Even if you’ve never heard of Van Rysel before, there’s a strong possibility that you’ve seen some of their products in action. Van Rysel is Decathlon’s in-house cycling brand, providing bikes and gear to professional cycling teams.

This year at the Tour de France, French outfit AG2R rode Van Rysels up mountains, through valleys and ripped up tarmac in towns and villages.

Dubbed the WorldTour’s most affordable bikes, the Van Rysel models ridden at the Tour de France are an option for your average weekend warrior, but they still come in at a hefty £10,000.

Back in the real world, Van Rysel has recently released a pair of indoor Zwift Ready smart trainers that are in line with their focus on value.

What Are Zwift Ready Smart Trainers?

Simply put, Zwift Ready smart trainers are designed for Zwift straight out of the box. And what’s more, they feature virtual shifting, a gear changing system that makes shifting easier, quieter, and more straightforward. 

Transitions on Zwift Ready trainers feature the Zwift Cog and Click. The Zwift Cog is a single 14-tooth sprocket that comes fitted on Zwift Ready smart trainers. 

When this cog is paired with the Zwift Click (handlebar mounted, touch-button gear levers), you get seamless electronic gear changes. 

This is a premium feature – no clunkiness or chain drops, no moving greasy cassettes from bike to trainer, just one cog that replaces your entire cassette. 

As well as electronic shifts, the Zwift Cog and Click offers a full range of gear choices. A wide-ranging 24 gears can be chosen – the shifts are silent and you’re always able to find the exact gear for the terrain you’re riding.

The Zwift Click – acting as a controller for the entire game – rewards each gear transition with positive feedback.

Although you won’t feel the shunt of a manual transition or hear the zip of an electronic gear change, the tactile response of the shifters feels just as if you were riding outside.

Zwift Ready trainers are available from all major brands, with lots of variety and choice available.

Van Rysel D100 Review: Affordable Entry-Level Zwift Trainer

Sitting at the budget end of the indoor trainer market, the Van Rysel D100 Zwift Ready costs £279.99 and comes complete with the Zwift Cog and Click.

The D100 with Zwift Cog and Click is compatible with almost any 8 to 13 speed drivetrain, with both quick-release and thru-axle adaptors provided with the trainer.

You’ll struggle to find a modern bike that won’t slot seamlessly onto this product, which weighs a highly portable 10.5kg.

There are arguments that heavier trainers are less prone to moving around under the pressure of bigger watts. But this won’t be an issue with the D100 which we’ll get to later.

The D100 stows easily thanks to its folding design, meaning it can easily be stashed behind a sofa or in the corner of a shed.

It connects via Bluetooth, but doesn’t yet have Wi-Fi capability, which, in turn, helps contribute to the low price.

The D100 is a low-cost smart trainer and has been designed for the casual rider, or those just starting out as a cyclist. It has a maximum power of 600 watts – an output that more serious Zwifters could reach and breach during a sprint – which is the reason why the D100 can weigh so little.

Having capped power means you’ll have a well-planted trainer that won’t move around even when winding up a big effort.

This budget trainer can mimic inclines of up to 6%, which is great for Zwift’s rolling courses.

The Van Rysel D100 will sense changes in gradient and the trainer will adjust its resistance accordingly. Useful for training real-life local loops and developing leg strength as well as cardiovascular performance.

A power accuracy of +/- 5% is standard for a trainer at this price point. It gives recreational riders insight into their current cycling fitness and allows for consistent tracking as they progress.

Overall, this is a very well-specced entry-level indoor trainer for those using Zwift recreationally or just starting out on their cycling journey.

Van Rysel D500 Review: High-Performance Smart Trainer for Serious Zwifters

Positioned at the higher end of the Zwift Ready smart trainer line-up, Van Rysel’s D500 ticks a bunch of boxes for the more serious indoor rider.

The D500 tips the scales at just 13.6kg, which for a trainer of this quality is incredibly low.

As with the D100, the D500 accommodates most modern drivetrains and comes with thru-axle and adapter kits.

Being Zwift Ready also means it comes with the Cog and Click system, which offers those seamless transitions and no messy cassette swaps.

Key Differences Between the Van Rysel D100 and D500

So as well as being a little heavier and a little dearer (the D500 retails at £399), what differences can we expect for our extra cash? 

At the top of the list lies its ±2–2.5% accuracy. This competes with the very best indoor trainer options available.

The D500 is also capable of coping with some very high power numbers. This indoor trainer has scope for 1,500 watts’ worth of power, which is more than many WorldTour pros are able to put out.

The D500 also gets an improved incline range. Fancy climbing Alpe du Zwift – Watopia’s very own mountain? No problem.

The gradients top out at around 14% on Zwift’s version of the famous Alpe d’Huez, and with the D500 able to offer resistance of up to 15%, you’ll be able to follow the contours of this titan to a tee.

Compared: The Van Rysel D100 vs D500

Van Rysel Trainer Model	D100	D500
Price	£279.99	£399
Power Accuracy	±5%	±2–2.5%
Max Power	600W	1,500W
Max Gradient	6%	15%
Weight	10.5kg	13.6kg
Best For	Beginners	More Serious Zwifters

Overall the Van Rysel D500 is a mid-range trainer with a high-end spec-sheet, and is well worth considering for serious Zwifters and cyclists really looking to improve their power this winter.

Looking for more Zwift Ready options? Learn more and browse Zwift Ready smart trainer models.