CHAPTER2 Rere VS. Specialized Venge (Head to Head Review)
Channel: Cam Nicholls
Date: 06/03/2019

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CHAPTER2 Rere: https://bit.ly/2J8xRqz
Specialized Venge: https://bit.ly/2SHLnRf
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In this video, we go head to head with the Specialized S-Works Venge and the CHAPTER2 Rere. Both incredibly fast aerodynamic race bikes. 

The key points we cover include:
1/ Numbers - including price, weight, tire clearance, carbon fiber (FACT 11r VS Toray)
2/ Airfoil VS Kammtail design - while the Specialized Venge isn't exactly Kammtail, like the Trek Madone or the Scott Foil, this will help us separate both bikes and the impact on tube shapes. 
3/ Geometry 
4/ Riding experience 
5/ Conclusion, including which road bike I'd like to take home and why

CHAPTER2 RERE Complete Build:
Rere frame set
Mana handlebar system
Sram Force 1x
Quarq Power Meter / Sram Red Cranks
Speedplay pedals
Specialized Toupe saddle 
Zipp 808 / Course 30 wheels

CHAPTER2 Rere Project (why I'm sharing the story):

In May 2018 I reached on to Mike Pryde from CHAPTER2 to see if their brand would have interested in being involved in a project I was going to run - building a criterium specific road bike in order to help me win an A grade criterium. The project was going to be published on the Bike Chaser YouTube channel and also include a full 2,000-word article on Bike Chaser, a cycling marketplace website/company I run. In return for publicity on Bike Chaser and my efforts, CHAPTER2 would need to provide the frame at a fair rate. Which is what happened. A few months after locking in C2 I started this cycling YouTube channel here, and I have utilized the build, first impressions, and now this review as a way to grow my YouTube audience and demonstrate to other bike brands my commitment to thorough road bike reviews. So it's worked out for both parties in the end, despite this originally being a Bike Chaser project.

Airfoil VS Kamtail

Both tube shape systems have advantages and disadvantages. The RERE is your traditional Airfoil design. While the Venge isn’t a traditional Kammtail design, like say a Scott Foil or Trek Madone – Specialized actually call their tube shapes Free Foil Library Tube Shapes – in my opinion, they’ve got a blend of Kammtail and airfoil characteristics, and clearly, it’s not a traditional Airfoil design like the Rere. It’s more Kammtail aligned. 


Some argue that the Kamtail is a better shape for smaller machines that that travel at slower speeds – such as road bikes.

However, there are people out there – and I watched an interesting video from a YouTuber called Hambini – who squashes this theory with quite a compelling use of software to demonstrate his road cycling argument. Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqX3juRttP4 but ultimately, he tells a story of the way different angles or Yaw angles, don’t actually improve with a Kammtail design, which is often preached by the manufacturers. 

So, lets quickly talk about the strengths and weaknesses of each side: 

Fastest in a straight line without erratic wind conditions: 

Airfoil, no bout. While many bike manufactures invest in Kammtail for the Aero road bikes, guess what they predominately use for their time trial bikes. That’s right, Airfoil. 

Stiffness:

Kammtail wins here, no doubt. All you have to do it look at the tube shapes. There’s more robustness and strength in the Kammtail design, and I’m of the belief manufactures go the Kammtail with their aero bikes, predominately because of this FACT. 

Environmental conditions:

There’s a lot of debate here. Kammtail experts seem to believe that the design better manages different environmental conditions. Crosswinds, side winds, the rider corning dealing with wind changes etc. Whereas you listen to the other side, including Hambini, despite the wind conditions, wind travels along the frame. With Airfoil it drops off a nice descent. Whereas with Kammtail, it kinda drops off a cliff, which the experts say causes the wind turbulence, ultimately affecting the bikes speed and even handling in windy conditions. 

Handling and comfort 
This is a hard one to pinpoint as so many other variables such as the overall frame geometry come into play. 
Ascetics. 

Some like the Kammtail look, others the Airfoil, that is purely personal preference.