Much like the , the XDS Venture is a versatile hybrid bike. Its designed for bike paths and light off-road trails for those riders who are using the Venture for general fitness, commuting and family bike rides.

In this preview, well cover the key areas that make the Venture 3.0 really stand out.

WHAT IS THE VENTURE?

The Venture is a sports hybrid. Think of it as a jack-of-all-trades type of bike. Foremost, it is designed for recreational riders.

Its an upper mid-range hybrid that has hydraulic disc brakes and a 27-speed gearing system.

It can be used on almost any terrain, making the Venture very versatile.

WHO IS THE VENTURE 3.0 FOR?

The Venture 3.0 is going to suit riders who are:

• Riding on bike paths and rail trails.
• Commuting to work with a bike that can fit pannier racks and bags.
• Seeking a general fitness hybrid bike and dont want to be limited where they can ride (short of proper mountain biking).

THE FRAME

XDS are masters at producing high-quality aluminum frames. Like most brands, they also do budget-friendly stuff but the Venture frame gets something thats a little more special.

As such, the Ventures frame finish is done to a higher standard than what we typically see at this price point.

First, one of these areas are thewelds.

High-polish welds are used throughout the frame to improve the frames fatigue resistance.

High-polish welds are not standard; they require a lot of time, effort and expense (so, most brands dont bother).

Second, is the way theframe tubes are made.

XDS uses a process called triple-butting to make the tubes.

This means, each tube has 3 different thicknesses.

XDSs engineers remove material where its not required and add material where it is. This refines the frame to a point where it lowers frame weight and increases frame strength - improving the Ventures strength:weight ratio.

For comparison, most brands use single-butted frames. These are heavier and dont deliver the same handling that more advanced frames do.

Lastly, the front section of the frame is called the head tube. The Ventures is atapered head tube. Essentially, the smaller 1.125 top bearing tapers out to a 1.5 diameter bottom bearing.

More load is at the bottom, so it makes sense to reinforce this part of the frame.

Again, most brands (at this price point) use a straight section 1.125.

COMPONENTS

GEARS.XDS uses a 27-speed gearing system for the Venture 3.0; theres 9 back gears and 3 front gears.

9-speed systems sit at the upper mid-range. These are designed for recreational riders who are spending time on bike paths and rail trails.

Theres a gear for almost every gradient.

This will appeal to riders who have basic fitness and need a little extra help on those steeper soul-sucking climbs.

A trigger shifter operates the gears with an optical display, so its easy to see what gear youre in.

BRAKES.The feel of hydraulic disc brakes is one of smoothness and confidence.

No mechanical cable = almost no friction; so theres very little resistance at the lever.

And you can feel the speed shutting down straight away. That instant response and feedback really helps build confidence - in all weather conditions.

Servicing is easy too. Theres no constant maintenance required. Just dont get oil on the disc part though.

WHEELS.The Ventures rims are made from aluminium but double-walled for strength rigidity.

The rims are also slightly wider than normal. This means better impact resistance and tyre grip - especially on gravel and dirt - and a smoother ride on all surfaces.

Another upgrade is the rear hub.

The result?

Faster acceleration and power transfer which lets you climb easier and hold momentum with minimal input.