Van Rysel has chosen Sea Otter Europe to take the launch of its RCR-G a step further. Not with a new frame, but with a complete, ultra-limited capsule called THE ACE.
The idea in a nutshell: a bike designed to switch from road to gravel without fuss, delivered straight with two wheelsets, and paired with a matching full kit.
This capsule revolves around the Van Rysel RCR-G, already presented as the brand’s most ambitious gravel race bike. To put the bike in context, our Van Rysel RCR-G review already showed a fast bike, very close to the road side of things, with a price point that is hard to ignore.
Here, Van Rysel pushes it toward a more exclusive, better-equipped build and, above all, more versatile out of the box.
An RCR-G delivered with two personalities
The most interesting point about this THE ACE edition isn’t just its specific colourway. It’s the build.
The bike comes with two wheelsets: a Swiss Side Gravon 500 gravel set fitted with Vittoria T30 in 40 mm, and a Van Rysel VR 50 road set fitted with Continental GP5000S TR in 28 mm.
This is exactly the kind of detail that changes how you view the product. Many current bikes promise some form of road/gravel versatility. Here, Van Rysel makes it tangible straight out of the box: a fast configuration for tarmac, another for tracks and rolling trails.
The frame is still High Modulus carbon. The groupset is Shimano Ultegra R8170 Di2, with a Deda RCR-R Combo carbon cockpit, already used on the Decathlon-CMA CGM team’s RCR-R Pro.
The bike also gets a specific paint scheme with Raptor coating. Van Rysel calls it a unique finish. This capsule clearly plays the rarity card rather than that of a simple catalogue variant.
€6,600 for the bike: near the top of the range
The RCR-G THE ACE is listed at €6,600. That puts it right at the top of the RCR-G line-up, whose known versions span from performance-focused entry points to decidedly ambitious builds.
Read that price in light of the full spec: electronic Ultegra Di2 groupset, two wheelsets, road and gravel tyres, carbon cockpit, specific finish. It isn’t a trivial price, but Van Rysel isn’t trying to offer the most rational RCR-G here. This edition instead targets the rider who wants a bike ready to switch from a fast road ride to a rolling gravel race, without having to buy a second wheelset straight away.
The real question is therefore less the raw price than availability. Van Rysel announces limited production, without disclosing the exact number of units.
A complete capsule, not just a bike
THE ACE doesn’t stop at the RCR-G. Van Rysel pairs the bike with a full collection: helmet, shoes, sunglasses, jersey, bib shorts and socks.
The RCR-F helmet is listed at €120. It follows a racing logic, developed in the wind tunnel, with Mips technology and a Flip & Clip system to stow the glasses. The RCR-F family matters at Van Rysel: it supports the brand’s road upmarket move, already visible on the Van Rysel RCR-F, which is much more focused on pure performance.
The RCR-R THE ACE shoes are listed at €180, with an SPD adaptor. It’s an interesting choice: Van Rysel keeps the base of a performance-oriented road shoe, but opens it up to gravel use thanks to an interface better suited to SPD cleats.
The KWARE Category 3 sunglasses are priced at €70. Nothing surprising in the pitch: sun protection, a bold look, road-focused use. The key point remains the capsule’s aesthetic coherence rather than the arrival of a technically disruptive product.
On the apparel side, Van Rysel announces a unisex EDR ULTRA jersey at €70, EDR ULTRA bib shorts for men and women at €120, then socks at €10. The bib shorts get an Elastic Interface chamois and easy-access cargo pockets, which suits long-distance or fast gravel use.
Our take
This capsule says something quite clear about Van Rysel’s trajectory. The brand no longer contents itself with making well-priced bikes. It’s starting to build more distinctive, identity-led pieces, with launches conceived as brand moments.
THE ACE isn’t the most accessible RCR-G. It’s probably not the most rational choice either for someone looking only for an efficient gravel race bike at the best price. But the two-wheelset build is smart because it matches real-world use: many cyclists want a fast do-it-all bike, but end up juggling between tyres, wheels and compromises.
Here, Van Rysel builds that switch straight into the package. The bet is fairly simple: make the RCR-G a single bike for two terrains, with a presentation exclusive enough to create desire.
One important unknown remains: the number of units. Without that data, it’s hard to gauge the true level of rarity. But fundamentally, this capsule confirms one thing above all: Van Rysel now wants to invest in image as well, not only in the equipment-to-price ratio.
