Zwift’s latest update includes three new bike frames from Van Rysel. Today, we’re digging into the in-game performance of the RCR-F, Van Rysel’s aero racing frame:
On Zwift, you’ll need to be updated to game version 1.113+ to see this bike in the Drop Shop. You’ll also need to be at level 35+ with 1,500,000 Drops to buy it. Here’s how it’s described in the Drop Shop:
“Built to beat the wind. Developed in the wind tunnel with SwissSide and proven in the pro peloton, the RCR-F pairs deep aero shaping with high stiffness for maximum power transfer. It thrives at speed on rolling terrain – the harder you push, the more it gives back.”
See our master list of all frames in Zwift >
It’s rated 3 stars for aero and 3 stars for weight, like many race bikes on Zwift. But how does it actually perform? Since Zwift’s 4-star system isn’t the most granular of performance measurements, we ran this frame through our precise tests to measure performance at nerd-level detail. Let’s dive in!
Note: test results below are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using Zwift’s stock gravel wheelset on the un-upgraded version of the frame.
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
The RCR-F turns in a strong aero performance, which makes sense given that its “pure aero” pedigree includes development in Swiss Side’s wind tunnel.
The frame’s time puts it 60.7 seconds ahead of our baseline frame across an hour of riding, which means it’s only <3 seconds away from the fastest road frames in Zwift after an hour.
Climb Performance
The stiffness and deep aero shapes that give the RCR-F an advantage on the flats also add weight, unfortunately.
The frame’s climb test time puts it 40.7 seconds ahead of the baseline frame after an hour, but that’s ~17 seconds slower than the best climbers in game (frames like the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8, Specialized Aethos S-Works, and Cannondale SuperSix Evo LAB71).
Upgrading Your Van Ryself RCR-F
Like all frames in Zwift, the RCR-F can be upgraded in five stages. It uses the Distance, High-End upgrading scheme, giving it the following characteristics:
Performance At Each Upgrade Stage
This chart shows how many seconds this frame will save across 1 hour of riding compared to our stage 0 baseline frames (Zwift Carbon or TT). This is based on a 75kg rider, 183cm tall, at 300 watts, riding on tarmac.
Upgrade Stages (Distance, High-End)
- 200km: Aero Upgrade for 100k Drops
- 260km: Weight Upgrade for 200k Drops
- 320km: Drivetrain Upgrade for 350k Drops
- 380km: Aero Upgrade for 500k Drops
- 440km: Weight Upgrade for 750k Drops
Conclusions
The Van Rysel RCR-F earns a 97.6/100 aero rating in our ZIMetrics, indicating it’s near the top of the heap on flat roads. This isn’t surprising for an aero-optimized bike, of course! But it only earns a 65.7/100 climb rating, meaning it’s a bit heavy and not ideal for races that include significant climbs.
We’ll be adding this bike to the following posts soon:
- Zwift Shopping Guide: What To Buy from the Drop Shop at Each Level (added)
- Zwift Speed Tests: Frame Ranking Charts
- A Complete List of Zwift Bike Frames (added)
Questions or comments?
What do you think of Van Rysel’s new RCR-F in Zwift? Share below…
Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike's performance relative to others may also change. We don't always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.
