Pro bike: Mark Renshaw’s Specialized S-Works Venge

This article originally published on BikeRadar

After two years as a lead sprinter, Mark Renshaw returns to the side of his former teammate Mark Cavendish, re-creating the sprint force that we last saw in 2011. With this, Cavendish should have plenty of confidence going into 2014 against the likes of Peter Sagan, Marcel Kittel and Andre Greipel.

Moving to Omega Pharma-QuickStep means Renshaw is re-united with the Specialized Venge. We recently took a look at the Cavendish's S-Works Venge, a bike built for pure speed and one that shares many similarities to Renshaw’s.

The Venge is a sprinter's weapon, offering a stiff, wind cheating module with pure speed purpose. Most of the Omega Pharma team actually ride the S-Works Tarmac SL4, leaving the Venge to the team’s sprinters.

Renshaw’s setup does away with the Venge’s integrated-aero headset cover in order to get extremely low. This provides an incredible 140mm saddle to bar drop – something not often seen with a 1.79m (5ft 10in) rider.

The rest of the bike is a few ceramic bearings, bottle cages and pedals away from being exclusively Specialized and SRAM.

A mostly stock SRAM RED22 drivetrain is accompanied by Specialized’s OSBB S-Works Carbon cranks, with Quarq power meter and a solid SRAM outer chainring.

The Zipp 404s are covered with Specialized S-Works Turbo All-Round tubulars in 24mm, a model that is still unavailable for sale, and the same tyre that’s readily available in a clincher version.

Zipp provides the ultimately-stiff Sprint SL carbon stem, and a slightly heavier and less-matched SL-70 aluminum handlebar.

Complete bike specifications

Frame: Specialized S-Works Venge, 54cm
Fork: Specialized S-Works FACT
Headset: 1 1/8-to-1 3/8in tapered w/ CeramicSpeed bearings
Stem: Zipp SL Sprint, 120mm x -12°
Handlebar: Zipp SL-70, 40cm (c-c)
Tape: Specialized S-Wrap Roubaix
Front brake: SRAM Red 22 DoubleTap
Rear brake: SRAM Red w/ Zipp Tangente Platinum Pro pads
Brake levers: SRAM Red w/ Zipp Tangente Platinum Pro pads
Front derailleur: SRAM Red 22
Rear derailleur: SRAM Red 22
Shift levers: SRAM Red 22 DoubleTap
Cassette: SRAM PG-1170, 11-28T
Chain: SRAM RED22
Crankset: Specialized S-Works w/ Quarq power meter, 170mm, 53/39T
Bottom bracket: Specialized OSBB w/ CeramicSpeed bearings
Pedals: Look Keo Blade (original version) CR (16 release)
Wheelset: Zipp 404 Firecrest Carbon tubular
Front tire: Specialized S-Works Turbo All-Round tubular 24c
Rear tire: Specialized S-Works Turbo All-Round tubular 24c
Saddle: Specialized S-Works Romin, 143mm
Seatpost: Specialized S-Works Venge
Bottle cages: Tacx Tao (2), SRAM QuickView computer mount

Critical measurements

Rider's height: 1.79m (5ft 10in)
Rider's weight: 73kg (161lb)
Saddle height from BB, c-t: 747mm
Saddle setback: 65mm
Seat tube length (c-t): 507mm
Seat tube length (c-c): 460mm
Tip of saddle to center of bar: 560mm
Saddle-to-bar drop: 140mm
Head tube length: 140mm
Top tube length (effective): 565mm
Total bicycle weight: 7.25kg (15.95lb)
Top tube length (effective): 530mm

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