Van Rysel unveiled a concept bike and several other tron like pieces of kit at the Velofollies trade show. The bike itself is actually an ebike powered by a custom Mahle E motor without the typical speed restrictions. The motor is meant to double the FTP of the rider and allow anyone to ride at the same speed as the pros, and even faster. Of course, this bike forgoes the UCI rules completely and changes things like the bike’s cockpit. Moving away from a traditional drop bar, the FTP^2 opts for an F1-style bullhorn bar steering setup with all the controls at your fingertips, which you’ll need to control your—shoes.
The shoes use tiny motors to automatically tighten around your foot. You can manage the adjustment with the option to switch between sprint and comfort modes from the handlebars. All of this is powered by a SRAM AXS battery neatly tucked into the back of the shoe for aerodynamic efficiency. Designed for maximum engagement, the shoes connect directly to the cranks and do away with pedals entirely. Just hope your track-standing skills don’t fail you if you run out of battery while on a ride.
One of the more realistic pieces of kit in this concept package is the helmet. It’s actually more of an outer shell that clips onto the brand’s RCR-R road helmet, transforming it into a TT-style lid. Developed in collaboration with Swiss Side, when attached, it improves the aerodynamics of the rider as well as their visibility through an integrated rear light that fits within the space in the tail end of the helmet.
Finally, the speedsuit completes the package, adding a degree of safety to this kit that remains WorldTour-level. The outer material of the suit is the same as that used by the Decathlon CMA CGM Team, but the inner material is what adds the protection. Designed with Jonathan & Fletcher workshops, the base layer integrates motorcycle-standard protective padding and anti-abrasion materials. With the peloton’s push toward safety, this tech could have broad applications for pro riders in the near future.
While none of this is available for the public to buy, maybe some of the technology could hit the market sooner than we think.