I got my WCS Venturemax set up and went for the first ride with it earlier this week and I love it. I have it set up with SRAM Rival and every position on the bar is comfortable for me. For the first time since riding drop bars I manage to easily reach the brake levers while on the drops. Happy days!
I just purchased a pair of these(using your link) and I absolutely love these bars. I don’t think I’ve ever changed a component that has made such a huge difference in comfort and performance. Thanks for the review.
There is one more version: the Ritchey Classic Venturemax, which comes in aluminium silver but is otherwise the same as the Comp version. AFAIK this is the only flared handlebar in silver, and that's what I wanted for my bike conversion. Other than that, I agree to your review, this handlebar is perfect for me.
I am riding these for couple of months. Before that I had Ritchey road handlebar. These are definitelly more comfortable especially in rought terrain and they also look more aggressive and cool which is also very important :-P
Great review. Thank you. Quick question/observation; if you lowered the shift/brake levers would you have had an easier time? Looking at the side view (5:08) it really looks like you are definitely reaching for the brake lever. I'm considering these bars for my Fargo and being that the reach is 20mm greater than my current woodchipper, this lever position also gives me pause. Thanks for the vid. Safe riding.
I have a 44cm gen 2 set of these bars and I really want to like them but no matter how I position the levers, brakes are difficult to get to from the drops. In addition as the bars are parallel with the saddle or higher the flat top become uncomfortable because of the angle.
I have the Venturemax so far and it's been working out great. If you have the Beacon fitted with both Redshift grips, do you think you'd prefer that over the Venturemax?
I’ve thought about that setup, I like the more subtle flare of these bars compared to the redshift grips but I think that be a decent compromise. I may swap back to the beacons now to do a comparison video.
I am very anxious to try those dropbars WCS version... meaning I'll have to purchase them. The ergo bar are something that I anticipate will be very comfortable, but I wonder whether it is than possible to install any Garmin or Wahoo accessories there ?
I have the Venturemax on a couple of bikes and love them! Curious though... neither has the ergo top. Recently put the Beacon on a different bike, and it does have the ergo top. Maybe the ergo top is a recent addition to both bars?
Really depends on what your looking to do, some like the wider bar for gravel riding and the leverage , some want it to mimic road bars on the tops since you still get wider in the drops. Wider also gives more space for bike packing to have a wider bag off the bars
@@MrMars121 gravel I ride 46cm and road I ride a 40 now but used to ride 42 been experimenting , does feel weird swapping but after 20 min u settle into it I’f your fits dialed
@@LockedinCycling Same the bike(warbird) came with 90mm. That is on the shorter size for me anyway. My road bike has a 120mm. I have very wide shoulders so it was more of a fit thing.
I got my WCS Venturemax set up and went for the first ride with it earlier this week and I love it. I have it set up with SRAM Rival and every position on the bar is comfortable for me. For the first time since riding drop bars I manage to easily reach the brake levers while on the drops. Happy days!
I just purchased a pair of these(using your link) and I absolutely love these bars. I don’t think I’ve ever changed a component that has made such a huge difference in comfort and performance. Thanks for the review.
There is one more version: the Ritchey Classic Venturemax, which comes in aluminium silver but is otherwise the same as the Comp version. AFAIK this is the only flared handlebar in silver, and that's what I wanted for my bike conversion.
Other than that, I agree to your review, this handlebar is perfect for me.
Good looking out!!! Thanks so much for this!
whisky parts co makes a 24 degree, flared bar (in silver) with less reach than the venturemax. drop is about the same, i think.
Great insight and overview! Glad you're liking the bars!
I am riding these for couple of months. Before that I had Ritchey road handlebar. These are definitelly more comfortable especially in rought terrain and they also look more aggressive and cool which is also very important :-P
You got it 100%! If the bend was just a little bit more forward, it would be perfect while in the drops and still covering the brake levers
Great review. Thank you. Quick question/observation; if you lowered the shift/brake levers would you have had an easier time? Looking at the side view (5:08) it really looks like you are definitely reaching for the brake lever. I'm considering these bars for my Fargo and being that the reach is 20mm greater than my current woodchipper, this lever position also gives me pause. Thanks for the vid. Safe riding.
It might help it really just depends on shifter shape and size of your hands
I have a 44cm gen 2 set of these bars and I really want to like them but no matter how I position the levers, brakes are difficult to get to from the drops. In addition as the bars are parallel with the saddle or higher the flat top become uncomfortable because of the angle.
I have the Venturemax so far and it's been working out great. If you have the Beacon fitted with both Redshift grips, do you think you'd prefer that over the Venturemax?
I’ve thought about that setup, I like the more subtle flare of these bars compared to the redshift grips but I think that be a decent compromise. I may swap back to the beacons now to do a comparison video.
@@LockedinCycling A comparison video would be great.
What do you think of the Surly corner bar? I think it's the best conversion part ever. Everyone has an old MTB and you can reuse your MTB components.
It’s cool idea but I haven’t tried it personally
I am very anxious to try those dropbars WCS version... meaning I'll have to purchase them. The ergo bar are something that I anticipate will be very comfortable, but I wonder whether it is than possible to install any Garmin or Wahoo accessories there ?
Should have enough room , unless u have super wide and boxy stem, but there are company’s that make mounts that bolt into your stem bolts too
Hello, possible to install clip-on aerobars on Ritchey Venturemax ?
I have the Venturemax on a couple of bikes and love them! Curious though... neither has the ergo top. Recently put the Beacon on a different bike, and it does have the ergo top. Maybe the ergo top is a recent addition to both bars?
Are they the Comp version of the venture max?
@@LockedinCycling One is WCS in 42". The other is Comp in 44". The Beacon is Comp in 44".
@@LockedinCycling So I wonder, now, if this is a versioning issue. Just got a new WCS Venturemax in 44" and it has the ergo top.
Should I go wider on the bar width in these vs my road bar size? My shoulder width is 42.
Really depends on what your looking to do, some like the wider bar for gravel riding and the leverage , some want it to mimic road bars on the tops since you still get wider in the drops. Wider also gives more space for bike packing to have a wider bag off the bars
Thanks. What has your experience been like with trying shoulder width and wider gravel bars?
@@MrMars121 gravel I ride 46cm and road I ride a 40 now but used to ride 42 been experimenting , does feel weird swapping but after 20 min u settle into it I’f your fits dialed
Nice short review. I hope the aero-shaped ergonomic tops finds its way to the Comp version. What TT bag are you using?
I doubt it will go to the Comp since it’s more expensive for the more complex shape to manufacture and that’s my revalate design too tube bag
Interested in what tires you were riding during the filming of this review? thank you
I believe these shots were all the wtb venture 700c tire I have a review on that tire
Do you prefer the VentureMax or the Beacon?
Beacon
Location of trail ?
is this clip on aerobar compatible?
I believe so
Why the extra X?
Good looking out that was just a typo!
love mine..
I have the XL and love them.
How much shorter did you shorten your stem when swapping ?
@@LockedinCycling Same the bike(warbird) came with 90mm. That is on the shorter size for me anyway. My road bike has a 120mm. I have very wide shoulders so it was more of a fit thing.