The shapely flared Ritchey VentureMax handlebar has promised off-road dropbar adventure comfort since 2016, and now it gets its own top-tier SuperLogic carbon upgrade. Sure, this is pretty light for a widely-flared carbon gravel handlebar, but the Ritchey SuperLogic VentureMax was actually built to be tougher than ever. And also brings with it refined ergonomics…
Ritchey SuperLogic VentureMax carbon gravel adventure bar
From its debut in 2016, the Ritchey VentureMax has been all about combining wide flare with improved ergonomics. Ritchey developed it to deliver several more comfortable hand positions for gravel and off-road dropbar adventure riders. On top of 24° flare, it’s the extra “Bio-Bend” ergonomic hump in the shallow drops that set the VentureMax apart. Even in the world of alt-bars. In 2019 the bar got a lighter update in WCS carbon, then a 2020 XL wide update and revised ergonomic improvements for the regular alloy bar.
Now a new top-tier Ritchey SuperLogic VentureMax combines all of that in the brand’s “best carbon fiber composite and construction”, plus improved strength & durability.
What’s new?
The key updates to the new carbon bar are: a gentler ‘Bio-Bend’ for more comfort at all positions in the drops, a more thorough gravel-specific testing process, and updated cable routing.
This Ritchey SuperLogic VentureMax bar actually is not quite as light as the old WCS carbon version. Ritchey instead focused on making it tougher.
The SuperLogic VentureMax is said to now be the first handlebar to go through Ritchey’s “new proprietary gravel testing process”. The idea was to make tougher bars to stand up to the sometimes silly off-road abuse gravel riders are subjecting their bikes to these days, even on lightweight carbon components. Think under-biking MTB trails and loaded backcountry bikepacking for example. To survive that, Ritchey worked more robustness into the new design. And then, they put the new VentureMax SL though “a series of impact-followed-by-fatigue testing cycles that exceed the required minimum safety requirements for bicycles“. Read more about their in-house testing here.
The new SuperLogic carbon gravel adventure bar is also not quite as aero as the WCS. Instead, it utilizes the same “ergo-aero” 38mm deep x 22.5mm tall tops from the latest alloy bar for improved comfort riding up top.
Tech details
The new VentureMax SL bar also now features complete internal cable routing ports to work with literally any setup. There are 8 different cable ports molded into the new bar. Everything you need from fully-hidden Di2 routing to semi-internal mechanical shift setups.
The bar comes in four widths 42-48mm measured at the initial bend – a bit before the hoods. They feature 76mm Reach and 102mm drop. With 4° of backsweep to the tops, 24° of flare to the drops, and 6° of extra flare at the ends of the drops, each size bar measures an extra 12.5cm wide to the outside of their bar ends.
The 42cm Ritchey SuperLogic VentureMax carbon gravel bar has a claimed weight of 235g, just seven grams more than the WCS carbon bar without the ergo, toughness & routing upgrades.
Ritchey SuperLogic VentureMax – Pricing, availability & options
The new matte UD carbon Ritchey SuperLogic VentureMax bar sells for $300 / 300€. You can get it in four sizes – 42cm, 44cm, 46cm, or 48cm – all with the signature Bio-Bend & 24° flare. Position your hand in front of the hump in your deep aero tuck. On the bump for chill descending in the drops. Or at the ends for max leverage out of the saddle climbing.
Get it now straight from Ritchey, or through your local bike shop.
