Desire: the new S-Works Venge

Desire: the new S-Works Venge

Lighter, yet more aero, and off-limits to luddites who still want rim brake or mechanical gears, Specialized’s latest incarnation of the Venge has arrived


At the Rouleur Classic last November there was a conversation about rim brakes. One of many. 

“Look at all the stands. There aren’t that many new bikes that have rims brakes,” said one of the brand representatives. “If they do, don’t you think they look outdated?” He had a point.

Since the UCI lifted the ban on rims brakes, it’s been open season for the poor old brake caliper. Is anyone else picturing brake calipers being flung into the air and shot down by red-hot, swirling, disc brake rotors? No? OK.

The new S-Works Venge – a frame that you couldn’t fit a rim brake onto even if you wanted to – is only available with hydraulic disc brakes and for electronic groupsets. It’s the future, but it doesn’t look like something from a sci-fi story. It looks like a modern road bike.

Read: The Egger has landed – meet Specialized’s fun-loving creative director 

It supersedes the outgoing Venge ViAS in terms of weight. It even trumps the Tarmac SL5 by coming in at 960g for the 56cm frame. This is a bid to make the bike more versatile. Aero bikes haven’t always been light; they haven’t always had the best handling characteristics either. The latter was also something the designers looked at.
Specialized calls it First-Rider Engineered. It’s how the brand captures information to produce its frames. As they had the World Champion on their books, they asked Sagan to give a few pointers on how the bike should handle. Above all, the Venge is best known for aerodynamics and Specialized say this version – compared to the old Venge ViAS – will save an extra eight seconds over 40kms.

When you look at the S-Works Venge, it doesn’t look like an illustration lifted from a science fiction book. It’s a bike representative of where cycling is at right now. And it’s right on time. 

  Read: An illustrated history of aero wheels

 

The post Desire: the new S-Works Venge appeared first on The world's finest cycling magazine.


READ MORE

Mathieu van der Poel

Defending, not chasing yellow: Mathieu van der Poel returns to the Mûr-de-Bretagne

The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider is back in yellow but plays down ambitions for green  

Leggi di più
Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar

‘I don’t know what they were trying to do’ - The UAE-Visma mind games have started at the Tour de France

Subtle tactical choices from both teams during stage six give an insight into the mindsets of Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard

Leggi di più
Romance and science: How EF Education-EasyPost pulled off Tour de France perfection

Romance and science: How EF Education-EasyPost pulled off Tour de France perfection

The crazy plan behind Ben Healy’s stunning solo victory on stage six of the Tour de France

Leggi di più
Tour de France peloton

Tour de France 2025 stage seven preview: The Mûr-de-Bretagne awaits

Riders will tackle two ascents of the steep slopes of the Mûr-de-Bretagne in a finish suited to the climbers and puncheurs

Leggi di più
Mathieu van der Poel

Tour de France 2025 standings: the results after stage six

The latest results and standings from the Tour de France 2025

Leggi di più
Kévin Vauquelin, the Norman conqueror, fighting his way onto the Tour de France podium

Kévin Vauquelin, the Norman conqueror, fighting his way onto the Tour de France podium

A storming time trial sees Arkéa-B&B Hotels rider defy the odds and remain in touching distance of the maillot jaune after five stages

Leggi di più

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE