Dare I Say it ... n-1? Anyone looking for a Venturi?
10-21-19, 07:17 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Dare I Say it ... n-1? Anyone looking for a Venturi?
So I picked up an unusual steel racing bike for a song. It's called a Breezer Venturi and I got one built up with 5800, Campy wheelset i.e. nicely put together for $500 as the previous owner was deceased and his wife just wanted it gone.
It's an aggresive geometry but the previous owner put in a shorter stem so it geometry is more like an endurance bike but the short chain stays make handling blindingly quick. It's a beautiful bike in all aspects: i) build quality, ii) paint, iii) handling (nice and stiff due to hydroforming but compliant due to the steel) etc.
The only thing negative about it, is that is almost identical to my CF endurance bike except the endurace bike is a little bit more upright and the handling isn't as quick.
So should I keep both or sell the Venturi? I just can't seem to think of a reason so please give me one as its a great bike.
It's an aggresive geometry but the previous owner put in a shorter stem so it geometry is more like an endurance bike but the short chain stays make handling blindingly quick. It's a beautiful bike in all aspects: i) build quality, ii) paint, iii) handling (nice and stiff due to hydroforming but compliant due to the steel) etc.
The only thing negative about it, is that is almost identical to my CF endurance bike except the endurace bike is a little bit more upright and the handling isn't as quick.
So should I keep both or sell the Venturi? I just can't seem to think of a reason so please give me one as its a great bike.
10-21-19, 07:32 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tucson Az
Posts: 1,671
Bikes: 2015 Ridley Fenix, 1983 Team Fuji, 2019 Marin Nail Trail 6
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 336 Post(s)
Liked 223 Times
in
135 Posts
Will you ride it? If yes, keep it.
It sounds like a fun bike to me.
It sounds like a fun bike to me.
10-21-19, 08:20 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
10-21-19, 08:27 PM
#5
Senior Member
10-22-19, 04:47 AM
#6
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,499
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3649 Post(s)
Liked 5,382 Times
in
2,732 Posts
IIRC there were some fun threads about these bikes a few years ago. The geometry was so bizarre they were almost giving them away. Folks would come here to brag about the deal they got, then realize they couldn't ride the bike w/o a clown stack of spacers. 
Likes For shelbyfv:
10-22-19, 05:11 AM
#8
Senior Member
10-22-19, 05:17 AM
#9
Senior Member
I think it is his bike. This somehow makes me feel happy.
Hi,
I've seen quite a few times people mention that if you build up a bike component-wise its a labor of love and will be more expensive than what the manufacturers sell. But I just want to point out it is possible IF you buy your components from the UK.
The details are below, but essentially for $850 I got a steel bike with complete 5800 drive train and other entry level components. If your wondering why I bought other entry level components, I'm going to ride the bike with these components and then upgrade in 6 months.
For $895 I could have bought a Gran Premio Elite (a steel bike) from BD which contains most of the 5800 drive train but compromises on the cranks, brakes and BB. Also, according to reviews the BD bike weights 21.8 pounds and mine should come in at under 20 pounds.
Now of course the big difference is my bike is lying around in parts and I have to put it together, but so far so good. Putting together the steering assembly took 40 minutes including cutting down the steering tube. I estimate it will take me about 10 hours to assemble.
Details
=====
The gran premio elite specs are here Save Up To 60% Off Pro Level Steel Road Bikes Commuting Commuter Bikes Motobecane Gran Premio PRO
My cost break down is:
Frameset: Breezer Venturi $300 (BikeWagon)
Entire 5800 Groupset: $350 (Wiggle or Merlins)
Wheels: Camparelo Khashims Assymetric 2016 $118 (Merlin)
Tires, bottle cages, pedals, seat, handlebars, tape etc $80 (Ribble)
I think my bike is better speced than the BD offering. The Gran Premio frame appears to have a regular Chromly rear triangle (not 520) and BD uses a non-Shimano brakes, cranks and BB. The Campy Khashims and the RS11 wheelset the BD bike has are comparable.
I've seen quite a few times people mention that if you build up a bike component-wise its a labor of love and will be more expensive than what the manufacturers sell. But I just want to point out it is possible IF you buy your components from the UK.
The details are below, but essentially for $850 I got a steel bike with complete 5800 drive train and other entry level components. If your wondering why I bought other entry level components, I'm going to ride the bike with these components and then upgrade in 6 months.
For $895 I could have bought a Gran Premio Elite (a steel bike) from BD which contains most of the 5800 drive train but compromises on the cranks, brakes and BB. Also, according to reviews the BD bike weights 21.8 pounds and mine should come in at under 20 pounds.
Now of course the big difference is my bike is lying around in parts and I have to put it together, but so far so good. Putting together the steering assembly took 40 minutes including cutting down the steering tube. I estimate it will take me about 10 hours to assemble.
Details
=====
The gran premio elite specs are here Save Up To 60% Off Pro Level Steel Road Bikes Commuting Commuter Bikes Motobecane Gran Premio PRO
My cost break down is:
Frameset: Breezer Venturi $300 (BikeWagon)
Entire 5800 Groupset: $350 (Wiggle or Merlins)
Wheels: Camparelo Khashims Assymetric 2016 $118 (Merlin)
Tires, bottle cages, pedals, seat, handlebars, tape etc $80 (Ribble)
I think my bike is better speced than the BD offering. The Gran Premio frame appears to have a regular Chromly rear triangle (not 520) and BD uses a non-Shimano brakes, cranks and BB. The Campy Khashims and the RS11 wheelset the BD bike has are comparable.
10-22-19, 06:46 AM
#10
Serious Cyclist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: RVA
Posts: 9,308
Bikes: Emonda SL6
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5721 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times
in
99 Posts
This couldn't be the bike from a quite excellent former BF poster whose name escapes me right now, could it? @Dan333SP, help me out here.
I'd imagine this has to be the same bike. Small world, and I hope OP enjoys it for many thousands of miles.
10-22-19, 07:27 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,246
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8259 Post(s)
Liked 8,980 Times
in
4,451 Posts
10-22-19, 08:39 AM
#13
SuperGimp
10-22-19, 01:03 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,790
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 497 Post(s)
Liked 620 Times
in
367 Posts
You know that movie, where the newlywed young couple buy an old house, and the man needs to leave on a business trip, and the woman is left alone, and the creepy handyman/neighbor old man tells her to stay out of the basement, but if she does go down there to never ever open the sealed fireplace/furnace thing, and she does?
Well, this is how this frame works. I still own mine, and will until a full moon spans 2 days in September...
Well, this is how this frame works. I still own mine, and will until a full moon spans 2 days in September...
10-22-19, 02:24 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,246
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8259 Post(s)
Liked 8,980 Times
in
4,451 Posts
I never met him but I chatted with him a bit on here. I remember he was excited about riding and improving to do longer rides. Seemed like a nice guy.
10-23-19, 07:39 AM
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
10-25-19, 09:27 AM
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
That could be it!
Definitely has Campy wheels not sure the model. Definitely has the entire 5800 groupset. Is there a picture of the bike that was built up.
But I'm feeling a bit jaded because it only cost the guy 850 bucks and I bought if a 500 used.
But I'm feeling a bit jaded because it only cost the guy 850 bucks and I bought if a 500 used.
10-25-19, 09:51 AM
#20
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,604
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10947 Post(s)
Liked 7,473 Times
in
4,181 Posts
10-27-19, 10:39 PM
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
10-28-19, 06:47 AM
#25
Senior Member
