Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex Review: Beyond The Run

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex

TAYLOR: I hate to get dark from the start, but not running simply sucks. That’s my current reality. I’m writing about a freakin’ bike for Pete’s sake!

It’s not the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be my last stay in IPOS City, but I’ve actually fared better this time around. A large part of the equation has been a change of focus from one form of bipedal travel to another.

While I’m never going to give the illusion that it fills the void, I’ve actually appreciated this vacation from running more than I thought possible because of my focus on that aforementioned “freakin’ bike.”

I also hate to blow the surprise, but the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex has been saving me lately. I do like biking, but I like running wayyyy more. There’s no real comparison, and perhaps that’s a good thing?

Typically, I would saddle up my ol’ reliable Surly Crosschek to get me through this bought of injury. Some call it the OG gravel bike — a trusty steed, no doubt, but it feels dated and quirky like a 20-year-old bike would. While it has worked for my purposes, it’s not a particularly “fun” experience. I am also not 100% confident in riding it too far away from the homestead.

That’s where the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex had the chance to shine.

Just from specs, I knew that this bike would be a noticeable upgrade in terms of modern components. So, for this review, because I am not a bike expert by any means, I wanted to know if an upgrade like this would actually get me out the door consistently.

While I can’t speak to value for everyone’s financial situation, know that for review purposes, the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex falls into the mid-range category in terms of price and quality (low = less than $750, mid = between $750 and $3500, high = greater than $3500).

Here was my review criteria:

1. Did the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex provide a noticeably enhanced riding experience (compared to my current bike)?
2. Does the experience grow my motivation for utilizing cycling for training purposes?
3. When not injured, would I continue to ride this particular setup and integrate it into my training?

At the end of the day, if my experience is good enough, it will motivate me to ride more often, and, thus, make the next tier price tag more worth it. I’ll answer these questions, but let’s see how I’ve used this bike so far.

The Benefits of Biking for Runners

TAYLOR: In an ideal scenario, even if injuries didn’t plague me, cycling (or other lower-intensity cross-training activities) could make its way into my training structures consistently. As a coach, I know doing so can have a bunch of benefits, even if it’s just on a single day of the week or every so often. For my testing purposes, I tried a few different ways to work the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex into my training.

One of the simplest ways was to implement cycling as active recovery. A benefit was still being able to have some aerobic stimulus with much less musculoskeletal impact. In my case, this was absolutely needed. So, I swapped runs for bike rides on occasion – especially on those back-to-back longer efforts as I led up to the Leadville 100. Initially, it helped me add a buffer between running sessions.

Then, I was more mindful about which sessions I called on the bike. Long runs and workouts were easy candidates for either adding in some biking or trading them out altogether.

I would often ride my bike to and from a trailhead and run a shorter route. A 15 to 20-minute ride was a great way to warm up and cool down the body, anyway. So, I would use that as a simple way to lengthen my activities. I typically structure training by time and perceived effort. With that in mind, building training was still a simple equation: 20-minute bike + 50-minute run + 20-minute bike = 90 minutes of activity.

During more focused, high-intensity training blocks, I liked being able to add another highly aerobic session without putting a lot more stress on my body. Again, this can be applied whether you’re managing an injury or not.

My favorite part about adding cycling more consistently into my routine was the adventure aspect. It has broadened my reach as an endurance athlete. An hour of running isn’t going to cover as much ground as running. So, I was able to explore many gravel and forest service roads that I don’t typically get the chance to.

All of these notes are really just building a case for adding cycling, either consistently or from time to time, for runners. It really does hold some benefits if you’re willing to branch out.

Setting up the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex

TAYLOR: That’s the thing… I don’t often want to branch out. I just want to run! However, doing so was a much easier choice, having the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex to saddle up.

Firstly, it was extremely easy to set up. All components were set when I received the bike. I simply needed to throw on the front tire, lock it, and be ready to ride — oh, and screw in the pedals (pedal wrench included).

I weigh in at about 170-175 lbs, am 5’10” (and three-quarters, don’t forget it), and Van Rysel sent me their Large bike size. Based on my body measurements, I could have gone with a Medium as well. I was comfortable on the Large for most rides, but it did feel a little long when I rode for multiple hours.

In full disclosure, I chose to add a few accessories from my other bike that were not in the box. I traded out the standard pedal for a hybrid one that could accept cycling cleats or a shoe when I chose to commute to trailheads by bike. I also added my own bottle cages. I added a few other accessories, mostly a bike light and saddle bag.

The most exciting addition was that Coros sent the affordable yet incredible Dura Solar GPS computer so that I could have all of my cycling information. Let’s be honest, having my activity information directly in front of me on the handlebars (including offline maps) was a much safer option as opposed to lifting my hand off the handlebars to scroll through what I wanted to see.

What’s it like to ride the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex?

TAYLOR: I did get a couple of rides prior to adding my personal touches. One of the sensations I noticed was a smooth, efficient ride once I reached the first climb… which was about 80 feet out of my driveway.

An aluminum frame, aluminum wheels, and a carbon fiber fork made for a noticeable difference, especially off pavement. These are fairly typical upgrades for this tier of bicycle. Even though the setup was fairly similar in weight to my base-level bike, it felt more agile.

Another benefit was that the main body of upgrades created a slightly more durable, more comfortable ride. Bumps and maneuvering weren’t as much of a jarring experience. This was much appreciated the further I went, and the rougher the terrain became.

It was apparent that Van Rysel employed high-quality materials in these areas, which came together seamlessly and enhanced performance.

Quality components make a huge difference

TAYLOR: That’s not what made the biggest difference, though. It was the smaller components. While I was initially critical about a singular ring on the front derailer, it became clear that I had never experienced such a thing before. It was absolutely the setup that I needed for rolling gravel rides. The SRAM Apex 1×12 allowed for incremental changes to hone in on an optimal gear. Uphills, even on steep ascents, became more of a game than before. Finding the most efficient gear was fun because there were so many to play with.

There was one ride in particular, a 37-miler on Rocky Mountain National Park’s Old Fall River road (proclaimed as one of the best gravel rides in North America), that I realized how significant this was. Not only did I have plenty of gears to get to the top of the large climb, but I was also outperforming bikes that were double and triple the price of the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex simply because of the gear set.

Really, the only issue I had was that 25mph was where I consistently started losing friction on my biggest. It almost felt like a governor on some downhills and longer flat segments, but the uphill payoff was very much worth it.

I also had some issues with my chain popping off at that tipping point of friction. Otherwise, my gears shifted flawlessly.

Disc brakes are another standard upgrade from this tier of bike. Their effectiveness and ease of use were impeccable, helping me maintain control no matter the surface. There were many times when I was, perhaps, going a little faster than I should have on some backroads and needed those brakes to come in clutch when a pothole surprised me.

Tubeless-ready tires are one of those modern upgrades that really make a difference. They are not typically included in this bike tier, but the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex is an exception. They allow for much lower pressure (which improves control) and can help minimize flat tires for riders. There were some sandier areas and singletrack where I could ride comfortably at 28psi, or I could pump them to 50psi and slam pavement.

Be mindful that you do need to set them up if you want to use this option.

Another perk of the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex is its mounting capabilities up the wazoo for bikepacking adventures. This is rare on a bike at this price point. This would be a great option for an entry-level bikepacking bike.

You can ride the Van Rysel AF 2 Apex indoors, too

TAYLOR: It is my full realization that most of the country is either under a white blanket or has temps too dang chilly to even want to ride a bike outdoors. There’s a tool for that!

As my injuries have persisted far longer than I expected, I appreciate the addition of the Zwift x Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer with Cog and Click. The basics are, if you already have a bike (whether it’s the GRVL AF 2 Apex, or not) this is an easy to use system to keep riding going as long as you want indoors.

If you’re not familiar with Zwift, it is a program that gamifies biking and running in a virtual environment with folks all around the world. Not gonna lie, I enjoyed the interface and extra incentives involved with such a game, like built-in workouts, character customization, new courses, and the ability to feel at home on my own bike — enough so that I would definitely choose the D100 Smart Trainer over the more expensive, completely integrated Zwift system or a gym membership.

The trainer was all-inclusive with the Cog and Click systems (which can be bought separately and integrated with your own trainer, too). In these cases, where all of this stuff was new to me, I appreciated the compact design, simple assembly, and an easy-to-use system that got me moving. If you’re at all looking for an indoor trainer to keep you sane throughout the colder months, I think the Zwift x Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer with Cog and Click was a very worthwhile addition.

Pro Tip: If you work from home, set the Zwift x Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer with Cog and Click up under your desk. The ability to knock out endurance miles while checking off tasks has been a game-changer for me in regaining fitness and maintaining focus.

Final thoughts on the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex

TAYLOR: So, after that rundown, let’s swing back to the initial criteria.

Did the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex provide a noticeably enhanced riding experience (compared to my current bike)?

Survey says? Yes. While we know very well in running, a price tag doesn’t always mean something in terms of performance. In this case, it did. While the largest ingredients certainly provided a marginal improvement, it was the smaller components like the SRAM Apex 1×12 gears, disc brakes, and tubeless gravel tires that really made the biggest differences.

Does the experience increase my motivation to use cycling for training?

Totally. The Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex was simply fun to ride. So, that’s one part of the equation taken care of. It was also extremely versatile, so I felt comfortable roaming far and wide with the bike. My favorite was to mix it into my training as a warm-up via active commute to and from trails, or simply use it as a supplementary tool to support my running.

When not injured, would I continue to ride this particular setup and integrate it into my training?

Again, yes! I’m sure I could tell another hike in performance if I were to try a bike from the higher range of options, however, as a runner, I don’t neeeeed nor do I necessarily want that. The Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex really satisfied my needs enough to get very creative with integrating cycling into my weekly endurance training.

Did adding the Zwift x Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer with Cog and Click further promote riding?

Absolutely. Not only was it a fun way to keep improving my fitness, but it also gave me no excuse not to. For the extra few hundred bucks and $19.99 per month membership, it is definitely a means of endurance training that I would far prefer to going to a gym.

Even though I wouldn’t consider myself a cyclist, I come away from this review feeling much more motivated and confident in my cycling. The versatility and quality of the Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex ensured that for me.

You can pick up the VAN RYSEL GRVL AF 2 APEX now for $1,999.99 at Van Rysel’s website by using the shop link below. Additionally, check out the Zwift x Van Rysel D100 Smart Trainer with Cog and Click for $299.99.