Specialized Diverge
Discussion
The hub isn't 11spd compatible which is why I stuck with 10spd Ultegra (plus the group set was cheaper). You could buy a set of Kinesis Crosslight wheels for £245 and flog the OEM ones though if 11spd is essential. The Kineses wheels have the same blue detailing as the Claris Diverge too if that sort of thing matters (which it does!).
I was looking at the Ultegra 11 speed as I wanted the hydraulic brakes but it looks like it's going to be impractical to go down that route.
I think Plan B is going to be a set of Kinesis wheels and an 11 speed 105 groupset. I've heard a few bad things about the reliability of 10 speed 105 and at the same time I've heard that the 11 speed 105 is almost as good as Ultegra so it's probably worth the extra cost.
I'm going to head down to the local Specialized Concept Storre tomorrow to size up the Diverge and go from there.
I think Plan B is going to be a set of Kinesis wheels and an 11 speed 105 groupset. I've heard a few bad things about the reliability of 10 speed 105 and at the same time I've heard that the 11 speed 105 is almost as good as Ultegra so it's probably worth the extra cost.
I'm going to head down to the local Specialized Concept Storre tomorrow to size up the Diverge and go from there.
Skyedriver said:
Tried a Cannondale CAAD & a Diverge last weekend - Bikesport Darlington
Discounted the Cannondale despite the better equipment as it looked like a mobile advertising hoarding, but the Diverge was the total opposite, more comfortable by far but not sure I can live with the satin/matt black.
S'funny how things happenDiscounted the Cannondale despite the better equipment as it looked like a mobile advertising hoarding, but the Diverge was the total opposite, more comfortable by far but not sure I can live with the satin/matt black.
Bought a s/h Cannondale a few weeks ago - love it
Thread revival, but I wanted to say thanks as I read the posts above and because of the positive reviews I took a Diverge Carbon Comp out for a test ride as my new commuter down here in NZ, as my Turbo S is making me lazy after I moved from the top of a big hill (especially above the belt buckle). We only get the Carbon Comp and the Smoothweld here and my LBS looks after me and made it a no brainier to go carbon.
I did a couple of 25 mile rides last weekend and was really impressed, so much so that I finally decided I'm doing the on road century rather than the mountain bike 60km at this year's Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, and I may well move my Giant TCR carbon Ultegra Di2 roadie on as I don't think it will get much use in future.
I picked it back up again on Saturday after getting the rack and guards fitted and today was my first commute on it; 13 miles each way with a pannier. It's flat so weight doesn't really matter all that much but the Diverge is pretty swift when it gets rolling and I suspect it will climb pretty well even with the bag on it if I want it to. Today I passed a few other commuters, didn't get passed myself and even got a Strava PR (partly courtesy of the new Garmin integration telling me where the start and finish really is so I knew where to go for it).
All in all I'm really impressed. It's everything the Crux CX bike I bought early last year as a commuter wasn't; I never enjoyed the Crux on the road and it doesn't have proper rack and guard mounts so it's been exclusively a garage queen for quite some time before the CX season started this year. The hydraulic Shimanos are amazing where the Crux's cable discs always disappointed. Even with a bigger front rotor and TRP Hy/Rd calipers they are still hopeless to the point I couldn't lock the rear wheel when I needed to yesterday.
Mine is flat black and grey and I love the stealth look, but I guess that's personal preference. For me it's close to the perfect "one bike"; not being a road racer it's most of what the TCR is on the road for me but not so fragile that it can't hop a kerb or handle some gravel. Of course it's no mountain bike, but it's a very worthy option for half of a two bike strategy.
I did a couple of 25 mile rides last weekend and was really impressed, so much so that I finally decided I'm doing the on road century rather than the mountain bike 60km at this year's Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, and I may well move my Giant TCR carbon Ultegra Di2 roadie on as I don't think it will get much use in future.
I picked it back up again on Saturday after getting the rack and guards fitted and today was my first commute on it; 13 miles each way with a pannier. It's flat so weight doesn't really matter all that much but the Diverge is pretty swift when it gets rolling and I suspect it will climb pretty well even with the bag on it if I want it to. Today I passed a few other commuters, didn't get passed myself and even got a Strava PR (partly courtesy of the new Garmin integration telling me where the start and finish really is so I knew where to go for it).
All in all I'm really impressed. It's everything the Crux CX bike I bought early last year as a commuter wasn't; I never enjoyed the Crux on the road and it doesn't have proper rack and guard mounts so it's been exclusively a garage queen for quite some time before the CX season started this year. The hydraulic Shimanos are amazing where the Crux's cable discs always disappointed. Even with a bigger front rotor and TRP Hy/Rd calipers they are still hopeless to the point I couldn't lock the rear wheel when I needed to yesterday.
Mine is flat black and grey and I love the stealth look, but I guess that's personal preference. For me it's close to the perfect "one bike"; not being a road racer it's most of what the TCR is on the road for me but not so fragile that it can't hop a kerb or handle some gravel. Of course it's no mountain bike, but it's a very worthy option for half of a two bike strategy.
I'm loving my Diverge.
So far I've swapped the original wheels for a set of Kinesis CX Disc ones and it's had an 11 speed Ultegra groupset fitted after Merlin's recent special offer.
The seatpost has been swapped for a Specialized CG-R one and I've just put a set of Roubaix Pro tyres on it today.
By the time I've sold on the bits I've removed it's still worked out a decent price for the bike.
It seems to excel on badly surfaced roads and the likes, it flies on bits like the Thames Path! Should be a fantastic winter bike and commuter.
So far I've swapped the original wheels for a set of Kinesis CX Disc ones and it's had an 11 speed Ultegra groupset fitted after Merlin's recent special offer.
The seatpost has been swapped for a Specialized CG-R one and I've just put a set of Roubaix Pro tyres on it today.
By the time I've sold on the bits I've removed it's still worked out a decent price for the bike.
It seems to excel on badly surfaced roads and the likes, it flies on bits like the Thames Path! Should be a fantastic winter bike and commuter.
I had to Google the London Road as I'm not familiar with it. Is it perhaps neither one thing nor another? It claims to be a commuter, tourer, CX bike etc., but tourers and CX bikes have hugely different purposes and conflicting aspects of geometry (low BB / long chain stays for a tourer and the opposite for a CX).
Just picking Specialized (since they make the Diverge), there are probably 4 or 5 models in the range that cover tourer, commuter and CX (being conservative, if you include flat bar models it's probably 10+) and they all are different and don't overlap. Part of the reason I like my Diverge is it's great for what I use it for (though a Roubaix is arguably even more focussed). My Crux was rubbish at what I use the Diverge for because it was designed for something else. I'm pretty sure if I raced the next round of the CX series on my Diverge I'd think it was awful compared with the Crux for the purpose.
My point is a general bike is not going to be as good as a specialist one if you're going to do what the specialist one is designed for with it, so unless you need an all-rounder I would avoid one personally.
Just picking Specialized (since they make the Diverge), there are probably 4 or 5 models in the range that cover tourer, commuter and CX (being conservative, if you include flat bar models it's probably 10+) and they all are different and don't overlap. Part of the reason I like my Diverge is it's great for what I use it for (though a Roubaix is arguably even more focussed). My Crux was rubbish at what I use the Diverge for because it was designed for something else. I'm pretty sure if I raced the next round of the CX series on my Diverge I'd think it was awful compared with the Crux for the purpose.
My point is a general bike is not going to be as good as a specialist one if you're going to do what the specialist one is designed for with it, so unless you need an all-rounder I would avoid one personally.
aye, all I'm after is a toughened, slightly relaxed geometry road bike that was disc brakes and can use 28 to 35 wide tyres.
So I can zoom zoom to work in summer on 28 slicks, 32 mild tread for winter, and maybe some 35 knobblies if I want to go down some gravel tracks.
So I can zoom zoom to work in summer on 28 slicks, 32 mild tread for winter, and maybe some 35 knobblies if I want to go down some gravel tracks.
Edited by cirian75 on Wednesday 29th July 07:24
They are pretty solid actually. I've put the bike on it's rear wheel a few times getting it out of the garage, forgetting that I've got mudguards on. As a result the rear guard been dragged over the garage floor and caught on a step a few times but they haven't been damaged or come loose.
I've had them on over two winters riding on road and bridleways with no issues.
I've had them on over two winters riding on road and bridleways with no issues.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff