I didn’t ride with the group this morning as I had a draining week and needed a sleep-in. Instead had an easy 90 minute ride on the trainer, which gave me time to think about this.
After riding the Vendetta for 18 months, I love this bike. Best bike on the planet for the type of riding I do. But there are some improvements I’d like to see in the next generation V20. Simply put they are: 1. Follow the trends. 2. More aero. 2. AVOID carbon.
Follow the Trends
#1. Campagnolo has just released their first 12-speed group-set. It is almost certain that Ultegra and Force will be available as 12-speed in 2021. So release the next-gen Vendetta as 12-speed compatible at the same time.
#2. Tires are going wider to 28mm. And rims are going wider to complement this move. The carbon wheels I bought less the two years ago have rims that are 17mm wide internally. The same disc specific rim is now only available 21mm wide internally. Design the next-gen Vendetta to easily run 28mm tires on wide rims (like the new Industry Nine I9 Disc road rims).
#3. Road disc is another major trend. Pros are now using them. The major df manufacturers are building their frames for them. I’m running Ultegra hydraulic road discs (140mm front and back) and they are brilliant – I’m never going back to caliper brakes. Design the next-gen Vendetta specifically for disc brakes.
#4. With that in mind, please please please go to thru-axles. I’m really tired of having to use quick release with disc brakes. Every time I put the wheel back in it is in a slightly different place; which means 10 to 15 minutes experimentation trying the stop the disc rubbing again. Design the next-gen Vendetta specifically for disc brakes with thru axles.
More Aero
#1. Find a way to make the next-gen Vendetta even more aero. One way might be an optional V18 frame for medium to tall riders, building in the V18 extension that Jim has trialled.
#2. Provide more data-driven advice to owners on equipment selection. For example for a rider 6 ft or taller, what is the most aero chain-stay to use – medium or large? And with which length chain-stay can you climb faster? I’d really like to know definitely without having to do the experimentation myself.
AVOID Carbon
I know this is likely to be an unpopular suggestion, but I happen to think that hydro-formed alloy hits the sweet spot in material at the moment. Too many of the guys I ride with have broken carbon frames in crashes, where a metal frame would survive with a few scrapes. And I’ve met enough people who have bought second-hand carbon frames, only to later find a crack in them, to know to avoid them. And don’t get me started on the European manufacturer whose frames habitually crack within 12 months on the dead, chip seal roads of New Zealand, because they’re built only for smooth European roads. Plus, right now, carbon is not recyclable. Like an expensive woman, carbon frames look great but come at a significant cost.
A lighter front-end would be nice for the Vendetta, but I’m not experiencing any problems there. I can’t see that stripping a couple of pounds of weight is going to have much impact at all. I’d prefer the frame-set to remain alloy, and be a little more aero, than shift to carbon and be a little bit lighter.
My thoughts for what they're worth...
