Zwift’s latest update includes three new bike frames from Van Rysel. We’ve already covered the RCR-F frame, so now let’s dig into the in-game performance of the RCR Pro, Van Rysel’s aero all-arounder 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 21+ with 1,400,000 Drops to buy it. Here’s how it’s described in the Drop Shop:
“Developed in collaboration with the French Office National d’Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA), the RCR makes no compromises. It is designed for a single purpose: to win. Give it WATTS, and it’ll take you to the next level.”
See our master list of all frames in Zwift >
It’s rated 3 stars for aero and 4 stars for weight, like the top road racing 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 32mm Carbon wheelset on the un-upgraded version of the frame, unless otherwise noted.
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
The RCR Pro turns in a solid aero performance, but trades a bit of Van Rysel RCR-F‘s aero capabilities for improved climbing.
The frame’s time puts it 58.7 seconds ahead of our baseline frame across an hour of riding, which means it’s 2 seconds behind the new RCR-F and <5 seconds away from the fastest road frames in Zwift after an hour.
Climb Performance
The RCR Pro is Van Rysel’s “aero all arounder” race bike, and that shows in game, as it handily outclimbs the RCR-F!
While it’s a strong climber, it’s not a top climber. The frame’s climb test time puts it 49.4 seconds ahead of the baseline frame after an hour, which is ~8 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 Pro
Like all frames in Zwift, the RCR Pro can be upgraded in five stages. It uses the Distance, Mid-Range 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, Mid-Range)
- 160km: Aero Upgrade for 50k Drops
- 200km: Weight Upgrade for 100k Drops
- 240km: Drivetrain Upgrade for 150k Drops
- 280km: Aero Upgrade for 200k Drops
- 320km: 5% Drops Earning Upgrade for 250k Drops
Conclusions
The Van Rysel RCR Pro earns a 95.7/100 aero rating in our ZIMetrics, so it’s fast, but not quite as fast as the new Van Rysel RCR-F, on flat roads. It beats the RCR-F on climbs, however, earning a 74.4/100 climb rating (vs the RCR-F’s 65.7). Solid numbers, but not good enough for this frame to break into the list of top all-arounders.
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 Pro 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.
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