When it comes to cycling clothing there is often a big gap between low-cost recreational apparel and form-fitting premium apparel. Decathlon’s Van Rysel lineup of Racer cycling apparel is trying to close that gap by offering breathable and close-fitting pieces at affordable price points. We have two items in their Racer collection here, the Endurance Racer Road Cycling Jersey and the Racer Road Racing Bib Shorts. The Racer Road Jersey retails for $89.99 and has a pro fit with four rear pockets. The jersey is highly breathable with ventilated mesh sides and a low collar for warm weather riding. To finish the kit we have the $99.99 Racer Road Racing Bib Shorts which have an aerodynamic fit and their updated Endurance 2.5 HD Chamois.
The Decathlon Van Rysel Endurance Racer Road Jersey and Racer Road Racing Bib Shorts are a high quality yet affordable cycling kit.
| Retail Price | $89.99 (Endurance Jersey) / $99.99 (Racer Road Bib Shorts) |
| Rating | 9.4 / 10 |
| Likes | + Premium quality and affordable price + Breathable and lightweight construction + Comfortable for short or long rides |
| Dislikes | – Limited color selection – Sizing runs small, make sure to size up compared to US brands |
| Where to Buy (US) | Decathlon (Jersey) / Decathlon (Bibshorts) |
UNBOXING
As a value-oriented company, it’s not surprising that Decathlon skipped fancy packaging with the Van Rysel apparel. We received them in a simple shipping box with tags attached to each item.
ENDURANCE RACER ROAD JERSEY
The Endurance Racer Road Cycling Jersey is part of Van Rysel’s long-distance cycling range of products. This means the jersey is highly breathable, lightweight and has a pro-fit. Decathlon offers the Racer Road jersey in two colors currently: bordeaux and navy blue. We have the bordeaux color in this review which is an attractive dark red color with a premium looking solid color scheme. Branding is limited to Van Rysel on the chest and along the back with reflective stripes to add some additional visibility The jersey is made with a combination of polyester and elastane for breathability and stretchability.
The jersey has a full length front zipper with zipper garages on the top and bottom. As a warm weather jersey, there is a simple short collar. Visually, the jersey has a premium appearance with the solid color scheme and color matched zipper. Each panel on the jersey has a purpose, you have thin side mesh panels and a breathable rear. The sleeves are fairly long with elastic cuffs for a close fit and additional coverage that is typically found on aerodynamic jerseys. On the rear you can see the distinct fabrics that connect at the Raglan sleeves and along the side mesh. There is a vertical Van Rysel logo with the reflective stripe that is also on the bottom edge of the pocket.
In terms of storage you have the standard three equal sized pockets with reinforcements on the top to prevent sagging. A fourth zippered pocket on the right side is ideal for stashing keys, cash or other small valuables. What’s unique about this jersey is the additional open full width pocket on top of the three main pockets. The center of the pocket has a sewn center which splits the opening into two sides. It’s an unusual design that lets you easily store larger items such as wind breakers or larger phones.
RACER ROAD RACING BIB SHORTS
The Racer Road Cycling Bibs are Van Rysel’s top bib shorts and are designed for performance. These are designed for short or long distance riding with compression fit and the latest Endurance 2.5 HD chamois. Decathlon offers these in two color options: black and navy blue. We have the navy blue one in this review which has a dark blue color and slightly shiny fabric finish. Branding is limited to the Van Rysel logos on the straps and the hems. This is designed for breathability so it’s quite light with a polyamide and elastane blend. The bib shorts have an updated design which have longer leg length, improved straps and a mesh backing for breathability.
The bib shorts feature raw cut edges with a compressive fit to keep them in place. These are fairly long compared to traditional bib shorts as well to provide improved aerodynamics and comfort. The Van Rysel logos are ghosted on while the RCR tag sticks out on the side. One of the most important parts of a bib short are the straps. The Racer Road Racing bib shorts have a dual strap design that connects to a mesh panel on the rear. Each strap is wide and flexible to provide a comfortable fit that won’t dig into your shoulders. The rear panel is a mesh material for breathability and is wide to avoid any pressure points or bunching.
Inside the bib shorts you’ll find the new endurance 2.5 HD chamois. This is the latest version of the chamois and has an improved anatomic fit and durability. As with other saddles this has a dual density foam construction with a pressure relief channel down the center. They visually look similar to other chamois on the market with an anatomical design. The bib shorts otherwise have a sleek design with minimal panels and smooth seams between them. Decathlon has also designed the front of the bibshorts to be slightly lower than the rear to prevent bunching while in aerodynamic positions.
ON THE ROAD
Our 6’1” 165lb test rider rode with the size medium jersey and size medium bib shorts. Both items have an aggressive fit that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. In hindsight, we should have sized up to large as the European sizing is tighter than the usual US sizing as we did with the Van Rysel Cycling Tights and RCR LS jersey. While the jersey is close fitting, the elastic material allows it to contour around you and provides full range of motion. Even with the slightly too small bib shorts, they are also comfortable and provide a supportive fit. The combination of the jersey and bib shorts is perfect for warm weather riding as they are both quite breathable. For colder morning rides we added a base layer and thin jacket on top for additional insulation which also worked well.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Decathlon Van Rysel Endurance Racer Road Jersey and Racer Road Racing Bib Shorts to be well designed and priced. With both items being priced under $100, Van Rysel offers similar high performance fit and materials as most premium brands. We were happy to see some color options with the bordeaux jersey and navy bib shorts which both look attractive. Reflective branding on the apparel is subtle and helps you stay visible in low visibility conditions. As with other European cycling clothing, the Van Rysel apparel does run small so we’d recommend sizing up from typical US brands for a more comfortable fit. Even though we forgot to take our own advice on the sizing, both pieces offer excellent breathability and support even for longer rides. If you’re in the market for new cycling apparel and don’t want to overspend then we’d definitely recommend checking out the Van Rysel Racer Road cycling apparel.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Decathlon. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.