Anyone have one ? Any thoughts appreciated. Looking at my Strava stats yesterday and was surprised that my winter bike (Genesis CDF) has done more miles this year than my summer bike (Trek 2.3) has done in the last three years. The CDF is a great bike but is frustratingly heavy. I’m thinking of going down the route of one bike that will take full guards and has discs to be used all year round. Struggling to see the point of a summer bike that sits in the garage for most of year. Thanks:)

Captainflasheart has an Expert. Search through his posts.
I like the Smartweld version, alloy frame, still with full Ultegra and Shimano’s hydraulic discs

*Waves*

a great bike but is frustratingly heavy

Indeed. CDFs are lovely, lovely things, but rather porky. As above, I have an Expert Diverge in Carbon/Ultegra flavour. 19.1lbs in my current build, which is exactly the same weight as the same spec Roubaix, as it happens. So, not a bike that’s been at the pies at all!

First ride review here – http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/2015-diverge-expert-first-ride-review

Since then, it’s been used and abused so much that my other bikes are looking at me funnily now. Tyres don’t like the Hants/Wilts flint cuts, but then what tyre does? Other than that, it’s been a super fun, comfy, fast and versatile bike. More than happy to answer any questions!

You would be hard pressed to get one. Specialized’s shipments don’t show until the middle of January which is a bit daft for a bike that would be ideal for Autumn and Winter riding.

Try getting hold of a Fatboy then. I work in a Spesh dealers and I cant get on until APRIL!

So I bought a Charge Cooker Maxi.

I’m not waiting for spring for a bike that would be ace in snow should we get some.

We’ve got a lower end Diverge in though. 🙂

You would be hard pressed to get one.

And yet…. 😀

a bike that would be ideal for Autumn and Winter riding

Let’s not rule out Spring and Summer, eh? Would be ideal for those, too!

I saw one in mud dock in Bristol today if that helps? Nice and understated

I have an Expert Diverge in Carbon/Ultegra flavour. 19.1lbs in my current build, which is exactly the same weight as the same spec Roubaix, as it happens. So, not a bike that’s been at the pies at all!

What do you think of the diverge as a road bike?
I’m kind of curious as to how it performs compared to a normal road bike or something like a Roubaix.

As a road bike? It’s fast, and it’s comfortable.

With the stock tyres, it’s more on the comfort edge of things, but if you were to put some 25s on there, it would be just dandy as a “road” bike.

One of the reasons I got it was that too many road bikes are race oriented, not paying enough attention to the fact that what most people want to do is just go out for a ride. Hardly anyone actually races, so why does everyone ride a race bike? I’ve even had people pour scorn on the bolt-through axles. Why? Because it’s slower to fix a flat? Well, you don’t have a support car, and what’s more, you’re not racing, so what’s the big deal? Better in every other way!

If by performance you mean getting more aero and getting bragging rights at the golf bike club, then no, it’s not a performance bike. If by performance you mean going long distances fast and in comfort, then yes, it’s a performance bike.

So, in essence, it’s a very, very capable road bike. Rides very much like a Defy or a Roubaix, both of which are excellent in my view. It can just do a little bit more than they can!

If by performance you mean getting more aero and getting bragging rights at the golf bike club, then no, it’s not a performance bike. If by performance you mean going long distances fast and in comfort, then yes, it’s a performance bike.

When I say perform, I’m meaning more along the lines of how does it climb compared to a road bike and what’s it like on the descents?
I’m not going to be racing it but will be using it for longer road rides and possibly some gentle off-road stuff.

It’s a shame there’s nothing in the range between the Expert Carbon and the Aluminium Comp as it’s quite a jump price-wise.

According to the website my local Concept Store has an Expert model in stock so I might have to pop in at the weekend for a quick look 🙂

Climbs like a road bike, but with the bolt throughs, it feels stiffer.
Descends like a road bike, but again, bolt throughs, coupled with discs, mean I can brake later, with more control, so more speed. Which is nice!

Seriously, it’s like a road bike in almost every way, except it’s more comfy and able to get dirtier. All of which is a good thing!

There’s a bike between the two, but for some mad reason, Spesh UK opted not to bring it in. I think that’s silly, as the Expert (mine) is lovely, but quite spendy for many.

If you’re anywhere around North Hants, you’re welcome to have a spin on mine. It’s a 56, by the way, they’re set to run with a lot of post for comfort.

CFH,
Have you tried fitting any wider tyres? I’m torn between the smartweld version and the Rose DX 3000; the latter looks to have better clearance for a spiked tyre – I have Schwalbe snow studs that are 38mm and as far as I can tell, that exceeds the Spesh limit.

Not yet, no. Am due to try some CX tyres shortly, either Clement or Spesh (Not sure which now!). I reckon I could get a 33 CX tyre in there with no real worries.

Spikes are a different kettle of fish, IIRC, as they measure up oddly in terms of height.

No matter; I plan to take a spike-shod wheel in to the LBS and offer it up to one of their display bikes (although with QR, it’ll have to be one of the models without through-axle forks).

Might work with the skewer out, perhaps.

They’re great bikes, really understated, but really capable. Very pleased with mine!

thanks – I’d like to keep the business local and am buoyed by the fact that both the owner and one of the mechanics have both bought one; also that the Spesh warranty is worth having.

LBS staff buy stuff that works. Diverge as a range are just bikes for riding, never mind the silly gravel marketing guff. They’re just really nice bikes.

CaptainFlashheart – Member
Climbs like a road bike, but with the bolt throughs, it feels stiffer.
Descends like a road bike, but again, bolt throughs, coupled with discs, mean I can brake later, with more control, so more speed. Which is nice!
Seriously, it’s like a road bike in almost every way, except it’s more comfy and able to get dirtier. All of which is a good thing!
There’s a bike between the two, but for some mad reason, Spesh UK opted not to bring it in. I think that’s silly, as the Expert (mine) is lovely, but quite spendy for many.
If you’re anywhere around North Hants, you’re welcome to have a spin on mine. It’s a 56, by the way, they’re set to run with a lot of post for comfort.
POSTED 30 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

You’ve pretty much sold me on it there.
I’ve been tempted by a Tripster ATR for a while but I’m now a bit undecided between that and the Diverge. In all honesty, the Diverge sounds more suited to what I’m looking for and in not really sold on the idea of a Ti framed bike with such a short warranty as the Tripster.
Another plus for the Diverge is that it looks nicer IMO.

FWIW,
38mm Schwalbe snow studs fit with plenty of clearance (no ‘guards). Great looking bike; hope to swing a leg over the SmartWeld one v. shortly & maybe even join CFH in ownership.

Forgot to say…Did you check the tyre clearance with the front mech in all positions? Might be a little tight! As yet I haven’t tried it, as above!

IIRC the SmartWeld has the same fork as mine, but with a QR rear. Otherwise, same brakes but with 105. Tidy looking bike, too!

Re sizing, they do look a little odd to some, as they’re designed to run a lot of seatpost. So, at a smidge under 6′, I take a 56 and it fits perfectly. Apart from saddle width, height and fore/aft position, and bar angle, I’ve changed nothing and it feels ace. Still running the stem at the stock spacer height and angle.

Pedals were a tough choice, as it’s such a split personality of a bike. As per my earlier review, went with spanky light Times, as I use Time on my other bikes, and stiffer than a stiff thing XC shoes to create the effect of a bigger platform road pedal. (S-Works MTB, by the way. Oh, and Northwave Artic for the winter)

I was very lucky to get mine a couple of months before I realistically should have done, and have loved riding it. Really looking forward to hearing experiences from others.

CaptainFlashheart if you’re around, could you tell me what the spoke count is on the rear wheel of your bike please?

I have been looking at these bikes and the Tripster. eventually bought an ICAN ( chinese ) carbon cyclo cross frame (£340 delivered in 6 days ) and have just built it up, going for a spin tues night to test. flat bars at the moment for adventure races but will probably put drops on later. fully built it is 19 lbs .50/34 chainset, xtr hubs, trp spyre brakes. 30mm cx tyres. i hope it will be my summer road bike/touring bike with 25 tyres on – should be light enough

Raggatip, it’s a 24h rim.

Would have replied earlier, but was busy out riding the damned thing in the sunshine! (First road-only ride I’ve done on it as well!)

Great thanks. That’s a very low spoke count for a rear wheel. I’m looking to replace the wheels for a custom set but as there are no SCS hubs available I’ll have to build the rear wheel around the existing hub which is a bugger. I’d prefer 32 spokes on the rear.

There’s a difference in the count between models; CFH has the top version with bolt-through Axis 4.0 = 24h. The ones down have 28h on QR Axis (various types).

The one I’m getting is the Carbon Comp. Same frame and I believe same wheelset, i.e. AXIS 4.0 Disc wheels. I’m assuming they’re the same spoke count. I think they’re also radial on one side (8 spoke?) and two cross on the other (16 spoke?) just to annoy me further.

“Hardly anyone actually races, so why does everyone ride a race bike?”

or for that matter dress up like they might 😉 ..

this new “gravel” biking category just makes me laugh.. where I live many of the roads are absolutely **** farm tracks, even a lot of the actual roads are massively potholed, pitted, rutted covered in muck, stones and farm debris and we’ve been riding them no problem on race bikes and normal rim brakes for as long as I’ve lived.
If you’re not comfortable riding a race bike, fair enough, don’t ride one but don’t go thinking it somehow makes you better than guys who are whether they actually race or not.

That’s a very low spoke count for a rear wheel

I have a XC bike with the same spoke count, and I’m hardly a racing whippet! 24h, or even 28h at a pinch is fine!

Rear is 2x both sides, IIRC (Not going back to the shed to check, sorry!)

Oh look, the boring luddite troll has arrived.

I’ll leave now, thanks. Bye.

I think I’m after one of these – I have tracked down the Diverge Comp Carbon to France – the model between the UK offerings.

http://www.specialized.com/fr/fr/bikes/road/diverge/diverge-comp-carbon

With the current exchange rate they are the same price as the Alloy Smartweld – it seems all Spec bikes are about 25% cheaper in France at the moment.

In fact any bike price in Euros here : http://www.veloderoute.com/gammes2015

Quite handy as:

a) I have a significant birthday coming up and therefore ‘need’ a significant present … and
b) my in-laws live in France so no problem ordering one!

Not sure what the lead time on them is though so off to email the Specialised dealer in LaRochelle in my rusty French.

That one looks ace. Really not sure why SBC chose not to bring that in as an option in the UK. Same as mine, but with 105 and less pimpy cranks.

Not sure what warranty/back up would be if you bought from France, so may be worth a check. SBC in the UK are truly excellent at support and back up, it must be said.

We are in France every couple of months so worst case scenario ain’t too bad if if it needs to go back the dealer.

Also means I’ve got a bike I can do some serious miles on when visiting the inlaws……..

Also means I’ve got a bike I can do some serious miles on when visiting the to get away from the inlaws……..

😉

Some nice riding around La Rochelle as well! Be prepared for the achingly traditional Rouleurs du Dimanche to look down their noses at your new fangled, new technology bike! I’ve had some very funny comments about mine from folks on the roads around here.

Double post sorry….

I was set on one until I had a go at my local shop. I have a long torso and short legs and couldn’t find one I could get comfy on due to them having a very short top tube.
Instead I bough a hardtail mtb and I’ve been using this over bridleways to get to work during the winter.
It’s been my best winter of commuting yet!
I can see the attraction in the bike, I want a road bike with discs and bolt through axels.