo?
Why isn't anyone reviewing the NCR model instead of the RCR?
Can these team riders' performance data (like power and V02 max numbers) be compared to last year's? This could give an insight as to whether the team has improved due purely to equipment.
How many composite wheel mfg can the market support? I think we're about to find out.
decathlon products can make miracles
I believe that at the level of these guys and the bikes that each team rides, the difference between the bikes is smaller than the quality of the teams' training. I think the difference between the teams lies more in their preparation than the brand of their bikes. Looking at the teams' medical staff can also be interesting.😎
Good parallel with cricket - my original main sport but, as mentioned, you don't get fit playing cricket. back in 1960s and 1970s, I'd take running gear to run around the ground if I'd got out or I was batting down the order and playing as a bowler. But it is technical and a batter has to assume they could get out at any time to bad luck (umpire's mistake, nasty bounce of a little ridge on the pitch, etc) as well as bad play or a great ball from the bowler - a bad shot, a bad umpire decision, a brilliant ball and you can go a few weeks with just a few balls faced and an otherwise wasted afternoon - which affects you mentality to relax or try harder (and not play smoothly). Over the past two years, the England cricket team has been an excellent example of more or less the same players transforming from very bad to very good (they've slipped back a bit recently) due to different attitudes of management, captaincy, selection policy and retention of players to give them more chance to get over bad patches. Decathlon, as the AG2R French team, had a reputation of being out of date in almost every area, like the England cricket team were. I miss those brown shorts but the team is so much better
BBInfinite has had 14 tooth pulley wheels for a while and you do not need to replace the entire cage.
Yup, been using them for years! You'll get diminishing returns with every tooth number increase. It's a big win to keep your cage
Did Ollie miss the Big Italian Bike Ride water bottle that was right behind him on the shelf?
Why Alex seem like he was upset the helmets are 70 pounds ? Lmao
A giant on a Giant bike yeah that's gotta be super nice!
I checked those fins on brake pads (not Shimano, chinese) after braking and they were hot af. Still so small a thing probably won't absorb enough heat to be of any significance.
I don't understand what's wrong with Ollies Cricket analogy. It was great in my opinion. There's hardly any sport where physical fitness is that important as in cycling (not that there isn't a mental side to cycling, but the ratio is different for Cricket)
About new Sram groupset, love the version whitout power meter. Did you already see it?
Ag2r have a responsibility to represent a smaller budget pro bike. Am really glad to see they have picked up the torch. Helping make pro bikes more accessible 😊
salut, je trouve ton idée pas mal pour les week-end de gp en f1 mais j’ai pas compris l’utilité d’obliger le pit pour les pneus si ils ne se dégradent pas autant mettre un réservoir vraiment petit et faire que un pit pour le fuel non ?
Happy Friday guys I love the show and channel I have been a fan since Matt Stephens was a regular I love the idea of the bike vault but a small problem with the execution I am a year round courier here in Toronto Ontario Canada I like to to think i have some cool bikes My issue is that I tend to enjoy spending more time riding them than posing for pictures or polishing them I have come to the sad reality that none of my rides will ever make the bike vault as I never have the time to compose a great picture and location when they are clean and polished When in a great local the bike is usually dirty and I am too caught up in the ride to think of stopping to take a picture Could you please consider a few bikes that are being truly enjoyed on the road or trials and are unique and special if not presented in the best light Bragging moment here I ride a 97 cannondale F700 mountain bike for work in the cannondale volvo paint( still functional fatty headshock) I have a torelli express road bike 2001 with full Campy Daytona group And my only Bike bought brand new a 2015 Colnago CX0al in giro pink Thanks Dave
Anyone else getting anglerfish vibes from that dangling golden lock?
I got new carbon wheels for my Trek AL and definitely 'feel' my performance exceeded the marginal (?) gain of the better wheels. Placebo!
A good move by Decathlon. Great for sales
can you upload these videos in 4k?
Seeing the S-Works. Weird sight this morning about 7.40am on Shooters Hill, SE London. Doing my morning walk up the hill from Welling, other side of the road a blue and pale blue S-Works inched its way up the Oxleas Wood side with the most non-lycra outfit and non-honed rider. If I'd been walking that side (no pavement so you can't), I'd have jogged along and had a chat, if he could have talked while riding.
Nothing wrong with that. More power to him. I have an S-Works Diverge (SRAM Red eTap AXS, Roval SL SCS CX wheels). When I broke my hip, it took a year before I was able to start riding again - I was overweight, out of shape, and really demoralized. I was so. damn. slow, but the S-Works just called out to be ridden. I bought some expensive shorts, and then started ramping up my mileage. So, *IF* you have the money *AND* nice stuff motivates you, an expensive bike is just what the doctor ordered. Now, a year later, at 55 years old, I’ve lost almost 20 kg, and I’m moving pretty well. I wouldn’t call myself a strong rider, but I only weigh 62kg, so climbing has become easy (easier, anyway). I am absolutely sure that the overpriced bike is a primary reason for my improvement.
Had an s-works sl7, always ride in regular shorts and tennis shoes. Don’t need Lycra to enjoy a fine machine. But it wasn’t any faster than my 2016 Fuji sl 2.1 with Zipp 302’s. The gloss black Van Rysel Pro (red axs) is a beauty, at least in the photos. Ciao
I wonder how it is to ride with narrow bars. It is aerodynamically faster, but what about comfort and feeling safe? I ride with wide bars thats extra wide in the drops (gravelbars) , is that better for tourists like me ? I dont need 0,1 km/h more speed.
15:33 "Massive WHATT???"
Decathlon always offers decently equpied bike at a good price. Even if all the components are removed, you will find a well built frame with fairly straight forward design. I have an edr af frame and a 900 af frame I bought from online seller and they have been amazing for what I paid for. Stiff yet not overweight, mostly equipped with standard parts that you can easily source. So I am not suprised their top of the range road bikes becomes a hit, since the design philosophy remains the same: using quality compnents and a basic yet functional design.
#askGCNtech My bottle of chain drip wax froze for a few days while in my garage over the winter (I live in Canada). There is a warning on the bottle to not let it freeze. Is it still OK to use? And this got me to thinking, what about the wax on my chain when my bike is stored in my garage or shed over the winter? If the wax in the bottle shouldn't be frozen, what about the wax on our chains? Should we be dewaxing our chains when storing them for winter? I realize that this question isn't seasonable anymore, but I've been asking it for many weeks, hoping it will get onto to the show soon.
My guess, Decathlon has probably improved a lot their food !
Something like that or altitude camps. But they had a decent budget before.
Try to think of a reason, because it obviously can't be a better bike that is CHEAPER. CAN'T BE. They just can't admit good engineered $5k is better than $12k SWORKS (sponsor)
Never knew that GCN would be a catalyst for me thinking about how South Africa choke at world cups 😂
The UCI have banned aero because you „have to stay cool“. As if the UCI knew what‘s cool. 😂😂😂 They even threatened to DSQ Pogi from the Giro for wearing a skinsuit provided by the organiser. What a bunch of lunatics.
#askgcntech Hi, Speaking of things that squeaking. Thinking back to old GCN track riding videos, why do track bikes have that distinct crackling sound?
Alex: "The rain was ruining my ice cream." I expect every Italian watching the show is screaming "GELATO!!!" at you right now.
Just wanted to chime in that the rear derailleur cable housing is way too short on the Giant!
@laneweaver3562: I spoke to a friend-of-mine that has a Giant-brand bike like that-one. They tell me that when they received their Giant-brand bike, from the local-bike-shop, it came “unboxed” like that. (as-in, it came “out of the box” like that). Also: my friend tells me that the LBS where they bought their Giant-bike at was the Authorised-Dealer for Giant in their area, as well as the Authorised-Dealer for Shimano in their area. And before they received the bike, it was given a full check-over by the LBS. (Brakes. Shifter-cables. Shifting. Mechanicals. Brakes & Brake-bleed. Grease-check (as-in, Checking of all the Grease in all the places that have Grease and/or require Grease. Etcetera). Etcetera). And apparently, the LBS left the brake-cables & shifter-cables how they came “out of the box” from the Giant big-cardboard-box. So I guess they’re okay (“they’re” as-in, “the “brake-cables” & the “shifter-cables” “).
@@reoencarcelado5904 interesting, I guess if it shifts fine then it's fine!
Downhill MTB racing - now into clothing doping, like runners with the new shoes that help them bounce along faster. It's all getting like Formula 1 car racing where the tech is the main thing.
New subscriber and fan!!
it's defintiely not just the bike and the bike is probably only a minor factor (compared to their last bike)
Other training methods or maybe a consult with dr Ferrari could also be possibilities.
Placebo effect is the word of the day. Lets see how we can use it in a sentence. 🤣🤣
How long before 23C tyres will be de rigueur again?
I’m glad they’re encouraging the behavior of bird on bike 😂
Apple seems to be a GCN sponsor 😂 (or DELL more for freedom with stickers)
Will GCN do a test ride on the Decathlon bike, to do a full review of it in their opinion.
No, GCN doesn't do bike reviews. The closest they'll do is an overview if the bike company pays them.
Alex Paton and Gee Atherton MTB legend are they the one and some person? Have they been seen in the same room together?
It’s probably all about the gp5000 str tires TBH
🥲 I loved the brown 🩳 !
Sandpiper for sure.
Wait but you can't buy Van Rysel bikes in the US?
In Decathlon you can find Van Risel cetonas
Maybe the riders felt they had a point to prove? When it was announced they were riding a Decathlon bike a lot of the media were a tad snobby!
4:30 @askgcntech why do people weigh bikes without pedals? Makes no sense…
build quality though? What does hambini say?
New drinking game...take a shot every time you hear "placebo effect"
Some Decathlon riders are reaching the age where they perform the best, the new bike is just a coincidence, and success attracts success.
Its dope, its always dope.
Alex on the placebo effect, "a happy bike is a fast bike".
It's not the bike, it's the brown shorts that changed to black shorts.
A nice pair of elite wheels?