Nice review! Glad you're liking the bars! We have since updated the WCS VentureMax to have a more ergonomic top section for a better hand feel. This will trickle down to Comp for 2021. Let us know if you need anything else!
Best reviews of these as other are having short empty talk. Here, great description and actual user experience. Got them (WCS) next to me ready to be installed. Worrying a little about drop as liked to reach a break from bottom drops for strong effect. We shall se, if I manage it. Thanks for nice video, subscribed.
I have used the venturemax comp in 420mm for 3 yrs on my gravel bike and recently reduced the reach by 10mm using a ritchey comp 4axis. I have been racing gravel/XC and CX with this setup it works well for me. These venturemax are that good that I fitted some 400mm on the road bike as I prefer the cyclocross style ergonomic.
I went the opposite way from an Adventure FSA bar to the Beacon bar, skipping the Venture bar altogether. Not being from the road sector, the Beacon's shallow reach and drop felt safer. That said, the tilting of the bar was critical. I believe for offroad, the top of the bar should gently tilt a little up and the position of the hoods will drop slightly, so this is where bike fit will aleviate pressure points. I rode without bar tape until it was perfect.
I just got the Venture and have only had inside rides on it, thinking I probably made a mistake with it. The biobend and my hands do not get along. I am used to a gentle title up and the bio bend isn't getting along with my hands. I am also really concerned about the "wedge my hands" in the hoods position. because that's my favorite position. The biobend places a bunch of pressure on that nerve cluster on my palm in that position. I'll give it a couple more tries, but this bar probably won't work for me. Beacon looks promising.
@@Cassienope Definitely won't be for everyone. I've got a review on the Beacons that you might check out. Loved those as well, except for the flare being a bit too extreme (I really wanted to like the Beacons).
@@TheBikeSauce Thanks, Ill watch that. I really like the 25 degree flare and the drop on the venturemax, they feel really good. I am hoping with a few more rides my hands will adapt to the bump.
@@kevinlinares9060 Hi Kevin, fascinating the way different sizes suit us all! I am actually taller than you at 5'7. But being female and having a small build I wouldn't be surprised if my shoulder to shoulder measurement was smaller. Also coming from road riding where i ride a 36-38mm bar I am very used to riding narrow bars and notice the extra strain on my wrists when I have to go wider as it is a weaker bracing position.
Glad you're liking the venturemax bars. I think maybe the bigger difference between the comp and the wcs is the wcs has the more flattened top area. I kinda like the "bio bend" or whatever you called it as it gives you a couple of different options for hand position in the drops. I'll go forward of I need access to the brakes and more to the bar ends if I want a little more comfort.
Thanks for your channel and your feedback on this gravel bar, which I am contemplating to buy. The review is precise and good. Following a comment below, I see that there is now that te WCS Venturemax model has a flater middle section, just as the Beacon bars apparently. This may be a good choice, would it ? Now wondering if I choose 44 or 46 cm size... The v2 model of the Venturemax model also seems to have that flat appareance in the center.
Thanks for the review. I installed the 46cm last night and they appear to be the correct fit and are very comfortable from the hoods, which is where my hand placement is 90% of the time. The drops are also more comfortable and I don't feel as low and stretched out as the previous bars and without a long ride to fine-tune the setup they seem to give me more confidence while in the drops, but it's quite a stretch to get to the brakes especially if you are holding the bars at the bio-bend and not closer to the bottom of the levers. They may be a good location for the hands when not in a sketchy situation. Did you set your shifters level with the bottom edge of the drops? I will adjust the levers' reach to see if I can get them in a more useable position from the drops. I installed CICLOVATION advanced grind bar tape and there is plenty of grip and padding although I always ride with padded gloves.
Great feedback, thanks! When in the drops, I tend to slide my hand forward to reach the levers. My hands are no longer centered over the bio hump, but still comfortable enough.
I see a WCS DI1 model on my favorite online shop. Is it your model? I am just hesitating now between the 44 and 46 cm models. I currently have a 44 cm dropbar, and it fits well and equals my shoulder width. Is 46 cm also your shoulder width, or did you choose larger than you would on another kind of bike?
Good recap! I ended up ordering the wcs version to get the flatter/ergo top section. Will be trying them out on my Fargo as an alternative to the Woodchippers...as soon as it’s not -30 out ;)
Haha it’s only -30 celsius not Fahrenheit;) Canmore, Alberta. A q on the bars, did it take some time to play around with the angle of the drops for the best position for you?
I figured Canada. Have relatives in Edmonton and hear stories about Sun zero temps. Outdoor hockey is a plus though! For the angle of the drops, I usually set them just slightly inclined from horizontal. But yea, some tweaking was involved.
In regards to the beacon flare.. couldn't you just rotate the brifters a bit inward? I saw both your reviews, still like the beacon much more on paper : p
Great review! Subbed! I'm wondering if the VentureMax can help with my ergonomy issue. (Context: beginner, entry level road bike, standard no flare drop bar) To get enough leverage on the brake lever, I tend to move my wrist off the bar / "reach around" slightly (outwards), relying on increased thumb strain to form a barely secure enough hook. I'm hoping the VentureMax's flare will meet my grip halfway by moving the levers "up" laterally, so that my fingers caget that leverage without needing the wrist to shift the weight on the hood. Does this make sense?
Look into setting the reach and free stroke of your levers. The resting point can be brought toward the bar to make it easier to reach. Should help a lot
@@TheBikeSauce unfortunately the budget component (microShift SB-R482) doesn't allow this. It has a separate, smaller version but the bike manufacturer doesn't provide it, and i can't find it for separate purchase either. If replacing, I'd upgrade to Shimano anyway (e.g. Claris 2x8), but brifters are way more expensive than a handlebar. So I'm trying this first.
Good video, thanks. I've been riding these a while and I like them but still cant get the lever position right on the bar. I have grx levers and sormthing just feels a little off. Maybe I have the rotation of the bar wrong, maybe the lever level.
Nice. Yea all I can say is to keep experimenting with different adjustments. Did you align the flat section of the drops to be horizontal? If so, you might find it angled too far downward
How much time do you spend on the hoods vs. drops on the riding you do? Watching pro cyclocross, they live on the hoods riding on normal road bars. What is the benefit of the flare? I'm looking to replace the stock hover bar (hover bars are dumb) but don't have enough experience on gravel coming from the road to know what I need.
Flared drops add stability when descending in the drops. I don’t always ride the drops; maybe 10% of the time. It also changes your hand position in the hoods a bit as well. Some would argue it’s more comfortable. And I won’t deny, there’s and aesthetic component to it as well.
Do you know if the internal cable routing on the WCS Carbon Venturemax is only for the Di2 cable(s) or for the brake cables as well? Thanks and great vids...
Do you have any problem with different mounts rubbing the clear coat off your gloss paint? If not, do you have any repair tips for re applying clear coat?
Definitely use 3m frame protected tape. Some call it helicopter tape. Any place a bag or an accessory or bake/shift cables have a chance at rubbing the frame. Reapplying the clear coat is basically a last resort and I wouldn’t recommend it as you’d need to strip the whole bike down to the frame and have it professionally painted.
I went with 40 bc that’s what the stock bars were. Also Ritchey bars width are measured from the initial bend (not the drops), So they are actually a tad wider than the specified width.
@@TheBikeSauce Thanks for a quick reply. How much would you say that they are wider at the hoods compared to a normal 40? Are we talking mm or cm’s? Also the hoods are usually tilted inwards slightly due to the flared drops. How much does this make them narrower at the hoods?
I'd say Beacon or VentureMax are both fine for smaller hands. It's more about the position of the controls on the bends, and the setup of reach and free stroke that can help cyclists with smaller hands.
Used to be you’d hold them up to your shoulders and match the width, but for me, it’s been trial and error. I used to run 40cm, but the 42cm felt much nicer. I’ve got some 46s too, and they’re cool, but gives the bike a different feel - rowdy and a bit too wide most of the time
@@TheBikeSauce Sounds logical. Thank you. I held my hands out straightest I could and measured mid fist to fist. That came out to be 42cm anyway. Looking for the next personalization of my ride and this seems to be just the ticket.
@@TheBikeSauce I do prefer the round tops simply because the flattops don’t work well when the bars are at or near saddle height. The flats become angled hence forcing my wrist to bend downwards when on the tops.
@@TheBikeSauce i was concerned as well I was coming from a 440, but the 480 makes it so much more stable, especially when im out of the saddle climbing. Short reach helps with the wide bar. But u never know try the 480.... besides that is kinda on the skinny side now. Seems like people love going even bigger( not sure the benefits out weigh the fact of your shoulders and wrist being so wide) I see some bars all the way up to 600 😳 and thats not in the drops lol
I've watched both videos and I have a question. I am building a 29+ monster cross with TRP levers and Micro-Shift 12 shifter for an Off-road use and now I wonder which of those two bars you would choose for the roughest stuff? As I like both bars I would love to hear your opinion!
I’d probably go Beacon bars since you’re not going to be shifting from the hoods. The shallower drop is more conducive to descending in the drops and the added width from the flare will add stability. Sounds like a cool build!
@@TheBikeSauce thanks a lot for your input! I was thinking about VenturMax XL, Ritchy's 50cm variation. But Beacon looks very appealing as I am not sure I will be able to use efficiently such a wide bar)))
Yea I think width is very personal and depends on rider size and build. Too wide and your pecs and shoulders will feel it. Like doing small push ups for hours on end 😆
@@TheBikeSauce I was thinking about the same issue!😁 Very shallow drops also seem very useful! My Kona Rove's standard bar has quite a big drop and francly speaking I don't remember when I was using them last time.. on the road I prefer just to lay ma elbows on tow of the bar as it waaay more aerodynamic and comfortable.
Hi. Good review but.... Next time try with a carbon flat bar and you will not go back to aluminium any more. I told you this last time. Of course handlebars, saddles and pedals are personal choice as you said but you mentioned that you enjoy the experimenting with new products more than the riding. So? get a carbon next time. Listen to Dan, never get wrong 😉
Haha, easier said than done though. I can experiment with 10 alloy bars for the cost of those 3T bars. Perhaps in the future. Those $350 bars look amazing!
Nice review! Glad you're liking the bars! We have since updated the WCS VentureMax to have a more ergonomic top section for a better hand feel. This will trickle down to Comp for 2021. Let us know if you need anything else!
Thx for the feedback! Another viewer also mentioned the WCS gets the ergo tops.
So Ritchey Design please give us the Beacon handlebar with the flare of the venturemax, than it would be perfect!
I was just going to comment there are other differences, glad I didn't accuse the reviewer of not being punctual enough :)
I hope the V2 for the Comp Venturemax is still on track for 2021! Is that the case? I would make the upgrade without second thought.
@@oniinside123 with everything delayed, I'm not exactly sure when they are coming in. Beacon could be a good alternative for you.
Installed mine yesterday. I love them. So much control and comfort.
I've been considering both the Beacon and Venturemax and this review has been very helpful. Thanks
Thank you for the review. Just got it through your link! Thank you always for the informative and most thorough videos in the internet! 🤛
Haha. Much appreciated!
Great review! I'll wait for the new version of Comp with ergo tops, hopefully, next year.
Best reviews of these as other are having short empty talk. Here, great description and actual user experience. Got them (WCS) next to me ready to be installed. Worrying a little about drop as liked to reach a break from bottom drops for strong effect. We shall se, if I manage it. Thanks for nice video, subscribed.
"It's not a huge DIL-DO, just something to consider". Found it funny. 😁
Really nice video. You speak very well and precise. 👌
I have used the venturemax comp in 420mm for 3 yrs on my gravel bike and recently reduced the reach by 10mm using a ritchey comp 4axis. I have been racing gravel/XC and CX with this setup it works well for me. These venturemax are that good that I fitted some 400mm on the road bike as I prefer the cyclocross style ergonomic.
I went the opposite way from an Adventure FSA bar to the Beacon bar, skipping the Venture bar altogether. Not being from the road sector, the Beacon's shallow reach and drop felt safer. That said, the tilting of the bar was critical. I believe for offroad, the top of the bar should gently tilt a little up and the position of the hoods will drop slightly, so this is where bike fit will aleviate pressure points. I rode without bar tape until it was perfect.
You’ve got your priorities right 🤘
I just got the Venture and have only had inside rides on it, thinking I probably made a mistake with it. The biobend and my hands do not get along. I am used to a gentle title up and the bio bend isn't getting along with my hands. I am also really concerned about the "wedge my hands" in the hoods position. because that's my favorite position. The biobend places a bunch of pressure on that nerve cluster on my palm in that position. I'll give it a couple more tries, but this bar probably won't work for me. Beacon looks promising.
@@Cassienope Definitely won't be for everyone. I've got a review on the Beacons that you might check out. Loved those as well, except for the flare being a bit too extreme (I really wanted to like the Beacons).
@@TheBikeSauce Thanks, Ill watch that. I really like the 25 degree flare and the drop on the venturemax, they feel really good. I am hoping with a few more rides my hands will adapt to the bump.
I am beyond thrilled that these come in a 380mm version. Adventure bars for small people is so under resourced. Consider them SOLD!
How small are you? I consider myself small at 5”6 but went from 42 to 44cm on these bars and I am much more comfortable.
@@kevinlinares9060 Hi Kevin, fascinating the way different sizes suit us all! I am actually taller than you at 5'7. But being female and having a small build I wouldn't be surprised if my shoulder to shoulder measurement was smaller. Also coming from road riding where i ride a 36-38mm bar I am very used to riding narrow bars and notice the extra strain on my wrists when I have to go wider as it is a weaker bracing position.
Glad you're liking the venturemax bars. I think maybe the bigger difference between the comp and the wcs is the wcs has the more flattened top area. I kinda like the "bio bend" or whatever you called it as it gives you a couple of different options for hand position in the drops. I'll go forward of I need access to the brakes and more to the bar ends if I want a little more comfort.
Nice. Honestly, I think I took a closer look at the venturemax per your last comment !
I ordered the Venturemax Classic (silver) because of your review. Thanks for your effort!
Nice! Hope you enjoy.
Great review, simple and straightforward enough a noob like me can understand. Subscribed!
Yes!
Thanks for your channel and your feedback on this gravel bar, which I am contemplating to buy. The review is precise and good. Following a comment below, I see that there is now that te WCS Venturemax model has a flater middle section, just as the Beacon bars apparently. This may be a good choice, would it ? Now wondering if I choose 44 or 46 cm size... The v2 model of the Venturemax model also seems to have that flat appareance in the center.
I believe most of their bars now have the ergo tops
Thanks for the review. I installed the 46cm last night and they appear to be the correct fit and are very comfortable from the hoods, which is where my hand placement is 90% of the time. The drops are also more comfortable and I don't feel as low and stretched out as the previous bars and without a long ride to fine-tune the setup they seem to give me more confidence while in the drops, but it's quite a stretch to get to the brakes especially if you are holding the bars at the bio-bend and not closer to the bottom of the levers. They may be a good location for the hands when not in a sketchy situation. Did you set your shifters level with the bottom edge of the drops? I will adjust the levers' reach to see if I can get them in a more useable position from the drops. I installed CICLOVATION advanced grind bar tape and there is plenty of grip and padding although I always ride with padded gloves.
Great feedback, thanks! When in the drops, I tend to slide my hand forward to reach the levers. My hands are no longer centered over the bio hump, but still comfortable enough.
I see a WCS DI1 model on my favorite online shop. Is it your model? I am just hesitating now between the 44 and 46 cm models. I currently have a 44 cm dropbar, and it fits well and equals my shoulder width. Is 46 cm also your shoulder width, or did you choose larger than you would on another kind of bike?
Good recap! I ended up ordering the wcs version to get the flatter/ergo top section. Will be trying them out on my Fargo as an alternative to the Woodchippers...as soon as it’s not -30 out ;)
-30 ?!?! Have to ask where you live?
Haha it’s only -30 celsius not Fahrenheit;) Canmore, Alberta. A q on the bars, did it take some time to play around with the angle of the drops for the best position for you?
I figured Canada. Have relatives in Edmonton and hear stories about Sun zero temps. Outdoor hockey is a plus though!
For the angle of the drops, I usually set them just slightly inclined from horizontal. But yea, some tweaking was involved.
Berkeley in da house! Nice video! Thank you!
Go bears 🤘
I am using the comp model on my bike. Best handlebar out there imo.
Agreed!
Another great vid , I can help but notice those mtbs hanging in the background. Perhaps we can see some other bikes in the stable in a future video?
Will do!
So, three years later, are you still running these bars? Long term review of pros and cons?
great review and insight, it helped me make a purchasing decision. thanks!!
Right on!
I’m on a 70mm stem on a diverge 52. Would you recommend going down to 50mm?
Great review! Thanks man.
Yeah, I know. I’m 2 years late. But what bell is that that’s clamped on to the left of the stem?
Ha! Me too. “…two hobbies in one.”
Did you consider any of the salsa bars?
In regards to the beacon flare.. couldn't you just rotate the brifters a bit inward? I saw both your reviews, still like the beacon much more on paper : p
Because of the angled mounting point, rotating the brifters in will change the hood position, but actually flare the levers out even more.
Great review! Subbed!
I'm wondering if the VentureMax can help with my ergonomy issue. (Context: beginner, entry level road bike, standard no flare drop bar)
To get enough leverage on the brake lever, I tend to move my wrist off the bar / "reach around" slightly (outwards), relying on increased thumb strain to form a barely secure enough hook.
I'm hoping the VentureMax's flare will meet my grip halfway by moving the levers "up" laterally, so that my fingers caget that leverage without needing the wrist to shift the weight on the hood.
Does this make sense?
Look into setting the reach and free stroke of your levers. The resting point can be brought toward the bar to make it easier to reach. Should help a lot
@@TheBikeSauce unfortunately the budget component (microShift SB-R482) doesn't allow this. It has a separate, smaller version but the bike manufacturer doesn't provide it, and i can't find it for separate purchase either. If replacing, I'd upgrade to Shimano anyway (e.g. Claris 2x8), but brifters are way more expensive than a handlebar. So I'm trying this first.
Good video, thanks. I've been riding these a while and I like them but still cant get the lever position right on the bar. I have grx levers and sormthing just feels a little off. Maybe I have the rotation of the bar wrong, maybe the lever level.
Nice. Yea all I can say is to keep experimenting with different adjustments. Did you align the flat section of the drops to be horizontal? If so, you might find it angled too far downward
i have the same handlebar
its great
How much time do you spend on the hoods vs. drops on the riding you do? Watching pro cyclocross, they live on the hoods riding on normal road bars. What is the benefit of the flare? I'm looking to replace the stock hover bar (hover bars are dumb) but don't have enough experience on gravel coming from the road to know what I need.
Flared drops add stability when descending in the drops. I don’t always ride the drops; maybe 10% of the time. It also changes your hand position in the hoods a bit as well. Some would argue it’s more comfortable. And I won’t deny, there’s and aesthetic component to it as well.
nice video. question. do these bars have a flat/ish tube on the top or are they just normal/standard round feel?
The new version has and ergo top section. Ovalized, but not ‘aero’
I like wide bars good thing they make a XL version at 52cm.
Yea the wide bars are getting popular for sure
I have the wcs venturemax xl. Theyre awesome. And they have the flattened top position which the comp doesnt.
@@fa1coner I have cow chippers in 50cm now. Might add the XL to my winter mod list. I have a road bike with the flat tops that I really like.
Nice. Yea I remember you mentioned the xl since you’re a beast 😀
Do you know if the internal cable routing on the WCS Carbon Venturemax is only for the Di2 cable(s) or for the brake cables as well? Thanks and great vids...
Routing is for brake and shift housing. Thx!
Do you have any problem with different mounts rubbing the clear coat off your gloss paint? If not, do you have any repair tips for re applying clear coat?
Definitely use 3m frame protected tape. Some call it helicopter tape. Any place a bag or an accessory or bake/shift cables have a chance at rubbing the frame.
Reapplying the clear coat is basically a last resort and I wouldn’t recommend it as you’d need to strip the whole bike down to the frame and have it professionally painted.
@@TheBikeSauce thank you for the input!
Hello, possible to install clip-on aerobars on Ritchey Venturemax ?
I think so
What do you with tested rejected handbars?!
Ha none are rejected
Hi! I would like to know, what is the size of the Ritchey Comp VentureMax gravel handlebars do you use?
I ride the 40cm width
Hi! I am also considering the venture max but cannot decide between 40 and 42. What is your shoulder width? Why did you decide to go for 40? THX
I went with 40 bc that’s what the stock bars were. Also Ritchey bars width are measured from the initial bend (not the drops), So they are actually a tad wider than the specified width.
@@TheBikeSauce Thanks for a quick reply. How much would you say that they are wider at the hoods compared to a normal 40? Are we talking mm or cm’s? Also the hoods are usually tilted inwards slightly due to the flared drops. How much does this make them narrower at the hoods?
Great channel BTW. Perfect for scientific types riding gravel :)
For small hand/palm such me..is it beacon recommended?
I'd say Beacon or VentureMax are both fine for smaller hands. It's more about the position of the controls on the bends, and the setup of reach and free stroke that can help cyclists with smaller hands.
@@TheBikeSauce Thank you and greetings from Indonesia
The WCS Venturemax has the flat top section. :)
Right, someone mentioned that. Also I believe the venturemax comp will soon get the flattened tops on the next version.
@@TheBikeSauce What size are you using? Is it 44 or 46? :)
40!
How did you pick a width for these bars?
Used to be you’d hold them up to your shoulders and match the width, but for me, it’s been trial and error. I used to run 40cm, but the 42cm felt much nicer. I’ve got some 46s too, and they’re cool, but gives the bike a different feel - rowdy and a bit too wide most of the time
@@TheBikeSauce Sounds logical. Thank you. I held my hands out straightest I could and measured mid fist to fist. That came out to be 42cm anyway.
Looking for the next personalization of my ride and this seems to be just the ticket.
These are the generation 1 bars, the gen 2 have flats on the tops, which I didn’t like.
Right, the newer ones have the flattened section on top. You prefer the rounded tops?
@@TheBikeSauce I do prefer the round tops simply because the flattops don’t work well when the bars are at or near saddle height. The flats become angled hence forcing my wrist to bend downwards when on the tops.
Good point. I actually think they considered this as the flat tops angle slightly up even when the bars are level
Been riding the pnw coast bars in 480 width. Check out the specs think you might like them !
I was eyeing those too, but I wish they came a bit narrower.
@@TheBikeSauce i was concerned as well I was coming from a 440, but the 480 makes it so much more stable, especially when im out of the saddle climbing. Short reach helps with the wide bar. But u never know try the 480.... besides that is kinda on the skinny side now. Seems like people love going even bigger( not sure the benefits out weigh the fact of your shoulders and wrist being so wide) I see some bars all the way up to 600 😳 and thats not in the drops lol
I'm 161cm, which width probably fit me the best? 44cm?
All depends on shoulder width, but 44cm is a good guess
@@TheBikeSauce Thanks 😊
HOW BOUT EASTON EC70 AX? 16DG FLARED
Those are a great compact option too. I’d wish for a tad more drop flare, but otherwise a solid choice for most who aren’t as picky
@@TheBikeSauce thanks mate
I've watched both videos and I have a question. I am building a 29+ monster cross with TRP levers and Micro-Shift 12 shifter for an Off-road use and now I wonder which of those two bars you would choose for the roughest stuff? As I like both bars I would love to hear your opinion!
I’d probably go Beacon bars since you’re not going to be shifting from the hoods. The shallower drop is more conducive to descending in the drops and the added width from the flare will add stability. Sounds like a cool build!
@@TheBikeSauce thanks a lot for your input! I was thinking about VenturMax XL, Ritchy's 50cm variation. But Beacon looks very appealing as I am not sure I will be able to use efficiently such a wide bar)))
Yea I think width is very personal and depends on rider size and build. Too wide and your pecs and shoulders will feel it. Like doing small push ups for hours on end 😆
@@TheBikeSauce I was thinking about the same issue!😁 Very shallow drops also seem very useful! My Kona Rove's standard bar has quite a big drop and francly speaking I don't remember when I was using them last time.. on the road I prefer just to lay ma elbows on tow of the bar as it waaay more aerodynamic and comfortable.
Hi. Good review but.... Next time try with a carbon flat bar and you will not go back to aluminium any more. I told you this last time. Of course handlebars, saddles and pedals are personal choice as you said but you mentioned that you enjoy the experimenting with new products more than the riding. So? get a carbon next time. Listen to Dan, never get wrong 😉
Haha, easier said than done though. I can experiment with 10 alloy bars for the cost of those 3T bars. Perhaps in the future. Those $350 bars look amazing!
youve gotten one enemy
☹️