Illegal concept bike: FTP² from Van Rysel to inspire further developments

Now that's what you call a coup! At the start of Velofollies in Kortrjik, Belgium (16 to 18 January), Van Rysel's stand attracted a lot of attention with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. After all, the high-end brand of sporting goods giant Decathlon presented the so-called FTP², a concept bike that leaves the beaten track and redefines "the limits of speed, aerodynamics and integrated performance". Frame design, integration or components - it's hard to know where to look first with this vision of the future on two tyres.

>> FTP & Co.: The most important key figures in cycling

>> Science: Pogačar delivers just under 7 watts/kilogramme

>> The Van Rysel RCR-F in the TOUR test

>> Market launch for the Factor One

>> Baldiso One: The bike without seat tube on test

>> 3D saddle: trend towards custom models

The starting point for what Van Rysel describes as its "most complex project to date" was to develop a racing machine that gives ambitious amateur athletes the feeling of speed of a professional racer. By focussing extremely on aerodynamics and system integration paired with a powerful engine, the concept bike should be able to double the performance of an amateur rider. This also explains the acronym for the model name: The abbreviation FTP, known from training science, stands for Function Threshold Power and defines the maximum performance of an endurance athlete over one hour.

According to Van Rysel, a trained amateur rider with an FTP value of 3.5 watts/kg should be able to reach the level of the absolute top stars à la Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) with the concept bike. Calculations by a Norwegian university recently revealed that the functional threshold power of the four-time Tour champion is around 6.7 watts/kilogramme.

Van Rysel FTP²: The most important facts

• Material frame set: Carbon
• Weight of complete wheel: not specified
• Motor: Mahle M40 (850 watts, 105 newton metres)
• Drive/gear shift: SRAM Red AXS | Practice
• Impellers: Swiss Side Hadron³ 850
• Cockpit: Van Rysel (incl. integrated buttons for gearstick & Co.)
• Saddle: Fizik Argo Vento 00 Adaptive

The centrepiece is the frame set in a brilliant aero design. According to project manager Wim Van Hoecke, the limits of what is permitted, as stipulated by the UCI, were deliberately abandoned and redefined. What stands out most is a component that is simply missing: like the Baldiso One the Van Rysel FTP² also manages without a seat tube. As a result, the top tube acts like a lever arm that is suspended from the exorbitantly flat head tube. The seat post is held at the free end in a voluminous thickening. The fork, also in XXL dimensions, is defined by widely flared fork blades. The design is reminiscent of the track bike of the British national team from Hope and Lotus. Similarities to the new Factor One, which unlike the Van Rysel is based on a UCI-compliant chassis, can also be recognised at the front.

Mahle M40: Mid-engine with steam

The down tube with its clear aero signature carries an integrated mid-motor from Mahle. According to one of the best-known manufacturers of e-bike systems, a modified version of the M40 is located inside the frame. Mahle did not disclose the exact performance data of the motor in the FTP². The compact power cube is equipped with a peak output of 850 watts as standard. The M40 therefore has more vapour than comparable bestsellers from Bosch or Shimano, but it does not quite come close to the powerful 1000 watts from DJI. The M40 is said to weigh around 2.6 kilograms.

It is not known how much the concept bike weighs in total. The aerodynamic performance was also not specified in advance in the press release. All that is known is that Swiss Side, one of the leading companies in the development of fast complete bikes and wheels, was involved. Consequently, the Hadron³ 850 fork and frame also feature the highest aero wheels currently available from the Swiss company. The streamlined Continental Aero 111, the result of a collaboration between Swiss Side, DT Swiss and the Korbach-based tyre manufacturer, is also fitted at the front.

Switching like on the console

While the wheels and tyres, just like the drivetrain (SRAM Red AXS) and 3D saddle (Fizik Argo), have arrived in the present and are already fitted to production bikes, the futuristic handlebar/stem unit offers a glimpse of a possible future in the road bike sector. After all, the in-house developed control centre resembles a gaming controller with integrated buttons for gear changes and motor control. Indoor riders will probably find the arrangement of the buttons reminiscent of the controls on the Zwift Play for roller training. The brake system is based on the Aero version from SRAM.

As if the visionary complete bike didn't attract enough attention, Van Rysel also provided the FTP² with specially developed high-tech accessories in the form of shoes, helmet and race kit. The shoes are the undisputed highlight, as they completely dispense with a fastening and click system. Van Rysel remains somewhat vague as to how the aerodynamically optimised shoe construction can be "laced". Apparently, however, this should also be possible via wireless control from the cockpit. A small AXS battery is located on the heel cap, which SRAM otherwise uses on the front derailleur or rear derailleur. The "boots" are connected directly to the FTP² via an integrated pedal axle.

Mobile, but not for sale

And what does such a potentially groundbreaking bike from the future cost? Nothing! Because, as Van Rysel emphasises several times, the concept bike from Velofollies will live up to its significance and will not go on sale. Nevertheless, the Decathlon brand emphasises that the bike is rideable despite its daring design.