SPECIALIZED VENGE PRO OR S WORKS BUILD
SPECIALIZED VENGE PRO OR S WORKS BUILD
Author
Discussion

M3user

Original Poster:

48 posts

149 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
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Looking at buying either a Venge Pro or a S Works build. Pro retails at £4200 compared to the S Works build at £3800 based on a 2014 S Works frame, both with Ultrega, Roval etc. Finishing kit on the Pro looks better with Aerofly bars etc but Rutland cycles are offering £420 credit on their loyalty card on the Pro ,so the price finishes about the same. The question is will a cyclist of my level ( 60 miles longest ride, average joe not into competitive cycling, just for fitness) notice the difference between the two? Before anyone asks why the Venge? I just love it and the acid green finish of the Pro I awesome, but also love the Pharma Quick Step finish of the S Works looks cool as well, awaiting thoughts , cheers in advance.

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
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They are different grades of carbon in the frame, but you wont notice a difference, in fact, I doubt even Cav would notice the diffrence.... £4k is a lot for that spec, you may as well save some money and get the Expert model as its the same frame and groupset but without the super duper (summer only) wheelset. The carbon braking surface on the Rovals wont lend themselves well to year round UK riding and you will have to have a spare wheelset, granted you can spend £300 on a ncie pari of Fulcrum 3s or equivilent but I bet you will ride those more often than the Rovals... You get the aerofly bars on the Expert too.

Dont take this the wrong way, I fully approve of purchases like this and would do likewise had I £4K to spend on a bike but you are painting a big target on your back! That siad, You will get fitter because you will enjoy riding the bike and thus ride more, for longer, and probably at a quicker avg pace...


Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 19th February 08:59

okgo

42,123 posts

227 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
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I don't buy the whole target on your back thing. Venues aren't especially rare or obviously flash so I doubt most people will even give it a second glance.

As for noticing the difference, certainly you will not.

AyBee

11,319 posts

231 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
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Have you ridden either? If you're set on spending £4k on a Spesh (considered anything else? You could pick up a very nice di2 equipped Canyon for £3.3k) then get the one you like the look of. If I was you, I'd probably stay away from team painted bikes but go for whatever you like smile

Andy OH

1,960 posts

279 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
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My son has a S-Works Tarmac SL4 as his race bike. He was originally going to get a Venge but settled for the Tarnac. He says his S-Works is great for racing but is incredibly harsh/stiff for training or leisure riding. If you're racing then a S-Works is a fantastic choice but there are a lot of alternative bikes for your budget. My son's training bike is a Genesis Team Volare (Reynolds 953 Stainless Steel with a carbon Envy fork), now that is a lovely bike to ride on long rides.

Good luck with your choice and do ride a few bikes before you spend quite a bit of cash. Also I'll echo what was said above and try to stay away from team colours on frames as they date very quickly, however, it's your choice.



Edited by Andy OH on Thursday 19th February 12:59

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
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I don't regret buying my Venge, they are quite flighty but handle really well as long as you are committed. Can only comment on the s works frame and it's still fairly comfortable, switching to soft training wheels like Fulcrum 7's and fitting 25/28's really changes the feel. I love the feel of them, prolly not the king of aero anymore but definitely a step up from a 'normal' design. The only negative is the BB30, which is st. But that's sorted with aftermarket kit and shouldn't put you off the rest of it. Only other thing is double check the sizing as a 52 isn't really a 52, more like a 54.

HTH

JEA1K

2,747 posts

252 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
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M3user said:
60 miles longest ride, average joe not into competitive cycling, just for fitness
There is always a danger that you may enjoy the bike and start doing more miles and something competitive. Its a slippery slope.biggrin


paulmon

2,209 posts

270 months

Friday 20th February 2015
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I think you have to be a bit nuts to go for one of the off the peg Spesh builds at that price. The jump in price between the models (expert to pro race for example) doesn't stack up nor does the jump between pro-race and the S-Works unless you really want the wheels/kit that come with a particular build. All of the standard builds are compromised somewhere to save money so you will inevitably change out these compromised parts.

Get the Tarmac Sport in stealthy black or bright Lambo orange for £1200 after haggling (you wont notice the difference between the frames)
Buy some nice wheels for £600
Duraace groupset £950
3T Finishing kit £250
Saddle and bar tape £120
Pedals £80

Job jobbed for £3200 and you have blinged your bike using the components you choose.


Edited by paulmon on Friday 20th February 08:27

anonymous-user

83 months

Friday 20th February 2015
quotequote all
paulmon said:
I think you have to be a bit nuts to go for one of the off the peg Spesh builds at that price. The jump in price between the models (expert to pro race for example) doesn't stack up nor does the jump between pro-race and the S-Works unless you really want the wheels/kit that come with a particular build. All of the standard builds are compromised somewhere to save money so you will inevitably change out these compromised parts.

Get the Tarmac Sport in stealthy black or bright Lambo orange for £1200 after haggling (you wont notice the difference between the frames)
Buy some nice wheels for £600
Duraace groupset £950
3T Finishing kit £250
Saddle and bar tape £120
Pedals £80

Job jobbed for £3200 and you have blinged your bike using the components you choose.


Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 20th February 08:27
It cost me £3000 to build the Venge, less the P2M. You'll easily notice the difference between that Tarmac and S-Wors Venge

M3user

Original Poster:

48 posts

149 months

Saturday 21st February 2015
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Thanks for the advice guys, generally helpful. Well this morning decided on the S Works build and ended up with full Ultrega,aero fly bars, S Works finishings parts, Mavic Carbone SLS , all in ended spending £3200 so pretty happy.

Magic919

14,485 posts

230 months

Saturday 21st February 2015
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Enjoy the bike! Pics when it arrives.

paulmon

2,209 posts

270 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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M3user said:
Thanks for the advice guys, generally helpful. Well this morning decided on the S Works build and ended up with full Ultrega,aero fly bars, S Works finishings parts, Mavic Carbone SLS , all in ended spending £3200 so pretty happy.
Incredibly good value. Enjoy.

Philsmith87

4 posts

135 months

Monday 22nd June 2015
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Hi can you give me the details of where you bought your s works?

Thanks

Phil

M3user

Original Poster:

48 posts

149 months

Monday 22nd June 2015
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Hi got the bike from Specialized concept store Nottingham, was the last 54 2014 frame in the country

M3user

Original Poster:

48 posts

149 months

Monday 22nd June 2015
quotequote all
Hi got the bike from Specialized concept store Nottingham, was the last 54 2014 frame in the country

Philsmith87

4 posts

135 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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Thanks. Now that you've had your bike a while what are your thoughts re the s works or pro version of the venge?

Philsmith87

4 posts

135 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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Thanks. Now that you've had your bike a while what are your thoughts re the s works or pro version of the venge?

Philsmith87

4 posts

135 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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Thanks. Now that you've had your bike a while what are your thoughts re the s works or pro version of the venge?

M3user

Original Poster:

48 posts

149 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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Never rode the pro! S works worked out the same price in the end but had the advantage of choosing specific parts rather that having off the peg! Not really at a level where I would spot the difference IMO but love the bike.