Brand unveils three direct-drive models with competitive claimed accuracy and maximum power

By Jack Evans

Published: Thursday, 11 January 2024 at 11:00 AM

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Van Rysel has entered the smart trainer market, unveiling three direct-drive models ranging from entry-level to mid-tier. 

The range starts with the Interactive Turbo Trainer D100, which is priced at £239.99 / €250. This makes it one of the cheapest direct-drive smart trainers available.

The top-tier D900 is also competitively priced at £549.99 / €600.

Following the return of Decathlon to the WorldTour, the news signals its in-house brand’s ambition to enhance its appeal to performance-oriented cyclists. 

Decathlon has long sold indoor cycling accessories and Van Rysel-branded turbo trainers, but not smart trainers until now.

The smart trainers are currently unavailable in the US. 

Van Rysel smart trainer range overview 

Van Rysel Interactive Turbo Trainer D100 

At £239.99 / €250, the entry-level D100 costs slightly less than the Wahoo Kickr Snap (£299.99 / $300) – a wheel-on smart trainer

Wahoo’s cheapest smart trainer has much higher maximum power and simulated gradient of 1,500 watts and 12 per cent respectively, though. 

The D100 has Bluetooth connectivity but not ANT＋, like the Kickr Snap. This means it won’t be able to connect simultaneously to a bike computer and indoor cycling app.

Its claimed power accuracy of ＋/- 5 per cent isn’t competitive with the best direct-drive smart trainers or power meters, but is more typical of wheel-on smart trainers at this price point.

The Tacx Flow Smart is claimed to be accurate to ＋/- 5 per cent, for example, while the Wahoo Kickr Snap is claimed to be accurate to ＋/- 3 per cent.

The primary draw for many will be the possibility of getting a direct-drive trainer at an extremely competitive price, however.

Typically, direct-drive smart trainers offer a more realistic ride experience, because the bike is mounted directly to the trainer (meaning there’s no chance of tyre slip, as with wheel-on trainers) and they usually have larger flywheels, which offer a greater degree of inertia.

Van Rysel Interactive Turbo Trainer D500

At £449.99 / €450, the Van Rysel Interactive Turbo Trainer D500 is similarly priced to the Zwift Hub, but does not come with a cassette. 

On paper, the spec is slightly less impressive than Zwift’s first smart trainer. 

Van Rysel claims the D900 simulates gradients of up to 12 per cent and its maximum power is 1,500 watts, versus the Zwift Hub’s 16 per cent and 1,800 watts. 

Claimed power accuracy is competitive at ＋/- 2 per cent, though – 0.5 per cent better than on the Zwift Hub. 

According to the brand, it’s “completely silent” while in use (though, naturally, riders will still have to contend with drivetrain noise while pedalling).

Van Rysel says the 4.7kg flywheel ensures a smooth and realistic ride feel. This is the same as on the Zwift Hub.

The D500 is supplied with a front-wheel riser block for added stability. 

Van Rysel Interactive Turbo Trainer D900

The D900 is Van Rysel’s premium model, but still costs less than half as much as some of the best smart trainers. We have one in to review, so we’ll report back on how it stacks up against the rest of the market. 

It ups maximum power to 2,000 watts, measures power to a claimed ＋/- 2 per cent accuracy and can simulate gradients of up to 20 per cent. 

These claimed figures are the same as the highly rated Saris H3 for £200 less. 

At 9.1kg, the H3’s flywheel is nearly double the weight of the D900’s (5.2kg), however.

Like the D500, Van Rysel says the D900 is silent and comes with a front-wheel riser block. A cassette is not included.

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