Van Rysel FTP² – the most advanced concept bike ever, and a huge statement of intent

Futuristic project unveiled at Velofollies "highlighting what’s possible and inspiring future innovation in the bicycle industry"

Photos: Van Rysel Words: Simon Smythe

Van Rysel has unveiled what might be the most futuristic concept bike ever seen, and certainly the biggest flex so far by the French brand that is fast becoming one of the leading forces in cycling innovation.

The FTP², on display at the VeloFollies bike show, is so called because it is said to double (not square, despite the superscript) its rider’s functional threshold power via a specifically developed, high-powered Mahle M40 e-bike motor combined with a fully integrated aero ecosystem that consists of bike, cockpit, helmet, clothing and one-piece shoe-pedals. Or, alternatively, it might stand for 'Flanders Turbo Project' depending on which press release you read.

The meaning of the model name is inconsequential, because it's not available to the general public, it’s not designed to be ridden on public roads and it is free from the constraints of current industry standards. Van Rysel says it is “a radical concept bike designed to push the boundaries of speed, aerodynamics, and integrated performance, highlighting what’s possible and inspiring future innovation in the bicycle industry.”

It’s also designed to showcase what the French brand, owned by the sports giant Decathlon, is capable of. Van Rysel says this is the most complex project ever carried out by its team and claims that it places it “at the forefront of research, design and innovation”. Let’s take a closer look at what’s involved.

According to Van Rysel, the FTP² concept bike was designed and developed over several years in collaboration with key partners such as Swiss Side, with whom it worked to aerodynamically optimise its pro-level RCR bikes for the Decathlon WorldTour team. The custom Mahle M40 e-bike motor is, it says, the most powerful Mahle engine kit available, equipped with software that not only assists the rider but multiplies the input effort by up to four, transforming them into a “superhuman engine”. There are no details about achievable speeds – these presumably are unlimited depending on the strength of the rider.

In order to make high speeds achievable and realistic, Van Rysel says the aerodynamics become the absolute guarantee of safety. The bike uses NACA profiles to smooth airflow, and integration is total: the battery and motor are completely concealed. The frame, the head tube, and the unique two-part fork were entirely designed internally and produced directly from the factory moulds.

The claimed weight is 15kg, which is perhaps not as light as you might hope or expect, but clearly aerodynamics are the priority here.

The cockpit is neither drops not tri-bars but instead reinvents the bullhorn bars of 1980s TT bikes in order to “centralise the machine's piloting for flawless ergonomics”. The rider controls gears, assistance modes, and even the micrometric tightening of shoes directly from the handlebar, which Van Rysel says is a world premiere (who would argue with that?). The configuration ensures the rider never needs to let go of the bars.

The FTP² shoe is one of the most innovative elements of the entire project. In Van Rysel’s words: “As the centerpiece of the panoply, it breaks free from UCI rules to explore new performance potential where the shoe, pedal, and tightening system merge into a single technological block. The goal is simple: eliminate all parasitic interfaces for absolute efficiency.”

The shoe itself acts as the pedal by integrating the pedal axle directly inside the shoe – the pedal axle is fixed directly to the carbon sole. Van Rysel also conducted a dedicated aerodynamic study using the F1 FlowViz method which showed that airflow is disrupted as early as the metatarsals and does not propagate linearly toward the heel. So the shoe/pedal includes a “lateral appendage” with a large air intake and a small air outlet, incorporating fins, which reattaches the airflow from the metatarsals to the rear of the shoe, creating a more linear airflow for improved aerodynamic performance. Meanwhile the upper sock section uses the same fabric as aerodynamic overshoes – it’s a shoe with an integrated overshoe.

The shoe is tightened and loosened directly from the bike’s handlebar via a geared motor and a spool. Information is transmitted by radio from the handlebar (one antenna on the handlebar and one under the shoe’s heel). Van Rysel says this allows the rider not only to stay focused on bike handling without manually adjusting a Boa dial, but also allows a racer to discreetly tighten the shoe without signalling to competitors that a sprint is imminent.

There's a SRAM battery integrated at the rear, with energy only consumed during tightening/loosening. There’s no mention of a system release in case of a crash or even to clip in and out – but concept bikes don't always trouble themselves with irksome practicalities. The complete shoe/pedal system weighs a claimed 500g.

The FTP² helmet uses a standard Van Rysel RCR-R road helmet as a chassis with a prototype outer carbon shell over the top, again designed with Swiss Side, which clips on via the project’s X-Clip Concept. This, according to the brand, maintains the safety and comfort of a homologated, ventilated helmet while providing the air penetration performance of a record-breaking prototype. There’s an integrated LED light at the rear that Van Rysel says will become a safety standard for its future road helmets. It says the assembly relies on a hollowed-out structural interface (3D printing) that minimises overall weight.

All in all, it's an undeniably impressive showcasing of what Van Rysel can do, a shot across the bows for the perhaps more established cycle industry: this is the future according to Van Rysel and its competitors had better be ready for it.