Specialized aren't satisfied with second fastest. Hell, why do you think they have their own Win Tunnel and the motto, "Aero is Everything?" Specialized live and breathe aero, because they know that aerodynamic optimisation is the best thing they can do to make you faster. And this philosophy has never been truer than with the new S-Works Venge. Being eight seconds faster than the Venge ViAS, it’s not only the most aerodynamic bike on the road, but it’s also lost 460 grams. This is the new shape of speed.
Surprisingly, their quest for the perfect tube shapes didn’t start in the Win Tunnel. It started with a new piece of technology, the FreeFoil Shape Library. Specialized engineers wrote an optimisation algorithm and utilised a supercomputer (yes, they used an actual supercomputer) to help create new airfoil shapes with different weights, surface areas, and structural targets. Armed with this library of shapes, all with different aspect ratios, Specialized could plug them into the different parts of the bike and test a variety of configurations to determine the fastest setup in the Win Tunnel.
Compared to the fastest aero road bike to date (the Venge ViAS), and many others in the space that they won't name, the new Venge is eight seconds faster over 40km at zero degrees of yaw. It's also faster out on the road in all wind conditions—not just in the tunnel.
And while it's cool that the new Venge is more aero, there are other factors to fast. Striking the perfect combination of weight and aerodynamics plays a crucial role in a bike’s overall performance. A bike that’s strictly aero will feel great on the flats, but it'll suffer on the climbs and in quick accelerations. A bike that’s strictly lightweight, however, will suffer on everything but the steepest climbs. So, not only did Specialized make the Venge more aero than the ViAS, but they also took 460 grams out of the module weight. This means we saved 240g in the frame, 25g in the fork, 107g in the cockpit, 25g in the seatpost, and 63g in small parts. So no matter the course, the Venge will prove to be the fastest option when you need to go up, down, and all around.
Much of this weight savings comes from Specialized Rider-First Engineered tubes. Specialized implemented much of the discovery from the new Tarmac's development, like different layup schedules and materials, and this culminated in a Venge that’s not only lighter, but one that also has a higher stiffness-to-weight ratio and 40% more compliance than the ViAS—no matter the frame size. And while you can't always see these changes, all it takes is one ride to feel the quick accelerations and the bump-eating compliance.
Of course, Specialized didn't stop there. The geometry got an update, and now, it's based on over 40,000 Retül data points, as well as professional rider input. This enabled Specialized to implement a Performance Road Geometry that perfectly combines a responsive front-end with a short wheelbase, and this delivers instantaneous response and optimal power transfer.
Last, but certainly not least, the Venge houses some exciting new features. The new cockpit, developed in partnership with their World Tour teams, features a stem with a higher stiffness than anything Specialized ever tested, new bars that are faster, lighter, stiffer, and feature a textured pattern on the tops for extra grip and control. Next up is tyre clearance—it has no problem clearing 32mm-wide tyres. And, finally, Specialized put their Shimano A-Junction in the seatpost, making it easy to charge, check battery levels, and for mechanics to make adjustments.
The Specialized S-Works Venge comes with the best components spec around, with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, hydraulic disc brakes, Roval CLX 64 Disc wheels dressed with 700x26mm Turbo Cotton tyres, and our S-Works Power Cranks that are the lightest & most accurate in the world.
- The Rider-First Engineered, FACT 11r frame not only makes the Venge the most aerodynamic road bike we’ve ever created, but it's also lightweight and stiff in all the right places. Every tube shape, trailing edge, and design cue was influenced by hours of testing in our Win Tunnel, CFD, 3D-printed prototypes, and real-world rider feedback. Ultimately, this resulted in the fastest road bike we’ve ever made.
- Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 group offers exceptionally crisp shifts, smooth braking modulation, and it keeps the overall weight of the Venge at an absolute minimum.
- The Roval CLX 64 disc wheels aren't only the fastest wheels we've tested, but they perform extremely well in crosswinds, so they're perfect for all conditions.