lsberrios1 

Hello guys and gals,

As of last Friday I've been waiting for my S Works Venge to arrive at the LBS. I have to say I am very very anxious to see how my dream bike will ride once it is setup. It will be a "custom" build to what I thought was good for me. I will use it for racing this year and to crush local club rides .


The bike goes as follows:
* 2014 S Works Venge Silver, black and red Frame
* 2014 Shimano Dura Ace 9000 Complete Group 52-36 / 11-28
* S Works Aerofly handlebars
* Zipp 404 FC Clinchers
* Powertap G3 hub
* Specialized Romin Pro Saddle 155mm
* Stem: waiting for fit
* Bar tape: ???
* Tyres: Michellin Pro4 Service Course
* Brake pads: ???

The total build will hopefully come at around 15#s or maybe less and will be one heck of a fast bike!

I've been reading about the Venge in previous posts by BF members and most discussions tend to favor other bikes over they Venge but I have my heart setup for it. Please feel free to point out the things you like, dislike, what would you do different, what would you change, how does it compare to other bikes you've owned etc.

Now that people have been riding the frame for a while I'd like to see more up to date opinions.

Thanks,
and happy 2014!
Luis

lsberrios1 

Wow! seems like I am the only Venge owner in BF! Speaks volume of how the bike is doing... . I guess what would happen if I were to open up the discussion for the Tarmac as well.

thechemist

Solid build!
Tarmac guy here but have several teammates on Venge and have nothing but great things to say about both.
You racing Fouche Gap I think early April?

lsberrios1 

Not sure yet. As my first official season I am letting the coach pick and chose my battles. For now seems like I'll be doing some races up in NC / SC in February hopefully gaining tons of experience for the races to follow during the summer.

Thanks for the piece of mind about the bike . I believe it will be a solid bike for me. I am not too light @ 165-70# on what I consider race weight and enjoy a good power drill!

ttusomeone

So because no one responded to you after an hour and a half you think it speaks volumes on how the bike is doing? You've already ordered the bike and know what components you're going with. I imagine no one with a Venge has responded because there really isn't much value that can be added to what you posted. Ride your bike for a few weeks and then post specific questions you have with it based on your experience and I bet you'll get some responses.

As far as bar tape, I've been using the Lizard Skins DSP 2.5mm tape and have been very happy with it.

Smokehouse

I love the Venge but landed up with the Tarmac...

BUT...I have used a Romin all season. While I loved the saddle...The nose was not very comfortable/too wide and it's pretty damn hard. I landed up going to a Romin EVO Pro and found it to m much more comfortable. The padding is softer (not gel soft BTW), the nose it smaller and more turned down. It puts nearly all of the pressure on the sit bones (85-90% sit bones/10-15% crotch) vs the 65-70% sit bones/30-35% crotch the Romin does. It also has more rounded sides and put less pressure on the thighs as well. So far, I like the EVO much better.

lsberrios1 

I guess I am just growing a little anxious. Usually topics like this tend to fill up quickly. The thread is literally open for any opinions on the Venge and about anything related to it. It can be bad or good.

I'll take a look at the lizard skins. I have Fizik Microtex on my '88 panasonic and double tape on my roubaix. Like the double tape on the roubaix but probably overkill for the aero-road bars. I was wondering if I should wrap them all the way or only cover the hoods so I can leave the nice wing carbon weave exposed. It looks really cool and it says S-Works

bigfred 

Luis,

I don't own a Venge. But, I ride with a few guys who do. For each and every one of them the Venge is a second or third bike. None that I can think of use it as their primary training bike. All of them have some other frame set up in a more comfortable position for training and the Venge has been fit for maximum aerodynamic benefit while racing. Which means for a bunch of old guys like us, a position that they wouldn't want to maintain day in / day out. That said the Venge does have a reasonably tall stack dimension considering its intended purpose and probably could be set up reasonably comfortably for your average "fit" rider/racer.

The Venge has a purpose. To minimize drag when speeds are in excess of 40kph. That's meaningless while training. And even when racing is of minimal concern until one is either sprinting for a win or attempting to ride away from the field at the front. So, for the vast majority of us. Meh.

You're going to have a really nice bike. The components are top notch. I'm a little confused about you're adopting the Powertap hub when you already have a power crank. Would the crank not fit on the Venge? Or, was it the BMC that it wouldn't fit on? Are you keeping the Roubaix for training, base miles, etc.? In which case keeping the crank on it makes perfect sense.

lsberrios1 

This was one of my concerns when ordering the Romin. I have a Toupe expert and a romin evo comp w/ gel. I have to ray I like the Romin Evo much better for comfort. It is the gel version which I dont really care for and could do without (gel). however seeing how the venge will be setup differently and I ride the toupe on my relaxed geometry roubaix I thought the romin, with it's sleek design and rounder edges, would be better for the aero tuck. My only concern being the larger nose. I've lost so much weight on my legs that I don't think it will be much of a problem. I'm sure they can change it for me if it does not work.

bigfred 

Don't you dare wrap the tops of your "aerobars" on your "aerobike" :-)

lsberrios1 

Totally understand what you are saying. Now I am even considering switching cassettes like we discussed before. I thought I was going to find myself using the Venge often but it seems like it is left for the weekend race and hammerfest club riding. The reason I put the powertap is because I still have the Roubaix which I will ride for training / rainy rides and trainer rides so being able to switch tires and still having power works for me.

The Venge will never see rain (hopefully) and will be the racer in the house. However I am planning to use it for a few centuries too, so that is where the 11-28 idea comes from. The six gap century here in GA is pretty brutal and climbing gear is pretty much an obligation.

Long Tom

A Century in an aero tuck.... yowsa!

Post pics when you get it!

Smokehouse

I tend to spend quite a bit of time in the drops...which rolls my hips causing the larger nose of the Romin to stck me a bit, caused a bit of numbness (in the crotch) and I could feel the "wings" of the saddle on my thighs (Like the Toupe I used to have). I love the rolled up end compared to the Toupe though...in the drops or climbing a hill I love the "seated" feeling I get when I dig in. (as a reference, I'm 5'11" 170lbs)

The EVO removed some of the crotch pressure when in the drops and the wings are more rolled...so far it seems MUCH better (although I've only had it for a week now...only time will tell 100%)

Funny enough...I switched from a 11-28 to a 12-30. I won't cross chain a 36/11, I don't have the ass to try a 52/11 flat run nor the balls for high speed downhills in that combo either.

NOW...36/28 I do use for super tough climbs for spinning. I figured giving up the 11 to get that 30 was worth it. 12 is good enough for downhills and I still won't find myself riding 52/12 in the flats.

lsberrios1 

Will do!

I hope there is no issue with the saddle. If there is I hope they can just switch saddles even after special ordering that one for me. I could probably get a romin evo pro if the regular romin does not work. As for the gearing, time will tell if I need to go closer ratios.

In other news... my bike is already here in the LBS. The group is on it's way from NJ and will be here tomorrow BUT there is an issue with the wheels. They just called me to tell me that the zipps need to be ordered from powertap directly since they just found out that zipp does not lace them to pt anymore from factory. So now I am open again for wheels... They will take about 7 to 10 business days (bummer) to get here.

So quick! Should I make any changes to the order?

This is the background.

The Zipp 404s that come with the powertap are from wheelbuilder.com and they are not original zipps but rather 2013 zipp hoops laced with Sapim CX Spokes to a G3. Their weight is 1715g total (on the heavy side)

On the other corner I have ENVE Smart SES 6.7 or 3.4. They use DT Aerolites and weigh 1722g for 6.7 and 1596g for 3.4...

Which ones would you chose? Anything else that might be worth considering? This is like a second chance to chose the correct set of wheels.

jsigone

Personally I wouldn't want a 11/28 cassette for faster/everyday rides, the gear gaps are pretty noticeable at mid range if you do allot of group rides. I have 11/23 married to my 50mm tubs, run 11/25 on my tubeless everyday wheels and have a 12/28 on my climbing wheels for those days that call for 8-13,000 ft of vertical days

lsberrios1 

I am kind of hoping the 11th gear will smoothen things out a little. Now, thinking about tubulars too. Should I use tubulars on the Venge and clinchers on the Roubaix? How hard is it to live with tubulars?

thechemist

Why not race tubulars, train clinchers rather than putting one bike on tubs and one on clinchers?


edit:enve 3.4s

ttusomeone

Since you are running Dura Ace, forget the PowerTap and get a Stages crank based power meter. They you can choose whichever wheelset you want without having to deal with a PowerTap hub. This would also allow you to race on tubular but train or do group rides on clinchers.

lsberrios1 

The Roubaix has 10 speed cassette and the Zipp / Enves for the Venge will have 11 speed. this means that I'd need to buy yet another set of wheels to do the clincher tubular conversion for training and racing.

3.4 seems like a darn good option. I wish they had a 4.6 option or 5.6 where the front is 45mm and the back 55mm or 60mm...

1 vote for the 3.4s! Tubs or CC?

thehammerdog

You and yours can go fly kite!!! Snobs!!!! all 5 of ya!!!!!!!

Bike sounds awsome dude....pictures a must...

thechemist

tubeless or CC. Tubular enve's would be nice but keep in mind a REAL nice set of tubs will only last about 1-1.5k miles so your burning money quick. I would train and race on enve 3.4s tubeless or CC if I had the opportunity(maybe build a cheap light wheel with tubulars for HillClimb races dwon the road).

lsberrios1 

Still not 100% on the accuracy of the Stages. Although most people say it is actually pretty good I can't go from a crank based Quarq to a stages on my much nicer bike. I am fairly set on one good all-around wheel set that I can race with and measures power too. I think either of the options above are good.

lol I'm sure there are more than 5 snobs in the 41! I think I saw a thread called "show your amazon / ebay bike receipts for 2013"....

lsberrios1 

Alright! Forget about tubulars. CC it is. Now debating 3.4, 6.7 or 404... The venge is an aero frame and I am not sure it would look nice with a 35mm deep rim. On the other hand, practicality should trump aesthetics.

ttusomeone

I went from a Quarq on when I had SRAM Red to Stages with my Dura Ace 9000 (on a Tarmac SL4 soon to be traded for a Cannondale Supersix Evo Hi-Mod just to show I'm also on a nice bike). In my opinion going from a Quarq to a Powertap is way more of a downgrade than going from a Quarq to a Stages from purely superficial perspective. Accuracy wise I think they are all good. I've done comparisons between time and power readings between the two and they were very close (within a few watts). I have no concerns over the accuracy of my Stages. Also, just an FYI, but if you buy some Enve's for your 11 spd you can still use them on your 10 spd bike - you only had a spacer under the cassette when you can install it. The 11 spd hub body works with 10 spd just not the other way around. For this race season I'll be running clinchers for training and tubular for racing.

ttusomeone

If you are using tubulars only for racing that should get you through a season