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When Specialized unveiled its very own wind tunnel just a few hundred yards from their headquarters in Morgan Hill, Calif. in 2013, their tagline “Aero is Everything” became more than just a catchy slogan. “Aero is not just a category,” Specialized’s Road Category Marketing Manager Mark Cote said. “Every bike has to go through the wind.”
With the release of five new products born from the tunnel, including a completely redesigned Venge road bike, Specialized has dubbed the collection an “Aero Ecosystem” capable of saving the average rider about five minutes over the course of 40 kilometers compared to a Tarmac SL4 with standard wheels, apparel and shoes. The S-Works Venge ViAS accounts for two of those five minutes and features some radical feats of engineering, including a proprietary cockpit that hides every cable from the wind. Rather than integrating the brake calipers into the fork, the front brake is tucked behind the fork, making it more aerodynamic and easier to access. The rear brake is also shielded from the wind behind the seat tube, which offers better performance than brakes mounted near the bottom bracket.
The new S-Works Venge ViAS will come equipped with tubeless-ready Roval CLX 64 wheels and S-Works Turbo tires, which tested faster than Zipp 404 Firecrest wheels in the tunnel. The CLX 64s even outperformed a Zipp Super9 disc and 404 Firecrest front in certain conditions.
To complete the kit, two new models of S-Works shoes along with a skinsuit will complement the S-Works Evade helmet, which is already available. Five minutes seems like an incomprehensible amount of time to save over the course of 40 kilometers, but Specialized has committed incredible resources to ensure that every product they create tests faster than competing products in their tunnel and on the road.
Photos provided by Specialized.