Venge or S2 with Upgrades

gukyman

I'm looking to upgrade my bike and was wondering if I should get a S-Work Venge with c24 DA (which is the wheels I have on my bike at the moment) or Cervelo S2 with Fast Fowards F6R wheelset. The groupset will be Sram Red on both as it's the one on my bike at the moment. I will be training till June or about before I get to big races. Thanks!

ilm_zero7

nice place to be making those choices - I would go with the venge, but would look at another Cervelo over the S2

lovestheclimb

I'd also go for the venge, I think it looks nicer especially in the new quick-step colour scheme if that floats your boat.
I had a 100mile ride on one i managed to get hold of and i think it climbed better than an S2.
However they have stopped making S3's so see if you can get a 2011 old stock one at a good price because that is a great frame.
good luck

bristolpete

Venge fast at speed, slightly cumbersome at slower speeds, but once hitting 18 mph it is fast, very fast and holds speed better than any bike I have had, but equally that does not make it the best if that makes sense. Trying to avoid the usual cliches! Acceleration is incredible and can get from 20 - 30 mph in a couple of seconds so I see the Venge as the ideal bunch rider bike.

Climbs better than I expected but there is no flex from the BB. Does climb better than the S2 but both are excellent on the flat. I slightly prefer the Cervelo geometry too as I am on a 56cm bike it looks huge and it is 14mm taller than a SL3 which makes it seems massive. I have a really long body and considered a 54cm but would have had a 130/140mm stem on it to elongate the cockpit so I run a 56cm with 10mm spacer and 110mm stem so do look the the sizes.

doubledenim

I own an S2 and it climbs great, easy to put the power down and is rewarding once you get the opportunity to go down the hill

I have not ridden a venge but I can imagine that in comparison it is less "tetchy" - there are times when the S2 feels like riding a razorblade in comparison to my winterbike (Giant). That's is half the point though, it is a race worthy bike!

Try and ride them both and see what you think. My S2 felt much better when I switched from R-sys wheels to dura-ace c35s for example.

gukyman

Thanks guys for all the comments. I saw the Venge Quick Step and wow!!! I really wanted a project black or even the limited edition which oddly is the same price but after looking at the Quick Step I'm really blown away. It really a debate about good frame and medium wheels or medium wheels and good wheels. To be honest the frame looks really good and it's very very stiff. It is a big improvement on what I ride at the moment which is a Focus Cayo (by all means it is a very good bike but wanted something more "aero") The price on the S3 and Venge is the same in my LBS so it's very tempting. Also I think I will put my original Ultegra groupset if I buy the Venge but can upgrade to Red if I buy the S2. Ultegra hasn't done anything wrong so just wondering if the upgrade is worth it.

doubledenim

I think your heart is set on the Venge!

Carry on saving and get it specced with good wheels and build with Red...

Else I get the feeling you will just do that at a later date anyway.

Enjoy it

bristolpete

Just did another solid 50 miles on my Venge with FFWD F6R tubs first hour 19 mph average solo then into a bastard headwind. Stiff is the word and no other bike I have ridden is a stiff as this all over. S2 has the BB but the head tube on the Venge is super stiff. Just a beast of a bike. Kind feels like 6 hours in 3 hours, but if you want stiff and fast then this is the rig.

gukyman

Thanks bristolpete it's exactly the kind of answer I was looking for. I looked at the Venge and the S2, I know they are very different beast but I decided to take the S2 upgraded to Sram Red/FFWD F6R/3T LTD cockpit. However I am saving again for the venge while I get more experience with racing as I am new. Thanks everyone for the contribue. I will soon be selling a good upgraded Focus Cayo 2.0

doubledenim

Please post some pictures of the S2! Sounds like a nice setup

I've an S2, dura-ace di2 build, c35 wheels and pro finishing kit

bristolpete

gukyman wrote:

Thanks bristolpete it's exactly the kind of answer I was looking for. I looked at the Venge and the S2, I know they are very different beast but I decided to take the S2 upgraded to Sram Red/FFWD F6R/3T LTD cockpit. However I am saving again for the venge while I get more experience with racing as I am new. Thanks everyone for the contribue. I will soon be selling a good upgraded Focus Cayo 2.0

No worries - both great bikes. I prefer the lower stand over of the Cervelo but we are talking mm really. Pix when built please If I could afford it I'd have one of everything I've never bought into the too stiff myth on bikes but the Venge really is brutal thought it'll be great on saturday morning chain gang fun.

AndyD2574

Try to find an S3...........mines built with Sram Red, Zipp 404's and weighs just under 16 and climbs, its stiff and very fast.
Mates got an S2 but with the S3 now being finished you cld pick up a bargain

okgo

I don't think the s3 is any better than the s2 is it? Just a different kind of ride?

I've recently bought an S2, but might try a venge next year if money permits. Although I am of the opinion that 19 mph riding is NOT where you're going to get the best out of the bike. Riding my cervelo at normal speeds, its nice, but really not any quicker than any other bike I've owned, when I needed to ride fast (30 mph fast) for ten minutes the other day, its where I noticed the difference that the position and general package gave me.

Its all down to looks at this level I think anyway, as said, the vast majority of people are never going to reach the limits of these bikes so buy what you like the look of

bristolpete

okgo wrote:

I don't think the s3 is any better than the s2 is it? Just a different kind of ride?

I've recently bought an S2, but might try a venge next year if money permits. Although I am of the opinion that 19 mph riding is NOT where you're going to get the best out of the bike. Riding my cervelo at normal speeds, its nice, but really not any quicker than any other bike I've owned, when I needed to ride fast (30 mph fast) for ten minutes the other day, its where I noticed the difference that the position and general package gave me.

Its all down to looks at this level I think anyway, as said, the vast majority of people are never going to reach the limits of these bikes so buy what you like the look of

S3 is a lot harsher than the S2 in my opinion, more akin to the Venge.

Totally agree with your comment, the Venge is much better than me, but can only imagine the pro guys are loving it and I think Quick Step are winning again after a few years of not. I am looking forward to bunch riding on it though I do spend most of my time riding alone. Bikes do make a difference despite what that American fella said

okgo

Really?

That's surprising, I thought it was meant to be the other way around and that the S3 had the thinner stays to make it more comfortable because the S2 was quite unforgiving.

bristolpete

okgo wrote:

Really?

That's surprising, I thought it was meant to be the other way around and that the S3 had the thinner stays to make it more comfortable because the S2 was quite unforgiving.

Nope, S3 stiffer. S2 a more enjoyable bike of the two overall.

gukyman

Im probably saving the money for the 2013 Sram red and will be using Ultegra 6700 for the being (nothing wrong with them) I visited Sigma Sports so many times to look at the S3 and the S2. That chain stays on the S3 is way to big and heard that some training wheels will have trouble fitting because of it. I had a look at a customers S2 which was built with full Campy SR and Bora tub wheels. I think everyone can imagine the lust. The S3 frameset is 2499 and the S2 is 1699 also apart from the chainstays I can't really tell them apart, I'm sure the carbon on the S3 seems better however. I will have the S2 by the end of this week or the next so will post some pictures. Thanks for all the comments. The venge is an amazing bike but if I had it, it would be like owning a Bugatti Veyron in London.

okgo

The chain stays are thinner on the s3 than the s2...

greasedscotsman

gukyman wrote:

That chain stays on the S3 is way to big and heard that some training wheels will have trouble fitting because of it.

There was a problem with fitting certain wheels on the 2009 frameset, but the stays were changed for the 2010 and 2011 frames.

gukyman

Anyone know if my BB30 Sram Red chainset with BB will fit?

cervelofan

your chainset won't work in any 68 shell bottom bracket.

cervelofan

and have you considered an S5? although the Sram Red crank won't fit in it either