S Works Venge?

steve_kay
steve_kay Posts: 197
edited July 2014 in Road buying advice
I've found myself in a (possibly) fortunate position. I've been offered a brand new S works Venge with Ultegra 6800 for a very attractive price. I don't currently race but I possibly am looking to next season. Most probably circuit and crit. I currently have a 2014 Cube Agree GTC SL with upgraded wheels and saddle which is a great bike. I'm currently using it for long solo rides and it's pretty much perfect for what I'm currently using it for. Anyway, my question is this: 1) could I use the Venge for training as well as racing? 2) I live in north devon which is extremely hilly and roads are generally bad, so would the venge be too stiff to comfortably ride here and 3) do I need a new bike for racing or would the Agree be perfectly fine for 3rd and 4th Cat racing? I'm just trying to justify the purchase that's all. Thanks in advance

Steve
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Comments

  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    You can race on penny-farthing. At that level the bike isn't going to make a lick of difference.
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    But could you afford to replace everything in a crash?
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • steve_kay
    steve_kay Posts: 197
    Yeah that makes sense. It's more of a "I want" rather than "I need". Could I afford to replace it? Eventually yeah but not straight away. Maybe a few months after. I get what you're saying though.
  • Colinthecop
    Colinthecop Posts: 996
    Do you want it...?

    Can you afford it...?

    If so, buy it. If it's a good price it can always be sold on if it turns out it's not for you.
  • steve_kay
    steve_kay Posts: 197
    Colinthecop wrote:
    Do you want it...?

    Can you afford it...?

    If so, buy it. If it's a good price it can always be sold on if it turns out it's not for you.

    I think for £3750 for the bike, cosmic sls carbone wheel set and Ultegra 6800 gruppo, it's not badly priced
  • TerryCTR
    TerryCTR Posts: 143
    Sounds like you want it, go forth and purchase
    Giant Propel Advanced Pro 2
  • steve_kay
    steve_kay Posts: 197
    TerryCTR wrote:
    Sounds like you want it, go forth and purchase
    You're right Terry, I do want it. Just trying to work out if I'll get my money's worth out of it that's all
  • TerryCTR
    TerryCTR Posts: 143
    I'm not really sure how much a complete bike can be had for but from a quick google it seems like its 6k anyway?

    If that's true then as mentioned you can't really lose, if you can afford to buy the bike I would buy it and you can take it from there. I'm sure either bikes can be sold on if you find its only the one bike you really need.

    Meanwhile I'll just continue to trundle along in my spesh allez sport that I blew my tiny budget on in comparison :lol:
    Giant Propel Advanced Pro 2
  • steve_kay
    steve_kay Posts: 197
    It's the same frame, same (ish) spec wheels and finishing kit. The only difference is that I'm having the Ultegra gruppo instead of Dura Ace. It's not worth the extra in my opinion. It's a lot of bike for the money but I'm just worried that it's quite a focused type of bike. By that I mean that it's made for racing and in no way designed for comfort/sportives etc. I'd like to think that I could use it everyday for everything from training, long weekend rides and sportives as well as racing.
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    Good price but be aware that the Venge is a stiff bike and as my mate found when he demo ed a venge with a view to replace his sl3 tarmac... he hated it, just beat him up, he lives in SE Cornwall, so similar road conditions to you.
  • steve_kay
    steve_kay Posts: 197
    mamba80 wrote:
    Good price but be aware that the Venge is a stiff bike and as my mate found when he demo ed a venge with a view to replace his sl3 tarmac... he hated it, just beat him up, he lives in SE Cornwall, so similar road conditions to you.

    Yeah that's what I'm afraid of. If the road surfaces where all as smooth as glass then it wouldn't be an issue. I'd have probably bought it already. Unfortunately they're not though so most of us have to find a happy medium. I'm not sure what else would fit the bill of having a race geometry but being slightly softer than the super bikes like the venge. I love the look of the venge and it's allegedly an amazing bike but it seems to be a bit of a one trick pony. As in, great for racing, uncomfortable and realistically unusable for everything else. I may have to look at alternative options
  • mitchgixer6
    mitchgixer6 Posts: 729
    Check out the Felt AR series. Excellent, fast aero bikes that are comfortable too. And not as over priced as S Works/Cervrlo etc.
  • steve_kay
    steve_kay Posts: 197
    I'll have a quick look now. Thanks
  • steve_kay
    steve_kay Posts: 197
    mitchgixer6 wrote:
    Check out the Felt AR series. Excellent, fast aero bikes that are comfortable too. And not as over priced as S Works/Cervrlo etc.

    The AR3 looks quite nice. Not bad for £2300. Never had a Felt so not sure what they're like
  • mitchgixer6
    mitchgixer6 Posts: 729
    I have the AR1. Excellent bike. If you can get hold of the frame (they're quite rare) for £1700 that would leave plenty for an 11s group and some nice wheels.

    £3750 for the Venge is a good price, but I think when you consider the frame is £2600 it's a little over priced
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    Grill wrote:
    You can race on penny-farthing. At that level the bike isn't going to make a lick of difference.

    Off topic but I guess you have seen the news re Rob English? looks like your build might be pushed back a bit! :(

    Hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.
  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    Camcycle1974 wrote:
    Grill wrote:
    You can race on penny-farthing. At that level the bike isn't going to make a lick of difference.

    Off topic but I guess you have seen the news re Rob English? looks like your build might be pushed back a bit! :(

    Hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.

    What? Link?
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    Road CC. News item this morning
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    You probably have a distorted view of cat. 4 racing... the racing I have seen in cat. 4 is about legs, lungs, brain and balls... I haven't seen a race suggesting the better bike was getting you anywhere. The cheapest is the better option, as crashes are frequent
    left the forum March 2023
  • steve_kay
    steve_kay Posts: 197
    mitchgixer6 wrote:
    £3750 for the Venge is a good price, but I think when you consider the frame is £2600 it's a little over priced

    That's with an upgrade to the cosmic SLS carbone wheel set as well. Then obviously the finishing kit. I was reading reviews online last night and to be fair, a lot of people have said it rides quite harshly due to it's lateral stiffness (being an aero bike). I've just seen another amazing looking bike. The Bianchi Oltre XR2 in red. I couldn't afford the top spec full bike but I could afford the frame at a smidge under 3 grand. I'm not going to buy it I don't think but one can dream
  • dilatory
    dilatory Posts: 565
    So I too am hoping to race next season, but will be buying a second hand bike with tiagra or something so that when the inevitable wreck happens in Cat 4 I wont be sad about the damage to my nice bike! Spending 3k on a bike for your first races sounds brave as hell.
  • steve_kay
    steve_kay Posts: 197
    dilatory wrote:
    So I too am hoping to race next season, but will be buying a second hand bike with tiagra or something so that when the inevitable wreck happens in Cat 4 I wont be sad about the damage to my nice bike! Spending 3k on a bike for your first races sounds brave as hell.

    To be honest, I was planning on using my Agree in the 4th Cat races and as I (hopefully) progress into 3rd and maybe even second where riders are apparently a lot more skilled and crashes less often, then moving to using the best bike. Plus, it's always nice to have something that is a joy to ride and is your "best"
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    Steve_kay wrote:

    progress into 3rd and maybe even second where riders are apparently a lot more skilled and crashes less often,

    :lol::lol:
    left the forum March 2023
  • dilatory
    dilatory Posts: 565
    Steve_kay wrote:
    dilatory wrote:
    So I too am hoping to race next season, but will be buying a second hand bike with tiagra or something so that when the inevitable wreck happens in Cat 4 I wont be sad about the damage to my nice bike! Spending 3k on a bike for your first races sounds brave as hell.

    To be honest, I was planning on using my Agree in the 4th Cat races and as I (hopefully) progress into 3rd and maybe even second where riders are apparently a lot more skilled and crashes less often, then moving to using the best bike. Plus, it's always nice to have something that is a joy to ride and is your "best"

    Seems a more sensible plan. I expect to lose all races for the first year, spend the winter training harder and then hopefully finish a few in the points year 2. I'll probably be looking to upgrade my nice bike before I come close to getting out of Cat 4. haha Maybe then it can become the bike I race on, hah.
  • steve_kay
    steve_kay Posts: 197
    Yeah dilatory, that's roughly what I'm looking at doing. You never know, you may even get a few points in your first season.
  • dilatory
    dilatory Posts: 565
    Hah, maybe if no-one else turns up!
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    dilatory wrote:
    Hah, maybe if no-one else turns up!

    The races on Boxing day and the 1st of January are always a good chances to bag points, in that respect.. :wink:
    left the forum March 2023
  • mitchgixer6
    mitchgixer6 Posts: 729
    Was in my LBS today and they have an ex demo Giant Propel for sale. 150 miles on it, as new condition. Selling for £2600. PM if you want more info!!

    http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... 967/66523/
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    If you lived in Norfolk I'd say go with a Venge.

    But in Devon / Cornwall, I'd say go for the Tarmac. (What I have!)

    Count the Venge's in the pro-peloton. It won't take you long.
  • steve_kay
    steve_kay Posts: 197
    bernithebiker wrote:
    If you lived in Norfolk I'd say go with a Venge.

    But in Devon / Cornwall, I'd say go for the Tarmac. (What I have!)

    Count the Venge's in the pro-peloton. It won't take you long.

    I didn't think there was a single venge in this years tour. Yeah the Tarmac has some great reviews as well and doesn't seem to have such a brutal ride. Which Tarmac do you have?

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