The “Aero is Everything” concept began over seven years ago with the original Venge to make pros, amateur racers, and everyone in between faster. Not only is the new Venge Pro eight seconds faster than the ViAS, all of the Rider-First Engineered™ traits you know and love have been maintained, while 460 grams has been cut from the module weight.
The quest for the perfect tube shapes started with a new piece of technology, the FreeFoil Shape Library. Engineers wrote an optimisation algorithm and utilised a 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), 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.
Striking the perfect combination of weight and aerodynamics also 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 will suffer on everything but the steepest climbs. So, not only was the Venge made more aero than the ViAS, but 460 grams was also taken out of the module weight. This 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 Rider-First Engineered™ tubes. Much of the discovery from the new Tarmac's development was implemented, 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. While you can't always see these changes, all it takes is one ride to feel the quick accelerations and the bump-eating compliance.
The geometry was also updated, 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.
The Venge houses some exciting new features. The new cockpit, developed in partnership with Specialized's World Tour teams, features a stem with a higher stiffness than anything they’ve ever tested, new bars that are faster, lighter, stiffer, and feature a textured pattern on the tops for extra grip and control. The Venge also has no problem clearing 32mm-wide tyres. A Shimano A-Junction has been put in the seatpost, making it easy to charge, check battery levels, and for team mechanics to make adjustments.
The spec on the Venge Pro is the perfect blend of performance and value. It features Shimano Ultegra Di2 and hydraulic disc brakes, a carbon fibre Roval CL 50 Disc wheelset, and our rainbow-stripe-winning S-Works Turbo tyres.
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The Rider-First Engineered™, FACT 11r frame makes the Venge the most aerodynamic road bike Specialized have ever created whilst being lightweight and stiff in all the right places. Every tube shape, trailing edge, and design cue was influenced by hours of testing in their Win Tunnel, CFD, 3D-printed prototypes, and real-world rider feedback. Ultimately, this resulted in the fastest road bike they’ve ever made.
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Shimano's new Ultegra Di2 with hydraulic disc brakes not only offers exceptionally smooth and crisp shifts, but it also provides incredible stopping power and modulation.
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The Roval CL 50 disc wheelset is light, strong, and aerodynamic. You'll find the same rims found on its CLX cousin, with the main differences coming at the bearings - hardly discernable to mere mortal riders.